nephron

noun

neph·​ron ˈne-ˌfrän 

: one of the functional units of the kidney that filters the blood, selectively reabsorbs substances (such as glucose, ions, and amino acids), and excretes nitrogenous waste (such as urea) and excess water and salts in the form of urine

Note: A nephron is made up of a glomerulus, Bowman's capsule, proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule, collecting tubule, and collecting duct.

Each kidney contains 1.5 million filters for blood, called nephrons, which carry away waste products.

—Michelle Morgan Bolton

Examples of nephron in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These often occur due to progressive damage to the nephrons and glomeruli in the kidneys. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 25 Sep. 2024

For your kidneys to work properly, the arteries leading to your kidney need to be healthy, as do the nephrons. —Hallie Levine, Health, 21 June 2024

Infections, some kinds of cancer, and some medications can also cause a condition called nephritis, or inflammation of the nephrons, that can quickly lead to kidney failure. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 16 Feb. 2024

Each nephron servies as a filtering unit for blood running through blood vessels. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 17 May 2021

The filtered waste and extra fluid from the blood then goes into the nephron and then eventually down through the ureters as urine. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 17 May 2021

Word History

Etymology

German, from Greek nephros

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

nephron

noun

neph·​ron ˈnef-ˌrän 

: a single unit of the kidney that functions in filtering the blood and forming urine from waste products

Medical Definition

nephron

noun

neph·​ron ˈnef-ˌrän 

: one of the functional units of the kidney that filters the blood, selectively reabsorbs substances (as glucose, ions, and amino acids), and excretes nitrogenous waste (as urea) and excess water and salts in the form of urine

Note: A nephron is made up of a glomerulus, Bowman's capsule, proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule, collecting tubule, and collecting duct.

Each kidney contains 1.5 million filters for blood, called nephrons, which carry away waste products.

—Michelle Morgan Bolton

… net urinary excretion of potassium relies on secretion in the distal nephron, a process that is augmented by aldosterone.

—Eugene P. Rhee et al.