glomerulus

Friendly

Word: Glomerulus

Part of Speech: Noun

Simple Definition: A glomerulus is a tiny cluster of small blood vessels (capillaries) found in the kidneys. Its main job is to filter blood as part of the process of making urine.

Usage Instructions:

• When to use: You would use the word "glomerulus" when discussing topics related to biology, medicine, or human anatomy, especially when talking about how the kidneys work.
• How to pronounce: gluh-MER-yuh-luhs

Example Sentence:

• "The glomerulus plays a crucial role in filtering waste from the blood to form urine."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced discussions, you might refer to the role of the glomerulus in kidney diseases, such as glomerulonephritis, which is the inflammation of the glomeruli.

Word Variants:

• Glomeruli (plural form): Refers to multiple glomeruli.
• Glomerular (adjective): Pertaining to the glomerulus. For example, "glomerular filtration rate (GFR)" is a measure of how well the kidneys are filtering blood.

Different Meaning:

In anatomy, "glomerulus" specifically refers to the structure in the kidneys, but in other scientific contexts, it might refer to similar cluster-like formations in different organs or systems. However, it is primarily known for its role in the kidneys.

Synonyms:

• There are no direct synonyms for "glomerulus" as it is a specific anatomical term. However, you might encounter related terms such as "capillary tuft."

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs that specifically use "glomerulus," as it is a technical term primarily used in scientific or medical contexts.

Summary:

A glomerulus is an important part of the kidney that helps filter blood to produce urine.

Academic

Noun

1. a small intertwined group of capillaries in the malpighian body; it filters the blood during urine formation