Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
glomerular capsule

glomerular capsule

8.1
A thin two-layer wall around a small knot of blood vessels in the kidney that starts filtering blood
  • noun
  • /ɡloʊˈmɛrjələr ˈkæpsəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cápsula glomerular
  • The glomerular capsule encases the glomerulus and initiates the filtration process in the kidney.

Examples

  • Each glomerular capsule surrounds a glomerulus in the nephron.

  • Inflammation of the glomerular capsule can impair kidney function.

  • Renal pathologists examined tissue samples of the glomerular capsule to diagnose the disease.

  • The glomerular capsule plays a crucial role in kidney function.

  • The glomerular capsule encases the glomerulus and is essential for filtering blood in the kidney.

  • Renal pathologists examined samples of the glomerular capsule to understand kidney diseases better.

  • Inflammation of the glomerular capsule can lead to serious complications in kidney function.

Synonyms

capsula glomeruli
vsglomerular capsule
  • Specialized
9.9

A thin two-layer covering around the glomerulus, the small ball of blood vessels in a kidney that filters blood

is the same membrane described by a different name
Bowman's capsule
vsglomerular capsule
  • Specialized
6.7

A thin sac that surrounds tiny blood vessels in the kidney and helps filter blood to make urine

focuses on the membrane's role in filtering blood rather than naming it

Surface Forms

glomerular capsule singular
glomerular capsules plural

Morphology

glomerular + capsule

The noun phrase is directly compositional: 'glomerular' means 'pertaining to the glomerulus' and 'capsule' is a membranous layer, so together they denote the membrane surrounding the glomerulus. Although the terms are technical, the modifier + noun structure and the literal relationship are predictable and derivable by a learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Glomerular capsule comes from two parts: glomerular (from a tiny ball of blood vessels called the glomerulus) and capsule (a small case). So it gives a clear image: the capsule is the little case around the tiny ball that 'filters' the blood in the kidney, and that's why the name means the part that 'surrounds' the filter.