Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
renal corpuscle

renal corpuscle

8.1
A small part of the kidney that filters blood to start making urine
  • noun
  • /ˈrɛnəl ˈkɔrpəsəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : corpusculo renal
  • Each renal corpuscle contains Bowman's capsule and a glomerulus.

Examples

  • Each nephron contains a renal corpuscle that filters blood plasma.

  • The renal corpuscle plays a crucial role in the first step of urine formation.

  • Damage to the renal corpuscle can impair kidney function and waste removal.

  • The renal corpuscle plays a crucial role in kidney function.

  • The renal corpuscle is essential for filtering blood and producing urine.

  • Each nephron includes a renal corpuscle that is responsible for blood filtration.

  • In the kidney, the renal corpuscle filters waste from the bloodstream.

Synonyms

malpighian corpuscle
vsrenal corpuscle
  • Specialized
9.9

A part of the kidney at the end of a small tube where blood is filtered

is the same unit but named differently in other terminology
malpighian body
vsrenal corpuscle
  • Specialized
9.9

A small part of the kidney at the start of a tiny tube that filters blood

focuses on the overall filtering structure rather than only the capsule

Surface Forms

renal corpuscle singular
renal corpuscles plural

Morphology

renal + corpuscle

The parts are analyzable: 'renal' clearly signals 'kidney-related' and 'corpuscle' denotes a 'small body', so a learner who knows both words can infer that this is a small body/structure in the kidney. However, the precise anatomical composition (Bowman's capsule + glomerulus) and specific filtering function are technical details not predictable from the constituents alone, and 'corpuscle' may also evoke blood cells, so full meaning requires domain knowledge.

Etymology

Renal corpuscle comes from two parts: renal (meaning 'kidney') and corpuscle (meaning 'small body'). It is a tiny 'body' at the start of each small tube in the kidney that 'filters blood', so the name fits its role as a small body in the kidney that does the filtering.