glomerulus meaning: definition, etymology

glomerulus

noun

US /ɡləˈmɛɹ.jəl.əs/

Etymology From the diminutive of the Latin glomus (gen. glomeris) meaning "ball of yarn" or "ball-shaped mass".

Anatomy, Medicine, Sciences A small intertwined group of capillaries within nephrons of the kidney that filter the blood to make urine

Anatomy, Medicine, Sciences A structure in the olfactory bulb central to olfactory sensory transduction, composed of receptor neuron axons and mitral neuron dendrites and organized by odor type.

Any of several other similar intertwined masses of things

Derived terms: glomerulitis, glomeruloid, macroglomerulus, microglomerulus, protoglomerulus
Related terms: glomerule, glomerulate, glomerulation, glomerulo-, glomerul-, conglomerate