pronephron

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The first part of the urogenital system to be differentiated in a vertebrate embryo, which functions as a simple excretory organ in simpler forms, serves as a provisional kidney in some fish and amphibians, and only appears as a temporary embryonic structure in reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Word forms

pronephron pronephrons

Etymology

From pro- + nephron.

Synonyms

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