metanephros

[met-uh-nef-ros]

noun

Embryology.

plural

metanephroi 

1. one of the three embryonic excretory organs of higher vertebrates, becoming the permanent and functional kidney.

metanephros

/ ˌmɛtəˈnɛfrɒs /

noun

1. the last-formed posterior part of the embryonic kidney in reptiles, birds, and mammals, which remains functional in the adult See also pronephros mesonephros

Other Word Forms

• metanephric adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of metanephros¹

1875–80; < New Latin < Greek meta- meta- + nephrós kidney

Word History and Origins

Origin of metanephros¹

C19: New Latin, from _meta- + Greek nephros kidney