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nephridium

[nuh-frid-ee-uh m]
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noun, plural ne·phrid·i·a [nuh-frid-ee-uh] /nəˈfrɪd i ə/. Zoology.
  1. the excretory organ of many invertebrates, consisting of a tubule with one end opening into the body cavity and the other opening into a pore at the body surface.
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Origin of nephridium

From New Latin, dating back to 1875–80; see origin at nephr-, -idium
Related formsne·phrid·i·al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for nephridia

Historical Examples

  • The nephridia are not easily distinguished, though they are very numerous.

    A Guide for the Study of Animals

    Worrallo Whitney

  • The function of the nephridia is to carry off waste matter from the fluid which fills the body-cavity.

  • Note the delicate membranous dark-colored sac on the floor of the pericardium, the kidneys or nephridia.

  • There are two organs, serving the function of kidneys, placed dorsally one upon each side of the body (nephridia).

    The Sea-beach at Ebb-tide

    Augusta Foote Arnold

  • They consist as a rule of but few segments to most of which a pair of nephridia belong.

British Dictionary definitions for nephridia

nephridium

noun plural -ia (-ɪə)
  1. a simple excretory organ of many invertebrates, consisting of a tube through which waste products pass to the exterior
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Derived Formsnephridial, adjective

Word Origin

C19: New Latin: little kidney
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for nephridia

nephridium

n.

(plural nephridia), 1877, Modern Latin, from Greek diminutive of nephros "kidney" (see nephron).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
nephridia in Medicine

nephridium

(nə-frĭd′ē-əm)
n. pl. ne•phrid•i•a (-ē-ə)
  1. The embryonic excretory organ from which the kidney develops.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.