nephridium

[ nuh-frid-ee-uhm ]

/ nəˈfrɪd i əm /

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noun, plural ne·phrid·i·a

[nuh-frid-ee-uh]. /nəˈfrɪd i ə/. Zoology.

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

OTHER WORDS FROM nephridium

ne·phrid·i·al, adjective

Words nearby nephridium

nephrectasis, nephrectomize, nephrectomy, nephrelcosis, nephric, nephridium, nephrite, nephritic, nephritic syndrome, nephritis, nephritogenic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use nephridium in a sentence

Portion of nephridium of the hindermost leg of Peripatus capensis, seen in longitudinal and vertical section.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume IV (of 4)|Francis Maitland Balfour
The most important fact about them is that they disappear, and are in no way connected with the typical nephridium of the adult.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 5|Various
There are thus substantial reasons for believing that the nephridium grows backwards from a funnel as does the coelomoduct.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 7|Various
D, Optical section of a branch of the nephridium of Nephthys scolopendroides.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 7|Various

Externally, the nephridium opens by a vesicle, as in many Oligochaetes whose lumen is intercellular.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 7|Various

British Dictionary definitions for nephridium

nephridium

/ (nɪˈfrɪdɪəm) /

noun plural -ia (-ɪə)

a simple excretory organ of many invertebrates, consisting of a tube through which waste products pass to the exterior

Derived forms of nephridium

nephridial, adjective

Word Origin for nephridium

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

Medical definitions for nephridium

nephridium

[ nə-frĭd′ē-əm ]

n. pl. ne•phrid•i•a (-ē-ə)

The embryonic excretory organ from which the kidney develops.