1. The functional filtering unit of the kidney, consisting of a glomerulus and a renal tubule, responsible for removing waste products from the blood and forming urine.
Usage: anatomy; biology

Examples

• Each kidney contains approximately one million nephrons that work together to filter blood.
• The nephron is the basic structural and functional unit of the kidney.
• Damage to nephrons can lead to kidney disease and reduced kidney function.
• During filtration, the glomerulus at the beginning of each nephron removes waste and excess water from the blood.
• The renal tubule portion of the nephron reabsorbs useful substances like glucose and water back into the bloodstream.