metanephros

[ met-uh-nef-ros ]
/ ˌmɛt əˈnɛf rɒs /

noun, plural met·a·neph·roi [met-uh-nef-roi] /ˌmɛt əˈnɛf rɔɪ/. Embryology.

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

Origin of metanephros

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

OTHER WORDS FROM metanephros

met·a·neph·ric, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for metanephros

British Dictionary definitions for metanephros

metanephros
/ (ˌmɛtəˈnɛfrɒs) /

noun plural -roi (-rɔɪ)

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

Word Origin for metanephros

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

Medical definitions for metanephros

metanephros
[ mĕt′ə-nĕfrəs, -rŏs′ ]

n. pl. met•a•neph•roi (-roi′)

The third and final excretory organ that develops in a vertebrate embryo. In birds, reptiles, and mammals it replaces the mesonephros as the functional excretory organ and develops into the adult kidney.

Other words from metanephros

met′a•nephric (-rĭk) adj.