pronephros
[ proh-nef-ros, -ruh s ]
/ proʊˈnɛf rɒs, -rəs /
noun, plural pro·neph·roi [proh-nef-roi] /proʊˈnɛf rɔɪ/, pro·neph·ra [proh-nef-ruh] /proʊˈnɛf rə/. Embryology.
one of the three embryonic excretory organs of vertebrates, which becomes the functional kidney of certain primitive fishes.
Compare
mesonephros,
metanephros.
Origin of pronephros
OTHER WORDS FROM pronephros
pro·neph·ric [proh-nef-rik] /proʊˈnɛf rɪk/, adjectiveWords nearby pronephros
pronation,
pronator,
prone,
prone float,
prone pressure method,
pronephros,
prong,
prong key,
pronged,
pronghorn,
pronominal
Example sentences from the Web for pronephros
British Dictionary definitions for pronephros
pronephros
/ (prəʊˈnɛfrɒs) /
noun plural -roi (-rɔɪ) or -ra (-rə)
the first-formed anterior part of the embryonic kidney in vertebrates, which remains functional in the larvae of the lower vertebrates
See also mesonephros, metanephros
Derived forms of pronephros
pronephric, adjectiveWord Origin for pronephros
C19: New Latin, from
pro- ² + Greek
nephros kidney
Medical definitions for pronephros
pronephros
[ prō-nĕf′rəs, -rŏs′ ]
n. pl. pro•neph•roi (-roi)
A kidneylike organ, being either part of the most anterior pair of three pairs of organs in a vertebrate embryo, usually disappearing early in embryonic development.