Definition

Noun: * Bowman's capsule: A thin, double-walled, cup-shaped membrane that surrounds the glomerulus of a nephron in the kidney. It is the initial site of blood filtration in the process of forming urine.

Usage

• Bowman's capsule is a specific anatomical structure. It is always used as a singular noun, often preceded by "the."
• It is a fundamental term in human biology, physiology, and medicine, particularly in discussions of the renal system.
• Example: "The filtrate from the blood first collects in the Bowman's capsule before moving into the renal tubule."

Examples

• The pressure within the glomerulus forces fluid through its walls and into the surrounding Bowman's capsule.
• Damage to the Bowman's capsule can impair the kidney's filtration ability.
• In the diagram, identify the Bowman's capsule and the glomerulus it encloses.

Advanced Usage

• Histological context: When viewed under a microscope, the Bowman's capsule appears as a clear space (Bowman's space) between its inner and outer layers.
• Pathological context: Conditions like glomerulonephritis directly affect the glomerulus and the Bowman's capsule.

Variants and Related Words

• Glomerular capsule: A synonym for Bowman's capsule.
• Nephron: The functional unit of the kidney, of which the Bowman's capsule and glomerulus are a part.
• Glomerulus: The network of capillaries enclosed by the Bowman's capsule.
• Renal corpuscle: The structure consisting of the glomerulus and the Bowman's capsule together.

Synonyms

• Glomerular capsule

Notes

• The term is named after Sir William Bowman (1816–1892), the English surgeon and histologist who described it.
• It is a compound noun. The possessive form "Bowman's" is always used.

Noun

1. thin double membrane surrounding the glomerulus of a nephron