Pronephros ( head kidney [1] , prepochma ; from other Greek πρό - “in front” and νεφρός - “kidney”) is the paired organ of excretion in embryos of lower vertebrates . In higher vertebrates (including humans ), pronephros is laid, but does not function.
The excretory tubules of the pronephros usually have a single filtering apparatus - a vascular glomerulus located near the funnels (nephrostomy), with which the tubules open as a whole . The other ends of the tubules, merging, form the primordium of the pronephric canal, which grows back and flows into the cloaca . In the process of development, pronephros is replaced by a primary kidney - mesonephros .
Notes
- ↑ Shimkevich V. M. Head kidney // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
Sources
- Pronefros - an article from the Biological Encyclopedic Dictionary.
- Pronefros - article from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia . .