Nephrology
/ˌnɛfrəˈlɒdʒi/noun
The branch of medicine concerned with the kidneys.
Did you know?The root nephr- comes from Greek nephros, and it survives in old medical and anatomical words tied to the kidneys—proof that ancient body-language still runs modern medicine.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
nephrós
“kidney”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-logia
“study, discourse”
Late Latin / New Latin
Latin
nephrologia
“study of the kidneys”
19th Century
English
nephrology
“the medical study of kidney disease”
Modern English
English
nephrology
“the branch of medicine dealing with the kidneys”