1. plural of metanephros; the permanent kidneys that develop in vertebrate embryos
Usage: medical; embryology

Examples

• The metanephroi begin to form during the fifth week of human embryonic development.
• In mammals, the metanephroi replace the earlier mesonephroi as the functional kidneys.
• The development of metanephroi involves complex interactions between different embryonic tissues.
• Abnormal formation of the metanephroi can lead to congenital kidney defects.
• The metanephroi arise from the metanephric blastema and ureteric bud.
• By birth, the metanephroi have become the fully functional kidneys.