Final answer:
The glomerulus is a network of capillaries in the kidney that filters the blood, and together with Bowman's capsule, forms the renal corpuscle, a key component of the nephron and kidney function.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tiny ball of capillaries in the outer area of the kidney is known as the glomerulus, which, together with the Bowman's capsule, forms the renal corpuscle. The glomerulus is where the blood is filtered, and the filtrate is captured by Bowman's capsule before it is processed into urine. The kidneys contain a vast number of nephrons, each equipped with this filtration system, which is crucial for maintaining the body's fluid and electrolyte balance.