superficial glomerulus count count of superficial glomeruli not directly contacting the kidney surface 2012-08-02T01:15:32Z Count of the number of glomeruli located in the superficial layer of the renal cortex, the cortex corticis but without any direct contact with the surface of the kidney, i.e. the renal capsule. Glomeruli are the tufts of capillaries each situated within a Bowman's capsule at the end of a renal tubule in the vertebrate kidney that filter waste products from the blood and thus initiate urine formation. JSmith