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The structure that surrounds the glomerulus of each nephron is the Bowman capsule. This is an essential part of the kidney's filtration system. The Bowman capsule functions as a double-walled cup that collects the filtrate produced by the glomerulus, which is a network of capillaries that filters blood, separating waste and excess substances from the blood to form urine.

As blood passes through the glomerulus, water, electrolytes, and small molecules are filtered into the Bowman capsule while larger molecules, such as proteins, remain in the bloodstream. This initial filtrate then continues through the nephron for further processing in the proximal tubule and subsequent structures.

The other structures mentioned do not surround the glomerulus. The ureter transports urine from the kidneys to the bladder, the proximal tubule is involved in the reabsorption of water, ions, and nutrients from the filtrate, and the distal tubule plays a role in further ion exchange and regulation of pH, but none of these enclose the glomerulus itself. Therefore, the Bowman capsule is correctly identified as the structure that envelops the glomerulus.