7.18B - **Biology Only** Structure of the Urinary System Flashcards
What is the main function of the urinary system?
The urinary system removes impurities and waste products from our blood.
What is the main organ of the urinary system?
The main organ is the kidney.
How many kidneys do we have and where are they located?
We have two kidneys, one on the left and one on the right, located in the lower back (lumbar) region.
What is the route that blood takes to be purified in the kidneys?
Blood containing impurities travels in the renal artery to the kidneys.
What do the kidneys regulate in the blood?
The kidneys regulate the levels of salt, ions, and urea in the blood.
What happens to excess substances in the blood?
Any excess is sent to the ureter for excretion and eventually the bladder.
How does purified blood return to circulation?
The purified blood returns to circulation by way of the renal vein.
What are the two main parts of the kidney?
The inner part is called the medulla and the outer part is called the cortex.
What does the ureter do?
The ureter carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder to be excreted out of the body.
What supplies blood to the kidneys?
The kidneys are supplied by the renal artery.
What takes blood away from the kidneys?
A renal vein takes blood away from the kidneys.
What are nephrons and what do they consist of?
Each kidney contains millions of nephrons, which consist of a glomerulus, a region for selective reabsorption, and a kidney tubule.
What is a glomerulus?
A glomerulus is a ball of capillaries found in the nephron.
What is the function of the kidney tubule?
The kidney tubule regulates water and salt.
