Anatomy & Physiology: Urinary Tract Flashcards
Urinary System
The Kidney, Bladder Ureter, and Urethra.
Urinary Tract
The body’s drainage system for removing urine, which is composed of wastes and extra fluid.
Waste Elimination
Urea, creatinine, uric acid, and ammonium are the primary types of nitrogenous wastes excreted from the body.
Osmoregulation of Blood and Water
Continual balance of water and salt in the blood, maintained by the kidneys.
Hormone Excretion
Secretions of certain hormones by the kidneys to regulate processes that range from blood pressure and red bloods cell production to calcium uptake via Vitamin D.
Renal Artery
The flow of blood from the heart through the kidneys.
Renal Vein
The flow of blood away from or out of the kidneys.
Nephron
The functional and structural unit of a kidney.
Renal Corpuscle
Divided into the glomerulus and glomerular capsule (or Bowman’s capsule)
Renal Tubule
A duct that connects to the glomerulus and terminates at the tip of the medullary pyramid.
Glomerulus
A type of capillary bed that functions as a filtration system, filtering solutes as blood enters the kidneys from the renal artery.
Glomerular Capsule
Surrounds the glomerulus
Sphincter
Neural impulses transmitted here and tells the bladder to relax and allow urine to exist.
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
This hormone is secreted from the posterior pituitary gland in the brain. Regulates urine concentration and volume by controlling how much water is reabsorbed in the tubules of the nephrons.
Urinalysis
A test that can reveal urinary disease that does not necessarily present observable symptoms.
