Chapter 7 Flashcards
arteriole
small artery
calciferol
active form of vitamin D secreted by the kidney
calyx; calix
cup-like collecting region of the renal pelvis
catheter
tube for injecting or removing fluids
cortex
outer region of an organ; outer region of the kidney
creatinine
nitrogenous waste excreted in urine; product of muscle metabolism
creatinine clearance
measure of the efficiency of the kidneys in removing (clearing) creatinine from the blood
electrolyte
chemical element that carries an electrical charge when dissolved in water; necessary for functioning of muscles and nerves; proper balance maintained by kidneys; examples: potassium (K+) and sodium (Na+)
erythropoietin (EPO)
hormone secreted by kidney to stimulate the production of red blood cells
filtration
process whereby some substances, but not all, pass through a filter
glomerular capsule
enclosing structure surrounding each glomerulus; also known as Bowman capsule; collects material that is filtered from the blood through the walls of the glomerulus
glomerulus
tiny ball of capillaries in the kidney
hilum
depression in the kidney where blood vessels and nerves enter and leave
kidney
one of two bean-shaped organs on either side of the backbone in the lumbar region; filters nitrogenous wastes from the bloodstream to form urine
meatus
opening or canal
medulla
inner region of an organ
nephron
functional unit of the kidney; combination of glomerulus and renal tubule where filtration, reabsorption, and secretion take place
nitrogenous waste
substance containing nitrogen and excreted in urine; ie urea, uric acid, and creatinine
potassium (K+)
electrolyte regulated by the kidney so that a proper concentration is maintained within the blood; essential for allowing muscle contraction and conduction of nervous impulses
reabsorption
process whereby renal tubules return materials necessary to the body back into the bloodstream
renal artery
blood vessel that carries blood to the kidney
renal pelvis
central collecting region in the kidney
renal tubule
microscopic tube in the kidney where urine is formed after filtration
renal vein
blood vessel that carries blood away from the kidney and toward the heart
renin
enzyme secreted by the kidney; raises blood pressure by influencing vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels)
sodium (Na+)
electrolyte regulated in the blood and urine by the kidneys; needed for proper transmission of nerve impulses, heart activity, and other metabolic functions
trigone
triangular area in the urinary bladder
urea
major nitrogenous waste excreted in urine
ureter
one of two tubes leading from a kidney to the urinary bladder
urethra
tube leading from the urinary bladder to outside of the body
uric acid
nitrogenous waste excreted in the urine
urinary bladder
hollow, muscular sac that holds and stores urine
urination (voiding)
process of expelling urine; also called micturition
