Key Terms Urinary System Part 1

Question 1

receive urine from the minor calyces to convey to the renal pelvis

Answer 1

Major calyces

Question 2

bands of cortical tissue that separate the renal pyramids; may mimic a renal mass on sonography if prominent

Answer 2

Columns of Bertin

Question 3

area of kidney where vessels, ureter, and lymphatics enter and exit

Answer 3

Hilus/hilum

Question 4

another term for the renal fascia; the kidney is covered by the renal capsule, perirenal fat,,pararenal fat, and renal fascia.

Answer 4

Gerota’s fascia

Question 5

a product of metabolism; laboratory test that measures the ability of the kidney to get rid of waste; waste products accumulate in the blood when the kidneys are malfunctioning

Answer 5

Creatinine

Question 6

receive urine from the renal pyramids; form the border of the renal sinus

Answer 6

Major calyces

Question 7

laboratory tests that measure how much dissolved material is present in the urine

Answer 7

Specific gravity

Question 8

maintenance of normal body physiology

Answer 8

Homeostasis

Question 9

space behind the peritoneal lining of the abdominal cavity

Answer 9

Retroperitoneum

Question 10

refers to the outer parenchyma of the kidney that contains the renal corpuscle and proximal and distal convoluted tubules of the nephron

Answer 10

Cortex

Question 11

first layer adjacent to the kidney that forms a tough, fibrous covering

Answer 11

Renal capsule

Question 12

small artery that carries blood from the glomerulus of the nephron and conducts blood to the peritubular capillaries that surround the renal tubule

Answer 12

Efferent arteriole

Question 13

small, membranous canal that excretes urine from the urinary bladder

Answer 13

Urethra

Question 14

functional unit of the kidney; includes a renal corpuscle and a renal tubule

Answer 14

Nephron

Question 15

network of capillaries that are part of the filtration process in the kidney

Answer 15

Glomerulus

Question 16

part of the nephron that consists of Bowman’s capsule and the glomerulus

Answer 16

Renal corpuscle

Question 17

part of the renal collecting system adjacent to the pyramid that collects urine and is connected to the major calyx

Answer 17

Calyx

Question 18

laboratory measurement of the amount of nitrogenous waste and creatinine in the blood; waste products accumulate in the blood when kidneys malfunction

Answer 18

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

Question 19

a kidney that is not located in its usual position, usually found in the pelvic cavity

Answer 19

Renal ectopia (ectopic kidney)

Question 20

portion of a renal tubule lying between the proximal and distal convoluted portions; reabsorption of fluid, sodium, and chloride occurs in the proximal convoluted tubule and the this structure

Answer 20

Loop of Henle

Question 21

one of several conical masses of tissue that form the kidney medulla. The base of each adjoins the kidney’s cortex; the apex terminates at a renal calyx. They consist of the loops of Henle and the collecting tubules of the nephrons

Answer 21

Renal pyramid

Question 22

normal variant that occurs on the left kidney as a bulge on the lateral border

Answer 22

Dromedary hump

Question 23

interruption in the normal development of the kidney resulting in absence of the kidney; may be unilateral or bilateral

Answer 23

Renal agenesis

Question 24

area in the midportion of the kidney that collects urine before entering the ureter

Answer 24

Renal pelvis

Question 25

muscular retroperitoneal organ that serves as a reservoir for urine

Answer 25

Urinary bladder

Question 26

central area of the kidney that includes the calyces, renal pelvis, renal vessels, fat, nerves, and lymphatics

Answer 26

Renal sinus

Question 27

congenital malformation in which both kidneys are joined together by an isthmus, most commonly at the lower poles

Answer 27

Horseshoe kidney

Question 28

stone(s) within the urinary system

Answer 28

Urolithiasis

Question 29

the cup-shaped end of a renal tubule enclosing a glomerulus; site of filtration of the kidney; contains water, salts, glucose, urea, and amino acids

Answer 29

Bowman’s capsule

Question 30

right posterior subhepatic space located anterior to the kidney and inferior to the liver where fluid may accumulate

Answer 30

Morison’s pouch

Question 31

incomplete development of the kidney, usually with fewer than five calyces

Answer 31

Renal hypoplasia

Question 32

retroperitoneal structures that exit the kidney to carry urine to the urinary bladder

Answer 32

Ureters

Question 33

small arteries that lie at the bases of the renal pyramids and appear as echogenic structures

Answer 33

Arcuate arteries

Question 34

dilation of the renal collecting system

Answer 34

Hydronephrosis

Question 35

the inner portion of the renal parenchyma that contains the loop of Henle

Answer 35

Medulla

Question 36

small artery that carries blood into the glomerulus of the nephron

Answer 36

Afferent arteriole