Language of Medicine 7 - Vocabulary Flashcards
Small artery
arteriole
Active form of Vitamin D, secreted by the kidney
calciferol
Cup-like collecting region of the renal pelvis.
Greek for kalux, meaning a cup or case surrounding a flower bud
calyx or clix
plural: calyces or calices
Tube for injecting or removing fluids
catheter
Outer region of an organ; the renal cortex is the outer region of the kidney.
(cortical means pertaining to the cerfex)
cortex
Nitrogenous waste excreted in urine. Creatinine clearance is a measure of the kidneys in removing
(clearing) creatinine from the blood.
creatinine
Chemical element that carries an electrical charge when dissolved in water. Electrolytes are necessary for functioning of muscles and nerves. The kidneys maintain the proper balance of electrolytes and water in the blood. Potassium (K+) and sodium (Na+) are electrolytes.
electrolyte
Hormone secreted by the kidney to stimulate the production of red blood cells by bone marrow.
(Poietin means a substance that forms)
erythropoietin (EPO)
Process whereby some substances, but not all, pass through a filter.
filtration
Enclosing structure surrounding each glomerulus. The glomerular capsule is also known as Bowman’s capsule and it collects the material that is filtered from the blood through the walls of the glomerulus.
glomerular capsule
Tiny ball of capillaries (microscopic blood vessels) in the kidney.
glomerulus
plural: glomeruli
Depression in an organ where blood vessels and nerves enter and leave. Hilum comes from the Latin meaning a small thing. It is also used in the respiratory system to mark the depression in the lung where blood vessels, bronchus, and lymphatic vessels enter and leave.
hilum
One of two bean-shaped organs on either side of the backbone in the lumbar region; it filters nitrogenous wastes from the bloodstream to form urine.
kidney
Opening or canal.
meatus
Inner region of an organ. The renal medulla is the inner region of the kidney. The term comes from the Latin medulla, meaning marrow (inner part). The medullary cavity in long bones is the innermost part containing red and yellow marrow.
medulla
Combination of glomerulus and renal tubule where filtration, reabsorption, and secretion take place in the kidney, each capable of forming urine by itself. There are about 1 million nephrons in a kidney.
nephron
Substance containing nitrogen and excreted in urine. Examples of nitrogenous wastes are urea, uric acid, and creatinine.
nitrogenous waste
Electrolyte regulated by the kidney so that a proper concentration is maintained within the blood. Potassium is essential for allowing muscle contraction of nervous impulses.
potassium (K+)
Process whereby renal tubules return materials necessary to the body back into the bloodstream.
reabsorption
Blood vessels that carries blood to the kidney.
renal artery
Central collecting region in the kidney.
renal pelvis
Microscopic tube in the kidney where urine is formed after filtration.
renal tubule
Blood vessel that carries blood away from the kidney and toward the heart.
renal vein
Hormone secreted by the kidney; it raises blood pressure by influencing vasconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels)
renin
Electrolyte regulated in the blood and urine by the kidneys; needed for proper transmission of nerve impulses, heart activity, and other metabolic functions.
A common form of sodium is sodium chloride (table salt).
sodium (Na+)
Triangular area in the urinary bladder.
trigone
Major nitrogenous waste excreted in urine.
urea
One of the two tubes leading from the kidneys to the urinary bladder.
ureter
Tube leading from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body.
urethra
Nitrogenous waste excreted in the urine.
uric acid
Hollow, muscular sac that holds and stores urine.
urinary bladder
Process of expelling urine; also called micturation.
urination (voiding)
