LO5 Key words Flashcards
definition of urea
a substance formed by the breakdown of protein in the liver.
the kidney filter the urea out of the blood
definition of regulate
to control or maintain the rate or speed of a process so that it operates correctly
definition of a nephron
the basic structure in the kidney that produces urine in the process of removing waste and excess substances from the blood
definition of the proximal tubule
the first nephron segment after the glomerulus where sodium reabsorption happens
definition of the distal tubule
the nephron segment responsible for reabsorbing water as required to produce urine
definition of filtration
the kidneys filter unwanted substances from the blood and produce urine to excrete them
definition of ultrafiltration
filtration through a membrane which allows small molecules to pass through but holds back larger ones
definition of hypothalamus
the part of the brain responsible for the maintenance of body temperature and regulation of appetite/thirst
definition of negative feedback loop
action taken by the body to return something to a normal/optimum level following a deviation from that level
definition of glomerulus
a bundle of capillaries around the end of a kidney tubule that filters the blood and initiates urine formation
definition of the bowmans capsule
part of the nephron that forms a cup like sack surrounding the glomerulus
participates in the filtration of blood - collects blood, filtrates it and sends it to the renal tubule for further processing in order to form urine
definition of homeostasis
a self regulating process which maintains internal conditions whilst adjusting to changing external conditions
definition of osmoregulation
the maintenance of constant osmotic pressure in the fluids of an organism by the control of water and salt concentrations
definition of deamination
a process in the liver that removes the amino group from an amino acid to produce ammonia
definition of excreted
to separate/eliminate waste from the blood
