The Urinary System Terms Flashcards
Afferent Arteriole
Arteriole that carries blood into glomerulus
Albumin
Protein normally found circulating in bloodstream; it is abnormal for albumin to be in urine
Bowman’s Capsule
Also called ‘glomerular capsule’; part of renal corpuscle; is a double-walled cuplike structure that encircles glomerulus; in filtration stage of urine production, waste products filtered from blood enter Bowman’s capsule as glomerular filtrate
Calyx
Duct that connects renal papilla to renal pelvis; urine flows from collecting tubule through calyx and into renal pelvis
Collecting Tubule
Portion of renal tubule
Cortex
Outer layer of organ; in endocrine system, it refers to outer layer of adrenal glands; in urinary system, outer layer of kidney
Distal Convoluted Tubule
Portion of renal tubule
Efferent Arteriole
Arteriole that carries blood away from glomerulus
Eletrolyte
Chemical compound that separates into charged particles, or ionizes, in solution; sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium (K) are examples of electrolytes
External Sphincter
Ring of voluntary muscle that controls emptying of urine from bladder
Filtration
First stage of urine production during which waste products are filtered from blood
Genitourinary System (GU)
Organs of the urinary system and female or make sexual organs
Glomerular Capsule
Also called ‘Bowman’s capsule’; part of renal corpuscle; is a double-walled cuplike structure that encircles glomerulus; in filtration stage of urine production, waste products filtered from blood enter Bowman’s capsule as glomerular filtrate
Glomerular Filtrate
Product of filtration stage of urine production; water, electrolytes, nutrients, wastes, and toxins that are filtered from blood passing through glomerulus; filtrate enters Bowman’s capsule
Glomerulus
Ball of capillaries encased by Bowman’s capsule; in filtration stage of urine production, wastes filtered from blood leave glomerulus capillaries and enter Bowman’s capsule
Hilum
Controlled entry/exit point of an organ such as kidney or lung
Homeostasis
Steady state or state of balance within body; kidneys assist in maintaining this regulatory, steady state
Internal Sphincter
Ring of involuntary muscle that keeps urine within bladder
Kidneys
Two kidneys located in lumbar region of back behind parietal peritoneum; under muscles of back, just a little above waist; have concave or depressed area that gives them bean-shaped appearance; center of this concavity is called hilum
Loop of Henle
Portion of renal tubule
Medulla
Central area of an organ; in endocrine system refers to adrenal medulla; in urinary system, refers to inner portion of kidney
Nephron
Functional or working unit of kidney that filters blood and produces urine; there are more than 1 million nephrons in adult kidney; each nephron consists of renal corpuscle and renal tubules
Nephron Loop
Portion of renal tubule; also referred to as ‘Loop of Henle.’
Nitrogenous Wastes
Waste products that contain nitrogen; products, such as ammonia and urea, are produced during protein metabolism
Peritubular Capillaries
Capillary bed surrounding renal tubules
Proximal Convoluted Tubule
Portion of renal tubule
Reabsorption
Second phase of urine production; substances needed by body are reabsorbed as filtrate passes through kidney tubules
Renal Artery
Artery that originates from abdominal aorta and carries blood to nephrons of kidney
Renal Corpuscle
Part of nephron; double-walled cuplike structure called ‘glomerular capsule’ or ‘Bowman’s capsule’ and contains capillary network called glomerulus; afferent arteriole carries blood to glomerulus and efferent arteriole carries blood away from glomerulus; filtration stage of urine production occurs in renal corpuscle as wastes are filtered from blood in glomerulus and enter Bowman’s capsule
Renal Papilla
Tip of renal pyramid
Renal Pelvis
Large collecting site for urine within kidney; collects urine from each calyx; urine leaves renal pelvis via ureter
Renal Pyramid
Triangular-shaped region of renal medulla
Renal Tubule
Network of tubes found in a nephron; consists of proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal tubule, and collecting tubule; reabsorption and secretion stages of urine production occur within renal tubule; as glomerular filtrate passes through renal tubule, most of water and some of dissolved substances, such as amino acids and electrolytes, are reabsorbed; at same time, substances that are too large to filter into Bowman’s capsule, such as urea, are secreted directly from bloodstream into renal tubule; filtrate that reaches collecting tubule becomes urine
Renal Vein
Vein that carries blood away from kidneys
Retroperitoneal
Pertaining to behind peritoneum; used to describe position of kidneys, which is outside of peritoneal sac alongside spine
Rugae
Prominent folds in mucosa of stomach; smooth out and almost disappear allowing stomach to expand when full of food; also found in urinary bladder
Secretion
Third phase of urine production; additional waste products are added to filtrate as it passes through kidney tubules
Specific Gravity (sp. grav.)
Characteristic of urine that indicates amount of dissolved substances in urine
Uremia
Excess of urea and other nitrogenous waste in blood
Ureters
Organs in urinary system that transport urine from kidney to bladder
Urethra
Tube that leads from urinary bladder to outside of body; in male it is also used by reproductive system to release semen
Urinalysis (U/A, UA)
Laboratory test consisting of physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine
Urinary Bladder
Organ in the urinary system that stores urine
Urinary Meatus
External opening of urethra
Urination
Release of urine from urinary bladder
Urine
Fluid that remains in urinary system following three stages of urine production: filtration, reabsorption, and secretion
