Urinary System Flashcards
renal cortex
outer region of a kidney
‘cortical’ means pertaining to the cortex
medulla
inner region of the kidney
hilum
- a depression on the medial border of the kidney
- blood vessels and nerves enter/leave
ureters
- two tubes
- carry urine from kidneys to the urinary bladder
urinary bladder
hollow, muscular sac
trigone
triangular region at the base of the bladder where the ureters enter and the urethra exits
urethra
tube that carries urine from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body
urinary meatus
the external opening of the urethra
arteriole
small artery
calciferol
active form of Vitamin D, secreted by the kidney
sg. calyx or calix
pl. calyces or calices
- cup-like collecting region of the renal pelvis
- the term comes from the Greek, ‘kalux’ meaning a cup or case surrounding a flower bud
catheter
tube for injecting or removing fluids
creatinine
- nitrogenous waste excreted in urine
- “Creatinine clearance” is a 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
- kidneys maintain proper balance of electrolytes and water in the blood
- Potassium (K+) and sodium (Na+) are electrolytes
erythropoietin (EPO)
hormone secreted by the kidney to stimulate the production of red blood cells by bone marrow
“-poietin” means a substance that forms
filtration
process whereby some substances, but not all, pass through a filter
glomerular capsule
aka. Bowman’s capsule
- enclosing structure surrounding each glomerulus
- collects the material that is filtered from the blood through the walls of the glomerulus
sg. glomerulus
pl. glomeruli
tiny ball of capillaries (microscopic blood vessels) in the kidney
kidney
- bean-shaped organ
- one on either side of the backbone in the lumbar region
- filters nitrogenous wastes from the bloodstream to form urine
meatus
opening or canal
nephron
- combination of glomerulus and renal tubule where filtration, reabsorption, and secretion take place in the kidney
- functional unit of the kidney
nitrogenous waste
substance containing nitrogen and excreted in urine
ex) urea, uric acid, 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
reabsoption
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 towards the heart
renin
- hormone 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
urea
major nitrogenous waste excreted in urine
uric acid
nitrogenous waste excreted in urine
urination (voiding)
aka. micturition
- process of expelling urine
