Urinary System

Question 1

renal cortex

Answer 1

outer region of a kidney

‘cortical’ means pertaining to the cortex

Question 2

medulla

Answer 2

inner region of the kidney

Question 3

hilum

Answer 3

• a depression on the medial border of the kidney

- blood vessels and nerves enter/leave

Question 4

ureters

Answer 4

• two tubes

- carry urine from kidneys to the urinary bladder

Question 5

urinary bladder

Answer 5

hollow, muscular sac

Question 6

trigone

Answer 6

triangular region at the base of the bladder where the ureters enter and the urethra exits

Question 7

urethra

Answer 7

tube that carries urine from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body

Question 8

urinary meatus

Answer 8

the external opening of the urethra

Question 9

arteriole

Answer 9

small artery

Question 10

calciferol

Answer 10

active form of Vitamin D, secreted by the kidney

Question 11

sg. calyx or calix

pl. calyces or calices

Answer 11

• cup-like collecting region of the renal pelvis

- the term comes from the Greek, ‘kalux’ meaning a cup or case surrounding a flower bud

Question 12

catheter

Answer 12

tube for injecting or removing fluids

Question 13

creatinine

Answer 13

• nitrogenous waste excreted in urine

- “Creatinine clearance” is a measure of the efficiency of the kidneys in removing (clearing) creatinine from the blood

Question 14

electrolyte

Answer 14

• 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

Question 15

erythropoietin (EPO)

Answer 15

hormone secreted by the kidney to stimulate the production of red blood cells by bone marrow
“-poietin” means a substance that forms

Question 16

filtration

Answer 16

process whereby some substances, but not all, pass through a filter

Question 17

glomerular capsule

Answer 17

aka. Bowman’s capsule
- enclosing structure surrounding each glomerulus
- collects the material that is filtered from the blood through the walls of the glomerulus

Question 18

sg. glomerulus

pl. glomeruli

Answer 18

tiny ball of capillaries (microscopic blood vessels) in the kidney

Question 19

kidney

Answer 19

• bean-shaped organ
• one on either side of the backbone in the lumbar region
• filters nitrogenous wastes from the bloodstream to form urine

Question 20

meatus

Answer 20

opening or canal

Question 21

nephron

Answer 21

• combination of glomerulus and renal tubule where filtration, reabsorption, and secretion take place in the kidney
• functional unit of the kidney

Question 22

nitrogenous waste

Answer 22

substance containing nitrogen and excreted in urine

ex) urea, uric acid, creatinine

Question 23

potassium (K+)

Answer 23

• 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

Question 24

reabsoption

Answer 24

process whereby renal tubules return materials necessary to the body back into the bloodstream

Question 25

renal artery

Answer 25

blood vessel that carries blood to the kidney

Question 26

renal pelvis

Answer 26

central collecting region in the kidney

Question 27

renal tubule

Answer 27

microscopic tube in the kidney where urine is formed after filtration

Question 28

renal vein

Answer 28

blood vessel that carries blood away from the kidney and towards the heart

Question 29

renin

Answer 29

• hormone secreted by the kidney

- raises blood pressure by influencing vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels)

Question 30

sodium (Na+)

Answer 30

• electrolyte regulated in the blood and urine by the kidneys
• needed for proper transmission of nerve impulses, heart activity, and other metabolic functions

Question 31

urea

Answer 31

major nitrogenous waste excreted in urine

Question 32

uric acid

Answer 32

nitrogenous waste excreted in urine

Question 33

urination (voiding)

Answer 33

aka. micturition

- process of expelling urine