Urinary system/ kidneys Flashcards
Kidney
- Removes waste products
- Maintains electrolyte levels
- Regulates blood pressure
Adrenal gland
Produces hormones which help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, response to stress etc.
Ureters
- Carry urine from kidneys to bladder
Urethra
- Duct which transmits urine from the bladder to the exterior of body during urination
Bladder
- Bladder walls relax and expand to store urine
- Bladder walls contract and flatten to empty urine through the urethra
Renal artery
Branches off from lower part of aorta to provide blood supply to the kidneys
Renal vein
Main blood vessel which carries blood from kidneys and ureter to the inferior vena cava
Renal capsule
- composed of collagen and elastin (fibrous proteins)
- Helps support kidney mass and protects from injury
Nephron
Produces urine in process of removing waster and excess substances from blood
Nephron loop
Reabsorbs water and sodium chloride from filtrate
Glomerulus
Filters plasma to produce glomerular filtrate which passes down nephron tubule to form urine
Glomerular (Bowman’s) capsule
- Filtration of blood from glomerular capillaries
- Structurally creates a urinary space through which filtrate enters nephron and passes to the proximal convoluted tubule
Collecting duct
- Final component of kidneys
- Collects urine from nephrons and moves it into the renal pelvis and ureters