LEC 12 BIOL 2240

Flashcards summarizing key concepts related to the urinary system, its anatomy, and function.

Urinary System

The system responsible for filtering blood, removing waste, and excreting urine.

Kidneys

Paired, bean-shaped organs that filter blood and produce urine.

Ureters

Thin muscular tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder.

Urinary Bladder

Muscular sac that temporarily stores urine before it is expelled.

Urethra

The tube through which urine exits the body; also carries sperm in males.

Filtration

Process of removing waste products from the blood in the kidneys.

Nephroptosis

Condition known as 'floating kidney' where the kidney descends more than two vertebral bodies.

Renal Cortex

The superficial glandular layer of the kidney containing nephrons.

Renal Medulla

The inner layer of the kidney, consisting of renal pyramids and columns.

Renal Pyramids

Cone-shaped areas in the renal medulla that contain collecting ducts.

Renal Hilum

The concave part of the kidney where blood vessels, nerves, and ureter enter or exit.

Renal Capsule

Transparent fibrous tissue surrounding each kidney for protection.

Renal Pelvis

Funnel-shaped tube that collects urine from the major calyces and leads to the ureter.

Calyces

Cup-shaped structures in the kidney that collect urine from the renal pyramids.

Ureteral Openings

The openings in the urinary bladder where the ureters enter.

Trigone

The triangular area in the bladder formed by the openings of the ureters and urethra.

Rugae

Folds in the mucosa of the urinary bladder that allow for expansion.

Ductus Deferens

Muscular tube that transports sperm from the testes to the urethra in males.

Detrusor Muscle

The muscle layer of the urinary bladder that contracts to expel urine.

Inferior Vena Cava

The large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart.

Renal Artery

Blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood to the kidneys from the abdominal aorta.

Renal Vein

Blood vessel that drains deoxygenated blood from the kidneys to the inferior vena cava.

External Urethral Sphincter

Skeletal muscle that controls the release of urine from the bladder.

Internal Urethral Sphincter

Smooth muscle that controls the flow of urine from the bladder into the urethra.

Bladder Neck

The narrow part of the bladder that connects to the urethra.

Perirenal Fat Capsule

The layer of fat surrounding the kidneys providing protection and insulation.

Interlobar Arteries

Arteries that branch off the renal arteries and travel between the renal lobes.

Segmental Arteries

Branches of the renal artery that supply specific segments of the kidney.

Backflow Prevention

Mechanism by which the ureters are compressed when the bladder is full to prevent urine reflux.

Micturition

The process of expelling urine from the bladder through the urethra.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Infection in any part of the urinary system, more common in females due to shorter urethra.