excretory organ functions

bio 20

renal artery

delivers oxygenated blood from heart to kidney

renal cortex

outer region of the kidney where intial blood filtration occurs

renal medula

inner region of the kidney where reabsorption and secretion takes place

renal pelvis

funnel-shape cavity that collects urine and passes it to the ureter

renal vein

carries filtered deoxygenated blood away from the kidney to the inferior vena cava

descending aorta

main artery carrying oxygenated blood from the heart

inferior vena cava

large vein that returns deoxygenated blood to the heart

ureter

muscular tube that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder using peristaltic contractions

urinary bladder

muscular sac that stores urine until it is ready to be excreted from the body

urethra

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

efferent arteriole

carries filtered blood away from the glomerulus to the capillaries for further exchange

proximal tubule

reabsorbs most of the filtered water, glucose, amino acids, and ions back into the blood

bowman’s capsule

cup like structure that surrounds the glomerulus and collets the filtrate from the blood

distal tubule

fine tunes salt and ph balance; selectively reabsorbs substances under the control of hormones

collecting duct

collects urine from multiple nephrons

peritubular capillaries

surround the tubules and allow for exchange of substances

loop of henle

establishes concentration gradient in kidney and medulla; curcial for conserving water

glomerulus

capillary network (ball) where blood pressure forces plasma out into bowman’s capsule during filtration