Urinary System

retroperitoneal

the anatomical area in the posterior abdominal cavity located behind (retro) the peritoneum

renal fascia

outer layer of dense fibrous connective tissue that anchors the kidney, number 3

perirenal fat capsule

a fatty mass that surrounds the kidney and cushions it against blows

fibrous capsule

a transparent capsule that prevents infections in surrounding regions from spreading to the kidney, number 1

renal cortex

outer region of the kidney

renal medulla

inner region of the kidney

renal hilum

A medial indentation where several structures enter or exit the kidney (ureters, renal blood vessels, and nerves)

renal pyramids

striated triangular-shaped areas of tissue in the medulla of the kidney

renal papillae

medullary area of the renal pyramids where collecting ducts empty urine into the minor calyces

renal columns

extensions of cortex in between pyramids

minor calyx

cup that nestles the papilla of each pyramid; collects its urine

major calyx

urine passageway

renal pelvis

central collecting region in the kidney

ureters

Tubes transporting urine from kidneys to bladder.

urinary bladder

hollow, muscular sac that holds and stores urine lined with transitional epithelial cells

urethra

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

internal urethral sphincters

involuntary and made of smooth muscle

external urethral sphincters

Voluntary and made of skeletal muscle

detrusor muscle

Smooth muscle that compresses the urinary bladder and expels urine into the urethra.

prostate gland

A gland in males that adds chemicals to the seminal fluid.

cortical nephron

-short nephron loop

-glomerulus further from the cortex-medulla junction

-efferent arteriole supplies peritubular capillaries

juxtamedullary nephron

long nephron loop

glomerulus closer to the cortex-medulla junction

efferent arteriole supplies vasa recta

Renal corpuscle

glomerulus and bowman's capsule, simple squamous epithelial cells

glomerulus

small network of capillaries encased in the upper end of a nephron; where the filtration of blood takes place

afferent arteriole

carries blood to the glomerulus

efferent arteriole

carries blood away from the glomerulus

glomerular capsule

surrounds the glomerulus

podocytes

These cells form a porous membrane (filtrate) surrounding the endothelial cells of the glomerulus

juxtaglomerular cells

large, vascular smooth muscle cells, secrete renin, of the afferent arteriole

macula densa cells

(chemoreceptors) - part of ascending limb of LOH that detects changes in NaCl content of filtrate

Renal tubules

small tubes in the kidney where reabsorption takes place, simple cuboidal epithelial cells

proximal convoluted tubule

first section of the renal tubule that the blood flows through; reabsorption of water, ions, and all organic nutrients, also simple cuboidal epithelial cells

nephron loop

U-shaped segment of the nephron between the proximal convoluted tubule and the distal convoluted tubule

descending limb

The limb of the nephron loop that carries fluid from the cortex towards the medulla of the kidney

ascending limb

The limb of the nephron loop that carries fluid from the medulla towards the cortex of the kidney.

thin segments

-simple squamous epithelium

-found primarily in the descending limb

-Are freely permeable to water not to solutes

-Water movement helps concentrate tubular fluid

thick segments

-simple cuboidal epithelium

-found primarily in ascending limb.

-Has highly effective pumping mechanism

-2/3 of Na+ and Cl- are pumped out of tubular fluid before it reaching DCT (solute concentration in tubular fluid declines)

distal convoluted tubule

regulating blood pressure via Na-Cl reabsorption, and maintaining acid-base balance by secreting H+ ions.

collecting ducts

several nephrons share a collecting duct which serve to carry urine to the renal pelvis

Nephroptosis

prolapse of the kidney

Hydronephrosis

the swelling of one or both kidneys caused by a buildup of urine that cannot drain properly into the bladder

renal artery

Supplies blood to the kidneys.

segmental artery

move blood from renal artery to interlobar artery

interlobar artery

move oxygenated blood from segmental artery to arcuate artery

arcuate artery

cortical radiate artery

take blood to afferent arteriole that enters glomerulus

peritubular capillary

a member of the network of small blood vessels that surround the tubule of the nephron

cortical radiate vein

takes deoxygenated blood from peritubular capillaries/vasa recta

arcuate vein

interlobar vein

move deoxygenated blood from arcuate vein to renal vein

renal vein

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

inferior vena cava

receives blood from lower limbs and abdominal organs and empties into the posterior part of the right atrium of the heart