Chap 7.2: urinary system ( vocabulary)

Arteriole

small artery

Calciferol

active form of vitamin D, secreted by the kidney

calyx or calix (plural: calyces or calices)

Cup-like collecting region of the renal pelvis. The term comes from Greek, kalux meaning a cup or case surrounding a flower bud.

Catheter

tube for injecting or removing fluids

Cortex

outer region of an organ; the renal cortex is the outer region of the kidney

Creatinine

Nitrogenous waste excreted in urine. Creatinine clearance is a measure of the efficiency of the kidneys in removing (clearing) creatinine from the blood.

Electrolyte - chất điện giải

chemical element that carries an electrical charge when dissolved in water

Erythropoietin (EPO)

hormone secreted by the kidney to stimulate the production of red blood cells by bone marrow

Filtration - lọc

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

glomerular capsule - viên nang cầu thận

Enclosing structure surrounding each glomerulus. The glomerular capsule is also known as Bowman's capsule and it collects the material that is filtered from the blood through the walls of the glomerulus.

glomerulus (plural: glomeruli)

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

Hilum

depression in an organ where blood vessels and nerves enter and leave

Kidney

one of two bean-shaped organs on either side of the backbone in the lumbar region; it filters nitrogenous wastes from the bloodstream to form urine

Meatus

opening or canal

Medulla

inner region of an organ. The renal medulla is the inner region of the kidney

nephron

combination of glomerulus and renal tubule where filtration, reabsorption, and secretion take place in the kidney. It is the functional unit of the kidney, each capable of forming urine by itself

Nitrogenous waste

substance containing nitrogen and excreted in urine; examples are urea, uric acid, and creatinine

Potassium (k+)

electrolyte regulated by the kidney so that a proper concentration is maintained within the blood. K+ is essential for allowing muscle contraction and conduction of nervous impulses.

Reabsorption

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

renal artery

blood vessel that carries blood to the kidney

renal pelvis

central collecting region in the kidney

renal tubule

microscopic tube in the kidney where urine is formed after filtration

Renal vein

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

Renin

hormone secreted by the kidney; it raises blood pressure by influencing vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels)

Sodium (Na+)

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

Trigone

triangular area in the urinary bladder

Urea

major nitrogenous waste excreted in urine

Ureter

one of the two tubes leading from the kidneys to the urinary bladder

Urethra

tube leading from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body

uric acid

nitrogenous waste excreted in the urine

urinary bladder

hollow, muscular sac that holds and stores urine

urination (voiding)

process of expelling urine; also called micturition