Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology - The Urinary System

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to the urinary system from the provided lecture notes.

Kidneys

Organs that produce urine.

Ureters

Tubes that transport urine from kidneys to the bladder.

Urinary Bladder

Organ that temporarily stores urine.

Urethra

Tube that transports urine out of the body.

Metabolic Waste

Substances such as urea and creatinine that the body needs to remove.

Erythropoietin (EPO)

Hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates red blood cell production.

Renal Cortex

The most superficial region of the kidney, lighter in color, and granular in appearance.

Renal Medulla

Inner region of the kidney located deep to the cortex, darker reddish-brown color.

Renal Pyramids

Triangular structures in the renal medulla that contain urine before it moves to the calyces.

Calyces

Structures that collect urine from the renal pyramids and funnel it to the renal pelvis.

Renal Sinus

The space within the kidney containing the minor calyces, major calyces, renal pelvis, and blood vessels.

Glomerulus

A bundle of capillaries involved in filtering blood to form urine.

Podocytes

Cells in the glomerular capsule with foot-like projections that wrap around capillaries and form filtration slits.

Nephron

Basic functional unit of the kidney, comprising renal corpuscle and renal tubule.

Filtration Membrane

Structure that allows water and small solutes to pass into the nephron, but prevents proteins and blood cells.

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

Total amount of filtrate formed per minute, an important measure of kidney function.

Renin

Hormone secreted by kidneys in response to low blood pressure, stimulates angiotensin II production.

Aldosterone

Hormone that promotes sodium reabsorption and potassium secretion in the nephron.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

Hormone that promotes water reabsorption in the kidneys and adjusts urine concentration.

Osmolarity

Concentration of solute in a liquid, measured in mOsm/L.

Countercurrent Multiplier

Mechanism in the nephron loop that helps create a concentration gradient in the renal medulla.

Detrusor Muscle

Smooth muscle in the bladder wall that contracts to expel urine.

External Urethral Sphincter

Voluntary skeletal muscle that controls urine release from the urethra.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

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

Micturition

The process of urine elimination from the bladder.