Urinary and Reproductive Systems Vocabulary

Flashcards of key vocabulary terms related to urinary and reproductive systems.

Filtrate

Fluid that has passed through a filter.

Urine

Liquid waste product filtered from the blood by the kidneys.

Nephron

Functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering blood and forming urine.

Collecting duct

A duct that collects urine from several nephrons and conveys it to the renal pelvis.

Kidney

Organ responsible for filtering blood, regulating fluid balance, and producing urine.

Renal cortex

Outer region of the kidney.

Renal medulla

Inner region of the kidney.

Renal pelvis

Funnel-shaped structure in the kidney that collects urine and directs it to the ureter.

Aquaporins

Water channel proteins that facilitate water movement across cell membranes.

Transport maximum

The maximum rate at which a substance can be reabsorbed or secreted in the kidneys.

Anti-Diuretic Hormone (ADH)

Hormone that promotes water reabsorption in the kidneys, reducing urine volume.

Aldosterone

Hormone that promotes sodium and water reabsorption in the kidneys, increasing blood volume and pressure.

Parathyroid hormone

Hormone that regulates calcium and phosphate levels in the blood. Increases blood calcium by promoting calcium reabsorption in the kidneys.

Secretion

The process by which substances are moved from the blood into the renal tubules for excretion.

Seminal gland

Gland that contributes fluid to semen.

Prostate gland

Gland in males that contributes fluid to semen.

Bulbo-urethral gland

Gland that produces mucus, which lubricates the urethra and neutralizes acidity.

Ovaries

Female gonads that produce eggs and hormones.

Ovum

Mature female reproductive cell or egg.

Ovarian follicle

Structure in the ovary that contains a developing oocyte.

Urine concentration

The process of increasing the concentration of solutes in the urine.

Medullary osmotic gradient

Concentration gradient in the medulla of the kidney that enables the production of concentrated urine.

Countercurrent multiplier

The interaction between filtrate flow in the ascending and descending limbs of the nephron loops of juxtamedullary nephrons, which permits the formation of a concentration gradient.

Major calyx

A division of the renal pelvis that surrounds the renal papillae.

Minor calyx

A small cup-like structure that surrounds the renal papillae to collect urine.

Cortical nephron

Nephron mainly located in the cortex of the kidney with a short nephron loop.

Meiosis

Cell division that produces gametes with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.

Juxtamedullary nephron

Nephron located near the medulla of the kidney with a long nephron loop; Responsible for producing concentrated urine.

Mitosis

Cell division that results in two identical daughter cells.

Renal corpuscle

The initial blood-filtering component of a nephron. consists of the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule.

Gamete

Mature haploid male or female germ cell that is able to unite with another of the opposite sex in sexual reproduction to form a zygote.

Glomerulus

Network of capillaries in the renal corpuscle where filtration occurs.

Fertilization

The action or process of fertilizing an egg, female animal, or plant, involving the fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote.

Testes

The male gonads, which produce sperm and steroid hormones such as testosterone.

Bowman's capsule

Cup-shaped structure surrounding the glomerulus that collects filtrate.

Filtration membrane

Porous structure in the renal corpuscle that allows filtration of blood.

Podocyte

Specialized cells in Bowman's capsule that surround the glomerular capillaries and help filter blood.

Renal tubule

Duct that leads away from the glomerulus of each nephron and empties into a collecting duct; responsible for reabsorption and secretion.

Proximal convoluted tubule

First section of the renal tubule responsible for most of the reabsorption of water, ions, and nutrients.

Nephron loop

The portion of a nephron that leads from the proximal convoluted tubule to the distal convoluted tubule.

Distal convoluted tubule

Last segment of the renal tubule, where final adjustments to urine composition are made.

Collecting duct

A duct that collects urine from several nephrons and conveys it to the renal pelvis.

Ureter

Tube that carries urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder.

Urinary bladder

Organ that stores urine.

Sperm

The male gamete or reproductive cell involved in sexual reproduction.

Testosterone

The main sex hormone of males and plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues such as the testis and prostate, as well as promoting secondary sexual characteristics such as increased muscle, bone mass, and the growth of body hair.

Seminiferous tubule

Coiled tubules in the testes where sperm are produced.

Spermatogonia

Stem cells in the seminiferous tubules that give rise to sperm.

Sustentocytes

Nurse cells found in seminiferous tubules that maintain the blood-testis barrier and supports and nourish the developing spermatogenic cells; also called Sertoli cells.

Myoid cells

Smooth muscle-like cells surrounding the seminiferous tubules that help propel sperm and fluids through the tubules.

Endocrine cells

Cells that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

Spermatogenesis

The process of sperm production in the testes.

Spermiogenesis

The final stage of spermatogenesis, in which spermatids transform into mature spermatozoa.

Oocyte

A cell in an ovary which may undergo meiotic division to form an ovum.

Follicle cells

Somatic cells that surround the oocyte and whose main function is to support the development of the oocyte.

Primary follicle

An immature ovarian follicle consisting of an oocyte surrounded by a single layer of follicle cells.

Secondary follicle

An ovarian follicle with a developing antrum and two or more layers of granulosa cells.

Vesicular follicle

A mature ovarian follicle with a large, fluid-filled antrum and a well-developed oocyte.

Antrum

The fluid-filled cavity in a secondary and vesicular ovarian follicle.

Ovulation

The release of an egg from the ovary.

Corpus luteum

Glandular body that develops from a Graafian follicle after ovulation; produces estrogen and progesterone.

Oogenesis

The process of egg production in the ovaries.

Oogonia

Diploid (2n) stem cells in the ovaries that undergo mitosis to produce primary oocytes.

Primary oocyte

Diploid (2n) cell that undergoes the first meiotic division to produce a secondary oocyte and the first polar body.

Secondary oocyte

Haploid (n) cell that undergoes the second meiotic division to produce an ootid and the second polar body. If fertilization occurs, the ootid matures into an ovum.

Fallopian tubes

Also called uterine tubes; tubes that transport the ovum from the ovary to the uterus.

Uterus

Where the fertilized egg implants and develops during gestation.

Cervix

The narrow lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina.

Trigone

Triangular area in the urinary bladder where the ureters enter and the urethra exits.

Detrusor muscle

Smooth muscle layer of the urinary bladder that contracts during urination.

Transitional epithelium

Epithelium lining the urinary bladder and parts of the urinary tract that allows for stretching.

Urethra

Duct through which urine is discharged from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body.

Internal urethral sphincter

Smooth muscle sphincter at the bladder-urethra junction that prevents involuntary leakage of urine.

External urethral sphincter

Skeletal muscle sphincter that controls the voluntary release of urine.

Filtration

The process of separating solids from fluids by passing the mixture through a filter.

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

The rate at which filtrate is formed in the kidneys; an important measure of kidney function.

Reabsorption

The process by which substances are transported from the filtrate back into the blood.

Acrosome

Cap-like structure on the head of the sperm that contains enzymes needed for fertilization.

Scrotum

Pouch of skin that contains the testes.

Penis

Male organ for sexual intercourse and urination.

Corpus spongiosum

Mass of erectile tissue alongside the penis; it surrounds the urethra.

Corpus cavernosa

Paired erectile bodies that form the bulk of the penis.

Epididymis

Coiled tube attached to the testis where sperm mature and are stored.

Vas deferens

Also called ductus deferens; the duct that conveys sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct.

Ejaculatory duct

Duct formed by the union of the vas deferens and the duct of the seminal vesicle; it empties into the urethra.

Urethra

Duct through which urine and semen are discharged.

Semen

Fluid discharged during ejaculation that contains sperm and secretions from the male reproductive glands.

Perimetrium

The outer serous layer of the uterus, also known as the serosa.

Myometrium

The muscular middle layer of the uterine wall.

Endometrium

The inner mucous membrane lining of the uterus, which thickens during the menstrual cycle in preparation for possible implantation of an embryo.

Stratum functionalis

The layer of the endometrium that sheds during menstruation.

Stratum basalis

The layer of the endometrium that regenerates the stratum functionalis after menstruation.

Vagina

Female organ of sexual intercourse and birth canal.

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

A hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles in females and sperm production in males.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

A hormone produced by the pituitary gland that triggers ovulation in females and stimulates testosterone production in males.

Estrogen

Female sex hormones produced by the ovaries that promote the development and maintenance of female characteristics and regulate the menstrual cycle.

Progesterone

A female sex hormone produced by the corpus luteum that prepares the uterus for pregnancy and maintains pregnancy.