Ch. 9 Structure and Function

Bladder

Organ where urine collects before being excreted from the body.

Bowman's capsule

Capsule surrounding a glomerulus and serving as a collection site for urine.

Calices (calyces)

Cup-shaped structures in the renal pelvis for the collection of urine.

Cortex

Outer portion of the kidney.

Creatine

Substance found in urine; elevated levels may indicate muscular dystrophy.

Creatinine

A component of creatine.

Filtration

Process of separating solids from a liquid by passing it through a porous substance.

Glomerulus

Group of capillaries in a nephron.

Hilum

Portion of the kidney where blood vessels and nerves enter and exit.

Kidney

Organ that forms urine and reabsorbs essential substances back into the bloodstream.

Meatus

External opening of a canal, such as the urethra.

Medulla

Soft, central portion of the kidney.

Nephron

Functional unit of a kidney.

Prostate

Gland surrounding the urethra in the male; active in ejaculation of semen.

Reabsorption

Process of returning essential elements to the bloodstream after filtration.

Renal pelvis

Collecting area for urine in the center of the kidney.

Renin

Enzyme produced in the kidneys to regulate the filtration rate of blood by increasing blood pressure as necessary.

Retroperitoneal

Posterior to the peritoneum.

Trigone

Triangular area at the base of the bladder through which the ureters enter and the urethra exits.

Urea

Waste product of nitrogen metabolism excreted in normal adult urine.

Ureter

One of two tubes that conduct urine from the kidney to the bladder.

Urethra

Tube through which urine is transported from the bladder to the exterior of the body.

Uric acid

Nitrogenous waste excreted in the urine.

Urinary bladder

See bladder.

Urinary system

Body system that forms and excretes urine and helps in the reabsorption of essential substances.

Urine

Fluid excreted by the urinary system.