RAD 379U - CH 15 Terms

Urinary System

Afferent arteriole

Carries blood into the glomerulus of the nephron

Arcuate arteries

Small vessels found at the base of the renal pyramids; appear as echogenic structures

Bowman’s capsule

Site of filtration in the kidney; contains water, salts, glucose, urea, and amino acids

BUN - Blood Urea Nitrogen

Lab measurement of the amount of nitrogeneous waste and creatinine in

the blood

Columns of Bertin

Bands of cortical tissue that separate the renal pyramids; may mimic a renal mass on ultrasound

Cortex

Outer parenchyma of the kidney that contains the renal corpuscle and proximal and distal convoluted tubules of the nephron

Creatinine

A product of metabolism; lab test that measures the ability of the kidney to get rid of waste

Dromedary hump

Normal variant that occurs on the left kidney as a bulge on the lateral border

Ectopic kidney

Located outside of the normal position, most often in the pelvic cavity

Efferent arteriole

Small vessel that carries blood from the glomerulus of the nephron and conducts blood to the peritubular capillaries that surround the renal tubule

Gerota’s fascia

Another term for the renal fascia; the kidney is covered by the renal capsule, perirenal

fat, Gerota's fascia, and pararenal fat.

Glomerulus

Network of capillaries within the Bowman's capsule that serves as the site of filtration. Blood cells and proteins are too large to be filtered, but ions, glucose, and amino acids readily pass into the filtrate

Hilus

Area of the kidney where vessels, ureter, and lymphatics enter and exit

Horseshoe kidney

Congenital malformation in which both kidneys are joined together by an isthmus, most commonly at the lower pole

Hydronephrosis

Dilation of the renal collecting system

Loop of Henle

Portion of a renal tubule lying between the proximal and distal convoluted portions; reabsorption of fluid, sodium, and chloride occurs here and in the proximal convoluted tubule

Major calyces

Receives urine from the minor calyces to convey to the renal pelvis

Medulla

Inner portion of the renal parenchyma that contains the loop of Henle

Minor calyces

Receive urine from the renal pyramids; form the border of the renal sinus

Morison’s pouch

Right posterior subhepatic space located anterior to the kidney and inferior to the liver where fluid may accumulate.

Nephron

Right posterior subhepatic space located anterior to the kidney and inferior to the liver where fluid may accumulate.

Renal agenesis

Absence of one or both kidneys

Renal capsule

First layer adjacent to the kidney that forms a tough, fibrous covering

Renal corpuscle

Part of the nephron the consists of Bowman’s capsule and the glomerulus

Renal hilum

Area in the midportion of the kidney where the renal vessels and ureter enter and exit

Renal pelvis

Area in the midportion of the kidney that collects urine before entering into the ureter

Renal pyramid

One of several conical masses of tissue that form the kidney medulla; each consists of the loops of Henle and the collecting tubules of the nephrons

Renal sinus

Central area of the kidney that includes the calyces, renal pelvis, renal vessels, fat, nerves,and lymphatics

Retroperitoneum

Space behind the peritoneal lining of the abdominal cavity

Specific Gravity

Lab tests that measure how much dissolved material is present in the urine

Ureters

Retroperitoneal structures that exit the kidney to carry urine to the urinary bladder

Urethra

Small, membranous canal that excretes urine from the urinary bladder

Urinary bladder

Muscular retroperitoneal organ that serves as a reservoir for urine

Urolithiasis

Stone within the urinary system