Urinary System and Nephron Anatomy

Vocabulary flashcards covering the blood vessels, reproductive structures, and anatomical components of the human urinary system and nephron based on lecture transcript labels.

Peritubular capillaries

The network of blood vessels associated with the nephron, labeled as C in the kidney diagrams.

Afferent arteriole

The blood vessel that carries blood into the glomerulus of the nephron, labeled as H or C.

Efferent arteriole

The blood vessel that carries blood away from the glomerulus, labeled as I or D.

Distal convoluted tubule

A segment of the nephron labeled as A, located between the loop of Henle and the collecting duct.

Ascending limb

The portion of the loop of Henle that carries fluid upward toward the distal convoluted tubule, labeled as B.

Loop of Henle (nephron)

The U-shaped part of a nephron, also called the loop of the nephron, labeled as C, I, or J.

Collecting duct

The tube that receives urine from multiple nephrons and delivers it to the renal pelvis, labeled as D or E.

Descending limb

The portion of the loop of Henle that carries fluid down into the medulla, labeled as E.

Proximal convoluted tubule

The section of the nephron located between Bowman's capsule and the loop of Henle, labeled as F.

Abdominal aorta

The large artery in the abdominal cavity labeled as A in the urinary system overview.

Inferior vena cava

The large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart, labeled as B.

Common iliac artery

A branch of the abdominal aorta supplying the pelvic region, labeled as C.

Common iliac vein

A vein in the pelvic region labeled as D.

Renal vein

The blood vessel that drains deoxygenated blood from the kidney, labeled as E or C.

Renal artery

The blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the kidney, labeled as F or B.

Adrenal gland

The gland located on top of the kidney, labeled as G.

Urinary bladder

The organ that stores urine before excretion, labeled as A.

Ureter

The tube that transports urine from the kidney to the bladder, labeled as B or C.

Seminal vesicle

A reproductive structure labeled as C.

Vas deferens

A reproductive structure labeled as D.

Prostate gland

A reproductive structure labeled as E.

Cortex

The outer layer of the kidney, labeled as A or G.

Pyramid

The cone-shaped tissues of the kidney's medulla, also known as renal pyramids, labeled as B.

Column

The renal columns, which are extensions of the cortex between the pyramids, labeled as C.

Medulla

The inner region of the kidney, labeled as D or H.

Major calyx

A large urine collection structure in the kidney formed by the convergence of minor calyces, labeled as A or O.

Pelvis

The funnel-like dilated part of the ureter in the kidney, labeled as B.

Minor calyx

A smaller urine collection structure that surrounds the renal papillae, labeled as D or P.

Glomerulus

A cluster of capillaries within Bowman's capsule where blood filtration occurs, labeled as A.

Bowman’s (glomerular) capsule

The cup-shaped structure surrounding the glomerulus that starts the nephron, labeled as B or F.

Corpuscle

The basic filtration unit of the kidney, consisting of the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule, labeled as J.

Papillae

The location where the renal pyramids empty urine into the minor calyx.