Urinary, Reproductive, and Endocrine Systems Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the urinary system, reproductive systems (human and pig comparison), and the endocrine system including major glands and hormones.

Kidney Cortex

The outer layer of the kidney.

Kidney Medulla

The middle layer of the kidney containing renal pyramids, its own cortex, medulla, and calyx.

Kidney Pelvis

The inner layer where collecting ducts drain urine to the ureter.

Glomerulus

A capillary bed responsible for filtering ammonia waste, salt, glucose, vitamins, and nitrogenous waste out of the blood.

Ureter

The tube that connects the kidney to the urinary bladder.

Urethra

The tube that connects the urinary bladder to the outside of the body for urine (and sperm in males) expulsion.

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney.

Bowman's capsule

The structure that receives filtrate from the glomerulus.

Loop of Henle

Forms a concentrating gradient that removes additional water and sodium chloride from the blood to produce concentrated urine.

Collecting duct

The convergence point that further concentrates urine as it travels to the ureter.

Umbrella cells

Massive, sometimes multi-nucleated cells located on the apical surface of the urinary bladder.

Basal cells

Roundish cells with a large nucleus, smaller than umbrella cells, found in the bladder epithelium.

Hormonal IUD

Birth control that uses progestin to thicken cervical mucus.

Copper IUD

Birth control that utilizes spermicide.

Oral Contraceptives

Hormonal birth control containing estrogens (to inhibit ovulation by suppressing FSH and LH) or progestins (to thicken cervical mucus).

SEVEN UP

An acronym for the path of sperm: Seminiferous Tubules, Epididymis, Vas deferens, Ejaculatory Duct, (Nothing), Urethra, Penis.

Seminiferous Tubules

Convoluted tubes where immature sperm (spermatids) are produced via meiosis.

Leydig Cells (Interstitial Cells)

Cells located outside the tubules that produce testosterone and stimulate sperm production.

Epididymis

A structure coiled around the testes that serves as the site of spermatid maturation into spermatozoa.

Seminal Vesicles

Accessory organs that contribute about $60\%$ of total semen volume, secreting fructose and prostaglandins.

Prostate/Preputial Gland

Glands that help buffer the acidity of the vagina and produce enzymes.

Bulbourethral (Cowper's) Gland

The gland responsible for producing pre-ejaculate.

Oviduct (Fallopian tube)

The site that collects eggs and acts as the site of fertilization.

Fimbriae

Finger-like projections at the lateral end of the oviduct that create sweeping movements to draw eggs inside.

Uterus Horns

Structures present in pigs (not humans) that provide increased surface area for embryo attachment.

Cervix

A semi-cartilaginous ring of tissue separating the body of the uterus from the vagina.

Urogenital sinus (Vaginal Vestibule)

A common tube in the pig that receives input from both the urethra and the vagina.

Genital papillae

A projection ventral to the urogenital opening in female pigs, homologous to the human clitoris.

Goiter

A condition characterized by an enlarged thyroid due to a lack of iodine.

Oxytocin

A hormone produced by the hypothalamus that stimulates uterine contractions, milk flow in breasts, and ejaculation in males.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

A posterior pituitary hormone that causes the body to conserve water by acting on the distal convoluted ducts; inhibited by alcohol.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

An anterior pituitary hormone that triggers ovulation in females and stimulates testosterone production in Leydig cells in males.

Calcitonin

A thyroid hormone that lowers blood calcium levels by causing excess calcium to be stored in the bones.

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)

A hormone produced by the parathyroid glands that raises blood calcium levels by causing bone breakdown; antagonistic to calcitonin.

Insulin

A hormone released by beta cells of the pancreas to lower blood glucose by converting glucose into glycogen.

Glucagon

A hormone released by alpha cells of the pancreas to raise blood glucose by breaking down glycogen.

Somatostatin

A hormone released by delta cells that inhibits insulin and glucagon when blood sugar is optimal.

Zona Glomerulosa

The region of the adrenal cortex responsible for mineralocorticoids (salt regulation), such as aldosterone.

Zona Fasciculata

The region of the adrenal cortex responsible for glucocorticoids (sugar regulation), such as cortisone.

Zona Reticularis

The region of the adrenal cortex responsible for androgens (sex hormones), such as testosterone and libido hormones in females.

Adrenal Medulla

The inner part of the adrenal gland that produces epinephrine and norepinephrine for the fight-or-flight response.

Pineal Gland

The gland that produces melatonin to regulate the day/night cycle.

Thymus

A gland located on either side of the neck involved in immunity and the production of thymosin.