Ch 6. Urinary System

kidneys

2 bean shaped organs located on each side of the vertebral column on the posterior wall if the abdominal cavity covered anteriorly by the parietal peritoneum. their function is to remove waste products from the blood and to aid in maintaining water and electrolyte balances

nephron

urine producing microscopic structure. approximately 1 million nephrons are located in each kidney

glomerulus

cluster of capillaries at the entrance of the nephron. the process of filtering the blood, forming urine, begins here

renal pelvis

funnel shaped reservoir in the kidney that collects the urine and passes it to the ureter

hilum

indentation on the medial side of the kidney where the renal artery, vein, and pelvis are located and the ureter leaves the kidney

ureters

2 slender tubes aprox 10-13 in long, that receive the urine from the kidneys and carry it to the posterior portion of the bladder

urinary bladder

muscular hollow organ that temporarily holds the urine. as it fills, the thick, muscular wall becomes thinner, and the organ increases in size

urethra

lowest part of the urinary tract, through which the urine passes from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body. this narrow tube varies in length by sex. it is aprox 1.5 in long in the female and aprox 8 in long in the male, in whom it is also part of the reproductive system. it carries seminal fluid (semen) at the time of ejaculation

urinary meatus

opening through which the urine passes to the outside

cyst/o

bladder, sac

glomerul/o

glomerulus

meat/o

meatus (opening)

nephr/o

kidney

pyel/o

renal pelvis

ren/o

kidney

ureter/o

ureter

urethr/o

urethra

vesic/o

bladder, sac

albumin/o

albumin

azot/o

urea, nitrogen

blast/o

developing cell, germ cell

glycos/o

sugar

hem/o

blood

hydr/o

water

lith/o

stones, calculus

noct/i

night

olig/o

scanty, few

son/o

sound

ur/o

urine, urinary tract

urin/o

urine, urinary tract

nephrology

study of kidney function

cystitis

inflammation of the bladder

albuminuria

albumin in the urine. often a sign of kidney damage

a-, an-

absence of, without

dys-

painful, abnormal, difficult, labored

poly-

many, much

trans-

through, across, beyond

-al, -ary

pertaining to

-cele

hernia, protrusion

-ectomy

excision, surgical removal

-emia

in the blood

-gram

the record, radiographic image

-graphy

process of recording radiographic imaging

-ia

diseased or abnormal state, condition of

-iasis

condition

-itis

inflammation

-lith

stones, calculus

-logist

one who studies and treats (specialist, physician)

-logy

study of

dysuria

painful urination

polyuria

excessive urination

transurethral

procedures done through the urethra