Urinary System and Liver Excretion - VOCABULARY Flashcards

100 vocabulary flashcards covering the urinary system (kidneys, nephron, filtration, reabsorption, osmosis, and liver excretion processes) based on the provided notes.

Kidney

One of two bean-shaped organs that filter blood and produce urine.

Ureter

The tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder.

Bladder

The organ that stores urine after it is produced by the kidneys.

Urethra

The tube through which urine exits the body.

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney; around a million per kidney.

Glomerulus

A knot of capillaries in the kidney where filtration occurs.

Bowman’s capsule

Cup-shaped capsule surrounding the glomerulus that collects filtrate.

Filtrate

Fluid formed when small molecules filter from blood in the glomerulus.

Urine

Waste fluid stored in the bladder; contains urea, water, salts and other wastes.

Renal artery

The artery that carries blood to the kidney.

Arterioles

Small arteries that lead to each nephron and form a glomerulus.

Cortex

Outer region of the kidney where nephrons begin.

Medulla

Inner region of the kidney where parts of the nephron loop descend.

Proximal convoluted tubule

First major section of the nephron where glucose reabsorption begins.

Loop of Henle

Nephron segment that reabsorbs salts and water as filtrate descends into the medulla.

Collecting duct

Final part of the nephron where water reabsorption varies with body needs.

Glucose

A sugar filtered by the kidney; most is reabsorbed in the proximal tubule.

Water

Liquid reabsorbed back into the blood; reabsorption varies with body needs.

Salts

Mineral ions reabsorbed from filtrate back into the blood.

Urea

Nitrogen-containing waste produced from amino acid deamination; excreted in urine.

Ammonia

Toxic nitrogen-containing compound formed during amino acid deamination; converted to urea.

Amino acids

Building blocks of proteins; absorbed from digestion and reused or deaminated.

Deamination

Removal of the amino group from amino acids in the liver.

Amino group

Nitrogen-containing part of amino acids (–NH2).

Nitrogen

Element in amino groups; converted to ammonia and then to urea during metabolism.

Glycogen

Storage form of glucose in the liver.

Liver

Organ where assimilation of nutrients occurs and deamination of amino acids takes place.

Fibrinogen

Protein in blood plasma important for blood clotting; produced in the liver.

Assimilation

Process of converting absorbed molecules into body components.

Ammonia to urea conversion

Liver process converting toxic ammonia into less toxic urea for excretion.

Urea excretion

Removal of urea from the blood via the kidneys into urine.

Sweat

Small amount of urea excreted in sweat.

Excretion

Removal from the body of waste products and toxins from metabolism.

Egestion

Expulsion of undigested food waste from the anus.

Filtration of blood

Process where small molecules are forced out of the blood into Bowman's capsule.

Proximal convoluted tubule reabsorption

First section where glucose (and other useful substances) are reabsorbed.

Loop of Henle reabsorption

Part of the tubule where salts and some water are reabsorbed back into blood.

Water reabsorption in collecting duct

Water reabsorbed from the collecting duct in varying volumes.

Osmosis

Movement of water across a semipermeable membrane due to differences in water potential.

Renal tubules

The tubular components of the nephron through which filtrate passes.

Glomerulus filtration pressure

Filtration driven by pressure in the glomerular capillaries.

Bowman’s capsule fluid

Fluid collected in Bowman's capsule after filtration.

Amino acids in liver

Amino acids sent to the liver for assimilation or deamination.

Glycogen storage in liver

The carbon-containing portion of amino acids is turned into glycogen and stored.

Blood plasma

Fluid component of blood; contains fibrinogen and other proteins.

Filtrate composition

Subset of small molecules including urea, water, salts, and glucose that enter Bowman's capsule.

Kidney cortex

Outer layer where nephrons begin.

Kidney medulla

Inner region where parts of nephrons operate and the concentrating mechanism occurs.

Renal artery to kidney

Entrance of blood to the kidney via the renal artery.

Peritubular capillaries

Capillary network surrounding the nephron tubules where reabsorption occurs.

Blood exiting kidney

Blood leaving the kidney after filtration via the renal vein (venous return).

Excreted substances

Waste products that leave the body in urine after filtration and reabsorption.

Filtered vs reabsorbed

Substances that are filtered out may be reabsorbed if useful.

Amino acid deamination products

Ammonia and then urea produced from amino acids during deamination.

Toxic effects of high urea

High urea can cause cell death and disrupt metabolic processes if not excreted.

Diabetes link to urea

High urea levels can be associated with reduced insulin response and vascular deposits.

Excretion vs egestion difference

Excretion removes metabolic wastes from body; egestion expels undigested food.

Urea as a nitrogenous waste

A less toxic nitrogenous waste formed from ammonia for excretion.

Glomerular filtration

Filtration of blood at the glomerulus into the Bowman's capsule.

Kidney tubule segments

Sections of the nephron including proximal tubule, Loop of Henle, and collecting duct.

Urea transport in blood

Urea travels in blood to the kidneys for excretion.

Nitrogen balance in metabolism

Nitrogen from amino groups is processed into waste products for excretion.

Filtrate vs urine

Filtrate becomes urine after processing along the nephron.

Kidney function summary

The kidneys filter blood, reabsorb useful substances, and excrete wastes as urine.

Liver assimilation role

Liver converts absorbed nutrients into forms the body can use.

Proteins produced in liver

Fibrinogen among others, important for clotting.

Nitrogenous waste cycle

A sequence from amino acids to ammonia to urea for safe excretion.

Amino groups and nitrogen detox

Removal of amino groups reduces toxicity before excretion.

Sweat as excretion route

A small amount of urea is excreted through sweat.

Kidney as excretory organ

The kidney eliminates waste products from blood and maintains balance.

Blood pressure in filtration

Hydrostatic pressure drives filtration in the glomerulus.

Reabsorption vs secretion (note: secretion not detailed)

Reabsorption returns useful substances; secretion is the movement of wastes into filtrate in some nephron parts (not detailed in notes).