The Urinary System

A series of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to the urinary system.

Nephron

Functional unit of the kidney that forms urine.

Glomerular Filtration

The movement of fluid from blood in glomerular capillaries into the glomerular capsule.

Reabsorption

Selective movement of substances from renal filtrate back to blood.

Secretion

Selective movement of substances from blood to renal filtrate.

Glomerulus

A fenestrated capillary bed where blood is filtered in the nephron.

Filtrate

Fluid that has passed through the glomerulus and collected in the glomerular capsule.

Urine

The liquid waste product removed from the body, consisting of water and dissolved substances.

Urethra

Muscular tube that drains urine from the bladder to the external environment.

Micturition

The process of urination, involving the contraction of smooth muscle and the opening of sphincters.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

Hormone that increases water reabsorption in the kidneys.

Aldosterone

Hormone that increases sodium reabsorption and thus water retention in the kidneys.

Renin

Hormone produced by the kidneys that regulates blood pressure.

Erythropoietin

Hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates red blood cell production.

Retroperitoneal

Describes the anatomical location of the kidneys, positioned behind the peritoneal cavity.

Renal Blood Supply

The kidneys receive about one-fourth of the cardiac output each minute through renal arteries.

Urinary bladder

Muscular sac that stores urine until micturition.

Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT)

Segment of the nephron responsible for the majority of solute and water reabsorption.

Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT)

Segment of the nephron involved in selective secretion and reabsorption regulated by hormones.

Juxtaglomerular Complex (JGC)

Structure that regulates glomerular filtration rate and blood pressure.

Collecting Duct

Final segment of the nephron that reabsorbs water and electrolytes into the blood.