Kidneys and Urinary System Anatomy

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to kidneys and the urinary system.

Kidneys

Organs that filter blood to produce urine.

Renal Artery

The blood vessel that carries high-pressure blood to the kidneys from the aorta.

Glomerulus

A network of capillaries in the kidney where filtration of blood occurs.

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney that filters blood and produces urine.

Bowman's Capsule

The cup-like structure that surrounds the glomerulus and collects filtrate.

Ureter

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

Urinary Bladder

The organ that stores urine until it is excreted.

Urethra

The tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body.

Filtration

The process by which the kidneys remove waste and excess substances from the blood.

Urine

The liquid waste produced by the kidneys, containing water, salts, and nitrogenous waste.

Cortex

The outer layer of the kidney where the majority of nephrons are located.

Medulla

The inner part of the kidney that contains renal pyramids.

Collecting Duct

A tube that collects urine from the nephrons and directs it to the renal pelvis.

Renal Pelvis

The area of the kidney where urine collects before it enters the ureter.

Anti-Diuretic Hormone (ADH)

A hormone that helps regulate water balance in the body by increasing water reabsorption in the kidneys.

Nitrogenous Waste

Waste products from the metabolism of proteins, primarily urea, creatinine, and uric acid.

Calices (Calyces)

Structures in the kidney that collect urine from the pyramids before it moves to the renal pelvis.

Loop of Henle

The portion of the nephron that extends into the medulla and plays a key role in concentrating urine.

Secretion

The process of moving substances from the blood into the urine in the nephron.

Reabsorption

The process of reclaiming water and certain solutes from the urine back into the blood.

Nephrologist

A physician who specializes in kidney health and diseases.