Urinary System

Urinary System

• Kidneys:

  • Organs responsible for filtering blood, removing waste products, and regulating fluid and electrolyte balance.

• Nephron:

  • The functional unit of the kidney, consisting of a renal corpuscle and a renal tubule.

• Glomerulus:

  • A network of small blood vessels (capillaries) within the renal corpuscle where blood filtration begins.

• Bowman’s Capsule:

  • The cup-shaped structure that surrounds the glomerulus in the renal corpuscle and collects the filtrate.

• Loop of Henle:

  • The U-shaped part of the renal tubule involved in concentrating urine by reabsorbing water and salts.

• Osmosis (Definition):

  • The movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

• Proximal and Distal Convoluted Tubules:

  • Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT): The initial segment of the renal tubule where reabsorption of water and solutes occurs.

  • Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT): The segment of the renal tubule where fine-tuning of water and electrolyte balance occurs.

• Collecting Duct:

  • A structure that receives urine from multiple nephrons and transports it to the renal pelvis.

• Antidiuretic Hormone (Diuretics):

  • Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH): A hormone that promotes water reabsorption in the kidneys, reducing urine volume.

  • Diuretics: Substances that increase urine production.

• Renal Capsule:

  • The fibrous covering that surrounds each kidney.

• Renal Cortex:

  • The outer layer of the kidney, containing nephrons.

• Renal Medulla:

  • The inner part of the kidney, containing renal pyramids.

• Renal Sinus:

  • The internal space within the kidney, containing blood vessels, nerves, and the renal pelvis.

• Renal Pelvis:

  • The funnel-shaped structure that collects urine from the calyces and funnels it into the ureter.

• Renal Pyramids:

  • Triangular-shaped structures in the renal medulla containing collecting ducts and tubules.

• Ureter:

  • Tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder.

• Renal Artery and Renal Veins:

  • Renal Artery: Blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood to the kidneys.

  • Renal Veins: Blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood away from the kidneys.

• Capillaries:

  • Tiny blood vessels that facilitate the exchange of nutrients, oxygen, and waste products between the blood and surrounding tissues.

• Bladder:

  • A muscular organ that stores urine.

• Sphincter:

  • A circular muscle that regulates the passage of substances through a tubular structure, such as the urinary sphincters controlling urine flow.

• Urethra:

  • The tube that carries urine from the bladder to the exterior of the body.

• UTIs/Cystitis:

  • UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections): Infections affecting any part of the urinary system.

  • Cystitis: Inflammation of the bladder.

• Kidney Stones:

  • Hard deposits that form in the kidneys and can cause pain and obstruction of urine flow.

• Incontinence:

  • Inability to control the release of urine.

• Hilus:

  • The indented area on the concave side of the kidney where blood vessels and the ureter enter and exit.

• Peristalsis:

  • Wave-like muscular contractions that propel substances through tubular structures, such as the ureters.

• Dialysis:

  • A medical procedure that replicates some of the functions of the kidneys, removing waste and excess fluids from the blood