Removes wastes from the body by constantly filteringblood, maintaining a proper balance of water, electrolytes, and acids in body fluids, and removing excess fluids from the body.
Urea
Major waste product of protein metabolism, which is filtered by the kidney and used in some diagnostic tests to determine the health status of the kidneys.
Homeostasis
Stable internal environment
Home/o
Unchanging
Urin/o and ur/o
Urine or pertaining to the urinary organs
Retroperitoneally
Located behind the lining of the abdominal cavity or outside the peritoneal cavity. Where the kidneys are
Ren/o and nephr/o
Kidney
Cortex
The outer layer of the kidney, contains the majority of the nephron
Cortic/o
Outer regions, used to describe the outer region of many organs
Medulla
The inner layer of the kidney, contains the majority of the collecting tubules
Medull/o
Middle or inner portion, used to describe the middle or inner portion of many organs
Nephron
The functional unit of the kidney. Consists of the glomerulus, Bowmann's/glomerular capsule, a proximal convoluted tubule, and a collecting duct. Form urine through filtration, reabsorption, and secretion.
Glomerulus
Cluster of capillaries that filter blood. Surrounded by the Bowmann's capsule
Glomerul/o
Means to wind into a ball, which is what the glomerulus looks like microscopically
Glomeruli
Multiple glomerulus
Bowmann's capsule
Cup shaped structure that contains the glomerulus
Renal corpuscle
The glomerulus and Bowmann's capsule together
Proximalconvolutedtubes
Hollow tubes located between Bowmann's capsule and loops of Henle that are involved in reabsorption
Loop of Henle
U shaped turn in the convoluted tubule of the kidney located between the proximal and distal convoluted tubules that is involved in reabsorption. Has an ascending and descending loop
Distal convoluted tubules
Hollow tubes located between the loops of Henle and the collecting tubules that are involved in secretion
Collecting tubules
Hollow tubes that carry urine from the cortex to the renal pelvis
Renal pelvis
The area of the kidney where the nephrons collect urine before it enters the ureters
Pyel/o
Renal pelvis
Calyces
Irregular cup like spaces that collect urine from the kidneys
Calyx
Singular form of calyces
Hilus
The point of attachment of the renal blood vessels, nerves, and ureter. Located on the medial surface of the kidney and gives some kidneys a bean shape.
Distal
Farthest from the midline
Proximal
Closest to midline
Convoluted
Rolled or coiled
Ascending
Moving upward or cranially
Descending
Moving downward and caudally
Ureters
A pair of narrow tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder
Ureter/o
Ureter
Trigone
Where the ureters enter the urinary bladder. Usually a triangular portion at the base of that organ where the three angles are marked by the twoureteral openings and oneurethral opening
Urinary bladder
A singular hollow muscular organ that holds urine
Cyst/o
Urinary bladder
Excretion, elimination, and voiding
Elimination of a substance and can be used in other body systems
Urination
Elimination of urine from the body
Micturition
Elimination of urine from the body, but it implies voluntary control of the sphincter muscles of the urinary tract. This is learned and implies a more intelligent form of animal life.
Urethra
A tube extending from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body. In females, it only transports urine, but in males, it transports urine from the urinary bladder and reproductivefluids from the reproductiveorgans out of the body.