Chapter 13- Urinary System Flashcards
Urology:
specialty dealing with most urinary disorders
Urologist:
specialist involved in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of urinary system disorders.
Nephrology:
Subspecialty that focuses on kidney function and disorders.
Nephrologist:
subspecialist in diagnosis and treatment of kidney conditions.
About how many nephrons are in a kidney?
More than 1,000,000
Which structure carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder?
Ureter
Which structure of the urinary system allows urine to leave the body?
Urethra
Which structure stores urine in the body until it can be eliminated voluntarily?!
Bladder
What determines how the kidneys excrete or retain substances?
Renal threshold
Which components of the kidneys are responsible for reabsorption?
Glomerulus
The Kidneys:
Bean shaped organ about the size of a fist.
-Location: Posterior to the peritoneum, against the back muscles, b/w T12 and L3.
Major components of Kidneys:
Capsule
Cortex and medulla
Renal column
Medullary pyramid
Minor and major calyces
Nephrons
What is considered the functional unit of the kidneys?
Nephron
What are the functions of the kidneys?
The kidneys remove unwanted substances from blood and form urine for excretion.
Briefly describe the vasculature serving the kidneys:
Renal arteries bring blood into afferent arterioles and then through capillaries called the glomeruli. Blood moves from the glomerulus into efferent arterioles, then into peritubular capillaries, then into venules, which empty into renal veins. The renal veins take blood to the inferior vena cava to return to the heart and lungs.
