arteriole
Small artery
calyx or calix
Cuplike collecting region of the renal pelvis; the term comes from the Greek, KALUX, meaning a cup or a case surrounding a flower bud
catheter
Tube for injecting or removing fluids
cortex
Outer region of an organ
Creatinine
Nitrogenous waste excreted in urine
Electrolyte
Chemical element that carries an electrical charge when dissolved in water
EPO (erythropoietin)
Hormone secreted by the kidney to stimulate production of red blood cells by bone marrow; -poietin means a substance that forms
filtration
Process whereby some substances pass through a filter
Glomerular capsule
Enclosing structure surrounding each glomerulus; also called Bowman capsule
Glomerulus
Tiny ball of capillaries in the kidney
Hilum
Depression in the part of an organ where blood vessels and nerves enter and leave; comes from the Latin meaning A SMALL THING
Kidney
One of two bean-shaped organs that filter nitrogenous waste from the bloodstream to form urine
Meatus
Opening or canal
Medulla
Inner region of an organ; the term comes from the Latin, MEDULLA, meaning marrow
Nephron
The functional unit of the kidney where filtration, reabsorption, and the secretion take place
Nitrogenous waste
Substance containing nitrogen and excreted in urine; examples are urea, uric acid, and creatinine
Potassium (K+)
And electrolyte regulated by the kidney
Reabsorption
Renal tubules return materials necessary to the body back into the bloodstream
Renal artery
Blood vessel that carries blood to the kidney
Renal pelvis
Central collection region in the kidney
Renal tubules
Microscopic tubes in the kidney where urine is formed after filtration
Renal vein
Blood vessel that carries blood away from the kidney
Renin
Enzyme secreted by the kidney that raises blood pressure
Sodium (Na+)
An electrolyte regulated in the blood and urine by the kidneys; a common form of sodium is sodium chloride (salt)
