The Urinary System Terms

Question 1

Afferent Arteriole

Answer 1

Arteriole that carries blood into glomerulus

Question 2

Albumin

Answer 2

Protein normally found circulating in bloodstream; it is abnormal for albumin to be in urine

Question 3

Bowman’s Capsule

Answer 3

Also called ‘glomerular capsule’; part of renal corpuscle; is a double-walled cuplike structure that encircles glomerulus; in filtration stage of urine production, waste products filtered from blood enter Bowman’s capsule as glomerular filtrate

Question 4

Calyx

Answer 4

Duct that connects renal papilla to renal pelvis; urine flows from collecting tubule through calyx and into renal pelvis

Question 5

Collecting Tubule

Answer 5

Portion of renal tubule

Question 6

Cortex

Answer 6

Outer layer of organ; in endocrine system, it refers to outer layer of adrenal glands; in urinary system, outer layer of kidney

Question 7

Distal Convoluted Tubule

Answer 7

Portion of renal tubule

Question 8

Efferent Arteriole

Answer 8

Arteriole that carries blood away from glomerulus

Question 9

Eletrolyte

Answer 9

Chemical compound that separates into charged particles, or ionizes, in solution; sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium (K) are examples of electrolytes

Question 10

External Sphincter

Answer 10

Ring of voluntary muscle that controls emptying of urine from bladder

Question 11

Filtration

Answer 11

First stage of urine production during which waste products are filtered from blood

Question 12

Genitourinary System (GU)

Answer 12

Organs of the urinary system and female or make sexual organs

Question 13

Glomerular Capsule

Answer 13

Also called ‘Bowman’s capsule’; part of renal corpuscle; is a double-walled cuplike structure that encircles glomerulus; in filtration stage of urine production, waste products filtered from blood enter Bowman’s capsule as glomerular filtrate

Question 14

Glomerular Filtrate

Answer 14

Product of filtration stage of urine production; water, electrolytes, nutrients, wastes, and toxins that are filtered from blood passing through glomerulus; filtrate enters Bowman’s capsule

Question 15

Glomerulus

Answer 15

Ball of capillaries encased by Bowman’s capsule; in filtration stage of urine production, wastes filtered from blood leave glomerulus capillaries and enter Bowman’s capsule

Question 16

Hilum

Answer 16

Controlled entry/exit point of an organ such as kidney or lung

Question 17

Homeostasis

Answer 17

Steady state or state of balance within body; kidneys assist in maintaining this regulatory, steady state

Question 18

Internal Sphincter

Answer 18

Ring of involuntary muscle that keeps urine within bladder

Question 19

Kidneys

Answer 19

Two kidneys located in lumbar region of back behind parietal peritoneum; under muscles of back, just a little above waist; have concave or depressed area that gives them bean-shaped appearance; center of this concavity is called hilum

Question 20

Loop of Henle

Answer 20

Portion of renal tubule

Question 21

Medulla

Answer 21

Central area of an organ; in endocrine system refers to adrenal medulla; in urinary system, refers to inner portion of kidney

Question 22

Nephron

Answer 22

Functional or working unit of kidney that filters blood and produces urine; there are more than 1 million nephrons in adult kidney; each nephron consists of renal corpuscle and renal tubules

Question 23

Nephron Loop

Answer 23

Portion of renal tubule; also referred to as ‘Loop of Henle.’

Question 24

Nitrogenous Wastes

Answer 24

Waste products that contain nitrogen; products, such as ammonia and urea, are produced during protein metabolism

Question 25

Peritubular Capillaries

Answer 25

Capillary bed surrounding renal tubules

Question 26

Proximal Convoluted Tubule

Answer 26

Portion of renal tubule

Question 27

Reabsorption

Answer 27

Second phase of urine production; substances needed by body are reabsorbed as filtrate passes through kidney tubules

Question 28

Renal Artery

Answer 28

Artery that originates from abdominal aorta and carries blood to nephrons of kidney

Question 29

Renal Corpuscle

Answer 29

Part of nephron; double-walled cuplike structure called 'glomerular capsule' or 'Bowman's capsule' and contains capillary network called glomerulus; afferent arteriole carries blood to glomerulus and efferent arteriole carries blood away from glomerulus; filtration stage of urine production occurs in renal corpuscle as wastes are filtered from blood in glomerulus and enter Bowman's capsule

Question 30

Renal Papilla

Answer 30

Tip of renal pyramid

Question 31

Renal Pelvis

Answer 31

Large collecting site for urine within kidney; collects urine from each calyx; urine leaves renal pelvis via ureter

Question 32

Renal Pyramid

Answer 32

Triangular-shaped region of renal medulla

Question 33

Renal Tubule

Answer 33

Network of tubes found in a nephron; consists of proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal tubule, and collecting tubule; reabsorption and secretion stages of urine production occur within renal tubule; as glomerular filtrate passes through renal tubule, most of water and some of dissolved substances, such as amino acids and electrolytes, are reabsorbed; at same time, substances that are too large to filter into Bowman's capsule, such as urea, are secreted directly from bloodstream into renal tubule; filtrate that reaches collecting tubule becomes urine

Question 34

Renal Vein

Answer 34

Vein that carries blood away from kidneys

Question 35

Retroperitoneal

Answer 35

Pertaining to behind peritoneum; used to describe position of kidneys, which is outside of peritoneal sac alongside spine

Question 36

Rugae

Answer 36

Prominent folds in mucosa of stomach; smooth out and almost disappear allowing stomach to expand when full of food; also found in urinary bladder

Question 37

Secretion

Answer 37

Third phase of urine production; additional waste products are added to filtrate as it passes through kidney tubules

Question 38

Specific Gravity (sp. grav.)

Answer 38

Characteristic of urine that indicates amount of dissolved substances in urine

Question 39

Uremia

Answer 39

Excess of urea and other nitrogenous waste in blood

Question 40

Ureters

Answer 40

Organs in urinary system that transport urine from kidney to bladder

Question 41

Urethra

Answer 41

Tube that leads from urinary bladder to outside of body; in male it is also used by reproductive system to release semen

Question 42

Urinalysis (U/A, UA)

Answer 42

Laboratory test consisting of physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine

Question 43

Urinary Bladder

Answer 43

Organ in the urinary system that stores urine

Question 44

Urinary Meatus

Answer 44

External opening of urethra

Question 45

Urination

Answer 45

Release of urine from urinary bladder

Question 46

Urine

Answer 46

Fluid that remains in urinary system following three stages of urine production: filtration, reabsorption, and secretion