Urinal terminology.docx

**Term** **Definition** Arteriole Small artery Calciferol Active form of Vitamin D, secreted by the kidney Calyx or Calix (plural: calyces or calices) Cup-like collecting region of the renal pelvis Catheter Tube for injecting or removing fluids Cortex Outer region of an organ; the renal c...

**Term** **Definition** Arteriole Small artery Calciferol Active form of Vitamin D, secreted by the kidney Calyx or Calix (plural: calyces or calices) Cup-like collecting region of the renal pelvis Catheter Tube for injecting or removing fluids Cortex Outer region of an organ; the renal cortex is the outer region of the kidney (cortical means pertaining to the cortex) Creatinine Nitrogenous waste excreted in urine. Creatinine clearance is a measure of the efficiency of the kidneys in removing (clearing) creatinine from the blood. Electrolyte Chemical element that carries an electrical charge when dissolved in water. Electrolytes are necessary for functioning of muscles and nerves. The kidneys maintain the proper balance of electrolytes and water in the blood. Potassium (K+) and sodium (Na+) are electrolytes. Erythropoietin (EPO) Hormone secreted by the kidney to stimulate the production of red blood cells by bone marrow. --Poietin means a substance that forms. Filtration Process whereby some substances, but not all, pass through a filter. Glomerular capsule Enclosing structure surrounding each glomerulus. The glomerular capsule is also known as Bowman's capsule and it collects the material that is filtered from the blood through the walls of the glomerulus. Glomerulus (plural: glomeruli) Tiny ball of capillaries (microscopic blood vessels) in the kidney. Hilum Depression in an organ where blood vessels and nerves enter and leave. Hilum comes from the Latin meaning a small thing. It is also used in the respiratory system to mark the depression in the lung where blood vessels, bronchus, and lymphatic vessels enter and leave. ---------- ---------------- **Term** **Definition** ---------- ---------------- -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ kidney One of two bean-shaped organs on either side of the backbone in the lumbar region; it filters nitrogenous wastes from the bloodstream to form urine. -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- ------------------- meatus Opening or canal. -------- ------------------- --------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- medulla Inner region of an organ. The renal medulla is the inner region of the kidney. The term comes from the Latin medulla, meaning marrow (inner part). --------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- nephron Combination of glomerulus and renal tubule where filtration, reabsorption, and secretion take place in the kidney. It is the functional unit of the kidney. --------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- nitrogenous waste Substance containing nitrogen and excreted in urine. Examples include urea, uric acid, and creatinine. ------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- potassium (K+) Electrolyte regulated by the kidney to maintain proper concentration within the blood; essential for muscle contraction and nerve impulse conduction. ---------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- reabsorption Process whereby 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 collecting region in the kidney. -------------- ------------------------------------------ -------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ renal tubule Microscopic tube in the kidney where urine is formed after filtration. -------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- renal vein Blood vessel that carries blood away from the kidney and toward the heart. ------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- renin Hormone secreted by the kidney; raises blood pressure by influencing vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels). ------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- sodium (Na+) Electrolyte regulated by the kidneys; essential for nerve impulse transmission, heart activity, and metabolic functions. -------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- ----------------------------------------- trigone Triangular area in the urinary bladder. --------- ----------------------------------------- ------ -------------------------------------------- urea Major nitrogenous waste excreted in urine. ------ -------------------------------------------- -------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ureter One of the two tubes leading from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. -------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- urethra Tube leading from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body. --------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- ------------------------------------------ uric acid Nitrogenous waste excreted in the urine. ----------- ------------------------------------------ ----------------- --------------------------------------------------- urinary bladder Hollow, muscular sac that holds and stores urine. ----------------- --------------------------------------------------- --------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ urination (voiding) Process of expelling urine; also called micturition. --------------------- ------------------------------------------------------