Anatomy Part 1
The functional and histological unit of the kidneys.
What is the nephron?
The structure that holds urine until it can be properly eliminated from the body.
What is the urinary bladder?
The "ball" of capillaries, where filtration of the blood occurs within the nephron.
What is the glomerulus?
The location in the nephron where the first step of urine formation primarily occurs.
What is the renal corpuscle?
The proper clinical term for urination.
What is micturition?
The structures that carry urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder.
What are the ureters?
The structure that transports urine from the bladder to the outside environment.
What is the urethra?
The inner region of the kidney, where the collection of ducts and tubules is located.
What is the renal medulla?
The location in the nephron where the first step of urine formation primarily occurs.
What is the renal corpuscle?
This urinalysis measurement indicates the concentration of waste products in urine.
What is specific gravity?
The notched area of the kidney where blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatic vessels enter and exit the kidney.
What is the renal hilum?
The protective covering around the kidney that shields it from mechanical shock and helps maintain its shape.
What is the renal capsule?
The tips of the renal pyramids that point inward towards the renal sinus,
What are the renal papillae?
The process by which the blood capillaries around the nephron push additional waste substances out of the bloodstream and into the convoluted tubule that were not removed from blood initially.
What is tubular secretion?
The presence of pus or white blood cells in urine, typically indicating a urinary tract infection.
What is pyuria?
Cells of the visceral layer of the Bowman's capsule, that wrap around the glomerular capillaries and help to form a filtration barrier.
What are the podocytes?
Portions of renal cortex that extend between renal pyramids.
What are the renal columns?
The small, funnel-shaped chamber surrounding the tip of the renal pyramid.
What is the minor calyx?
The urine formation step, where water and needed substances from the filtrate are pushed back into the blood.
What is tubular reabsorption?
The presence of glucose in urine, often indicating uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.
What is glycosuria?
Specialized smooth muscle cells found in the walls of the afferent arterioles within the kidney that produce and release the hormone, renin.
What are juxtaglomerular cells?
A single, large, funnel-shaped chamber that channels urine to the ureters.
What is the renal pelvis?
Specialized portions of the nephron capillary network that extend deep into the medulla & surround the loops of henle & collecting ducts.
What are the vasa recta?
The amount of filtrate produced each minute and is controlled by the net filtration pressure.
What is the glomerular filtration rate?
These masses of cells, fiber, or hardened material found in urine may indicate kidney disease or infection.
What are casts?