Ch. 12 Urinary System Key Terms
bladder
A hollow, muscular sac that lies behind the symphysis pubis and at the midline of the pelvic cavity. It receives urine from the ureters and stores the urine until it is eliminated from the body.
hilum
A notched or indented area on the kidney through which the ureter, nerves, blood vessels, and lymph vessels enter and leave.
renal pelvis
A funnel-shaped structure that is the first section of the ureter. It collects urine from the collecting ducts/tubules.
urine
The liquid waste product produced by the urinary system. It is approximately 95% water and contains waste products like urea, uric acid, and creatinine.
homeostasis
A state of equilibrium or constant state of natural balance in the internal environment of the body.
Bowman's capsule
A C-shaped structure that surrounds the glomerulus and is the start of the convoluted tubule in the nephron. It picks up materials filtered from the blood.
homeostasis
A state of equilibrium or constant state of natural balance in the internal environment of the body.
ureters
Two muscular tubes that carry the urine from the renal pelvis of each kidney to the bladder using peristalsis (a rhythmic, wavelike motion).
void
To urinate or micturate; to eliminate the urine when the bladder is full.
medulla
The inner section of the kidney. It contains most of the collecting tubules.
cortex
The outer section of the kidney. It contains most of the nephrons, which aid in the production of urine.
kidneys
Two bean-shaped organs that filter blood and produce urine; they are the primary organs of the urinary system.
urethra
The tube that carries the urine from the bladder to the outside.
excretory system
The body system, also known as the urinary system, responsible for removing certain wastes and excess water from the body and for maintaining the body’s acid-base or pH balance.
nephrons
The microscopic filtering units located in the kidneys (over one million per kidney) that are responsible for forming urine.
excretory system
The body system, also known as the urinary system, responsible for removing certain wastes and excess water from the body and for maintaining the body’s acid-base or pH balance.
medulla
The inner section of the kidney. It contains most of the collecting tubules.
urinary meatus
The external opening of the urethra.
glomerulus
A cluster of capillaries where blood passes through, and water, mineral salts, glucose, and metabolic products are filtered out of the blood.
renal pelvis
A funnel-shaped structure that is the first section of the ureter. It collects urine from the collecting ducts/tubules.
glomerulus
A cluster of capillaries where blood passes through, and water, mineral salts, glucose, and metabolic products are filtered out of the blood.
nephrons
The microscopic filtering units located in the kidneys (over one million per kidney) that are responsible for forming urine.
urinary system
The body system responsible for removing certain wastes and excess water from the body and for maintaining the body’s acid-base or pH balance.
hilum
A notched or indented area on the kidney through which the ureter, nerves, blood vessels, and lymph vessels enter and leave.
ureters
Two muscular tubes that carry the urine from the renal pelvis of each kidney to the bladder using peristalsis (a rhythmic, wavelike motion).