Renal Anatomy
These are the principal organs of the urinary system, shaped like beans and located in the upper lumbar region.
Kidneys
This is the structural and functional unit of the kidney, with roughly 1 million per kidney.
Nephron
This first step of urine formation occurs as blood moves from the glomerulus into the Bowman capsule.
Filtration
These two slender, hollow tubes transport urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder.
Ureters
This condition is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of body fluids in interstitial spaces; it can be "pitting" or "nonpitting."
Edema
This is the notch located on the medial side of the kidney where the renal artery, vein, and ureter enter or exit.
Hilum
Composed of the glomerulus and Bowman capsule, this part of the nephron is where blood is first filtered.
Renal Corpuscle
During this process, approximately 99% of filtered water and nutrients are returned to the bloodstream.
Reabsorption
This expandable sac serves as a temporary reservoir for urine.
Urinary bladder
This is the medical term for "kidney stones," which are small, hard deposits that form inside the kidneys.
Renal Calculi (or Nephrolithiasis)
This outer region of the kidney contains the renal corpuscles and convoluted tubules.
Renal Cortex
This cluster of blood-filtering capillaries is tucked inside the Bowman capsule.
Glomerulus
This hormone, secreted by the posterior pituitary, stimulates the kidneys to reabsorb more water to prevent dehydration.
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
This is the technical medical term for the act of urinating or voiding the bladder.
Micturition
This test, involving pinching the skin to see how quickly it flattens, is used to assess a person's level of hydration.
Skin Turgor
These cone-shaped structures are found within the renal medulla and contain the loops of Henle.
Renal Pyramids
This part of the renal tubule is specifically designed to be the main site of reabsorption.
Proximal Convoluted Tubule
Secreted by the adrenal cortex, this hormone increases the reabsorption of sodium, which in turn causes water reabsorption.
Aldosterone
This small tube transports urine from the urinary bladder out of the body.
Urethra
This term describes the kidneys' location "behind the peritoneum" rather than inside the abdominal cavity.
Retroperitoneal
This large, funnel-shaped central cavity of the kidney collects urine and funnels it into the ureter.
Renal Pelvis
These specialized cells in the distal convoluted tubule monitor chloride ion concentration in the filtrate.
Macula Densa cells
This enzyme is produced by juxtaglomerular cells when blood pressure drops, initiating a hormone cascade to raise it.
Renin
This triangular area at the base of the bladder is formed by the two ureter openings and the single urethra opening.
Trigone
This condition involves the inability to control the release of urine from the bladder.
Urinary incontinence