Anatomy
The tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
Ureters
The tiny ball of capillaries where blood filtration begins.
Glomerulus
The tube through which urine exits the body.
Urethra
The percentage of urine that is typically made of water.
95%
A common abbreviation for a "Urinary Tract Infection."
UTI
These two bean-shaped organs filter blood to produce urine.
Kidneys
The functional unit of the kidney that does the actual filtering.
Nephron
The muscular sac that stores urine until it is released.
Urinary Bladder
The primary liquid waste product filtered out by the kidneys.
Urea
A common "stone" that can form from minerals and salts in the kidneys.
Kidney Stone
The outer layer of the kidney, located just under the capsule.
Renel Cortex
The process where the body takes back useful substances like glucose.
Tubular Reabsorption
These circular muscles prevent urine from leaking out of the bladder.
Sphincters
Besides waste, kidneys regulate this "pressure" in the body.
Blood Pressure
Inflammation of the bladder, often causing a frequent urge to pee.
Cystitis
The inner region of the kidney containing the renal pyramids.
Renel Medulla
The process of adding certain wastes directly from the blood into the filtrate.
Tubular Secretion
The average amount of urine (in ml) a full bladder can typically hold.
400-500 ml
The hormone released by kidneys to help produce red blood cells.
Erythropoietin
A procedure used to clean the blood when kidneys no longer function.
Dialysis
The funnel-like structure that collects urine before it enters the ureter.
Renel Pelvis
The specific part of the nephron loop that dips into the medulla.
Loop of Henle
The technical term for the act of urinating or emptying the bladder.
Micturition
The electrolyte (like sodium or potassium) levels regulated by the kidneys.
Ions
A specialist doctor who focuses on the urinary tract and male reproductive system.
Urologist