| aldosterone |
Hormone produced by the adrenal cortex; affects water balance by regulating sodium and potassium excretion |
| antidiuretic hormone (ADH) |
Hormone produced by the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary; stimulates reabsorption of water by kidneys; dilutes the blood (decreasing the concentrations of solutes such as sodium) |
| collecting duct |
Duct within the kidney; receives fluid from nephrons; responsible for reabsorption of water |
| feces |
Waste products made by the digestive system |
| glomerular capsule |
Bowman’s Capsule (also known as the Glomerular Capsule) is a double-walled epithelial cup that surrounds the glomerulus at the beginning of the nephron and collects the filtrate. |
| glomerulus |
A cluster of capillaries surrounded by the glomerular capsule in a nephron, where blood is filtered; involved in the formation of the glomerular filtrate |
| kidney tubules |
Microscopically, tiny tubes in the kidneys; collect fluid as it leaks out of glomeruli (blood vessels); Kidneys reabsorb Na+, Ca2+ and water from kidney tubules; Cuboidal epithelium forms the kidney tubules |
| loop of Henle |
The loop of Henle (also called theloop of the nephron) is a hairpin-shaped (U-shaped) tubular structure that extends into the medulla of a nephron; reabsorbs water and salts from the urine collected by the glomerulus |
| nephron |
The microscopic structural and functional unit of the kidney; filtering unit of the kidney; regulates blood composition by glomerular filtration |
| renal cortex |
Outermost portion of the kidney between the renal capsule and the renal medulla; granular outer layer of the kidney |
| renal medulla |
Inner two-thirds portion of the kidney that consists of cone-shaped tissue masses called renal pyramids |
| renal pelvis |
A funnel-shaped structure in the center of the kidney; this hollow chamber lies inside the renal medulla; collects freshly urine from the collecting ducts after it is formed; passes urine to the ureters |
| renin |
An enzyme secreted by kidneys that leads to the secretion of aldosterone and a rise in blood pressure |
| tubular reabsorption |
Movement of water and primarily nutrients from the renal tubules into the blood |
| tubular secretion |
Movement of solutes such as drugs, metabolic wastes, and excess ions (hydrogen, ammonium, and potassium) from blood into the distal convoluted tubule of a nephron |
| urea |
The principal nitrogen containing waste excreted in urine; derived from amino acid breakdown |
| ureter |
One of two narrow tubes that take urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. |
| urethra |
Duct from the urinary bladder to the exterior of the body; this tubular structure receives urine from the bladder and carries it to the outside of the body |
| urinary bladder |
A hollow, muscular organ that stores urine |
