Kidney-a reddish brown, bean shaped organ with a smooth surface

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Retroperitoneal- location behind the parietal peritoneum

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Renal Sinus- a hollow chamber resulting from the medial depression in the kidney's convex surface

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renal pelvis- a funnel shaped sac formed when the superior end of the ureter expands inside the renal sinus

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renal medulla- composed of conical masses of tissue called renal pyramids and appears striated

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renal cortex- forms a shell around the medulla and dips into the medulla between renal pyramids

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nephrons- the kidney's functional unit

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renal arteries- arise from the abdominal aorta and supply blood to the kidneys

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afferent arterioles- the final branches of the interlobular arteries that lead to the nephrons

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renal vein- a vein that joins the inferior vena cava as it courses through the abdominal cavity

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renal corpuscle- part of a nephron that consists of a glomerulus and a glomerular capsule

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renal tubule- portion of a nephron that extends from the renal corpuscle to the collecting duct

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glomerulus- a tangled cluster of blood capillaries the compose the renal corpuscle

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glomerulus capsule- a thin walled, sac like structure that surrounds the glomerulus

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efferent arteriole- the vessel that conducts blood away from the glomerulus of a kidney nephron

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peritubular capillary system- a complex, freely interconnecting network of capillaries that the efferent arteriole branches into

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juxtaglomerular apparatus- structure located in the arteriolar walls near the glomerulus that regulates renal blood flow.

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glomerular filtration- the process in which urine formation begins with the filtration of plasma by the glomerular capillaries

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tubular reabsorption- the process in which the kidneys selectively reclaim just the right amounts of substances such as water, electrolytes and glucose

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tubular secretion- the process in which some substances that the body must eliminate, such as hydrogen ions and certain toxins, are removed through filtration alone

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urine- the final product of the three processes (Glomerular filtration, Tubular reabsorption, and tubular secretion

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glomerular filtrate- similar in composition to the filtrate that becomes tissue fluid elsewhere in the body; received by the glomerular capsule

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net filtration pressure- the net pressure forcing substances out to the glomerulus

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urea- a by product of amino acid catabolism

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uric acid- a product of the metabolism of certain organic bases in nucleic acid

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ureter- a tube about 25 centimeters long that begins as the gunnel shaped renal pelvis. it extends downward behind the parietal peritoneum and runs parallel to the vertebral column.

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urinary bladder- a hollow, distensible, muscular organ that stores urine and forces it into the urethra

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detrusor muscle- muscular wall of the urinary bladder

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micturition- urination, the process that expels urine from the urinary bladder

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urethra- a tube that conveys urine from the urinary bladder to the outside

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anuria-absence of urine due to failure of kidney function or to an obstruction in a urinary pathway

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bacteriuria-bacteria in urine

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cystectomy-surgical removal of the urinary bladder

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cystitis-inflammation of the urinary bladder

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cystoscope-instrument used to visually examine the interior of the urinary bladder

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cystotomy-incision of the urinary bladder wall

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diuresis-increased urine excretion

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diuretic-substance that increases urine production

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dysuria-painful or difficult urination

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hematuria-blood in urine

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incontinence-inability to control urination and/or defecation reflexes

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nephrectomy-surgical removal of a kidney

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nephrolithiasis-kidney stones

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nephroptosis-movable or displaced kidney

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oliguria-scanty urine output

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polyuria-excess urine output

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pyelolithotomy-removal of a stone from the renal pelvis

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pyelonephritis-inflammation of the renal pelvis

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pyelotomy-incision into the renal pelvis

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pyuria-pus in urine

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uremia-accumulation in blood of substances ordinarily excreted in urine

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ureteritis-inflammation of the ureter

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urethritis-inflammation of the urethra

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Removes certain salts and nitrogenous wastes

Maintain the normal concentrations of water and electrolytes within body fluids

Regulates the pH and volume of body fluids

Helps control red blood cell production and blood pressure

A pair of kidneys

A pair of tubular ureters

Urinary bladder

Tubular urethra

An adult kidney is about 12 centimeters long, 6 centimeters wide, and 3 centimeters thick.It is enclosed in a tough, fibrous capsule.

Lie on either side of the vertebral column in a depression high on the posterior wall of the abdominal cavity. 

Left kidney is usually 1.5-2 centimeters higher than the right one.

Positioned retroperitoneally

Connective and adipose tissue surround the kidney and keep them in place

Convex lateral surface

Concave medial side

Depression leads into renal sinus (hilum)

Superior end of the ureter forms renal pelvis

Kidney is divided into two distinct regions

Renal medulla

Renal Cortex

Nephrons are the functional units of the kidney

To remove metabolic wastes from the blood and combining them with excess water and electrolytes to form urine

Secrete the hormone erythropoietin

Activate Vitamin D

Maintain blood pressure by secreting the enzyme renin

The renal arteries supply blood to the kidneys

Renal arteries enter the kidney through the hilum and gives off several branches which pass between the renal pyramids

Afferent arterioles lead to the nephrons

Renal vein joins the inferior vena cava as it courses through the abdominal cavity

Consists of a renal corpuscle and a renal tubule

Efferent arteriole carries the blood to the nephrons

Peritubular capillary system is the interconnecting network of capillaries in the nephrons

1) Glomerular filtration- the process in which urine formation begins with the filtration of plasma by the glomerular capillaries

2) Tubular reabsorption- the process in which the kidneys selectively reclaim just the right amounts of substances such as water, electrolytes and glucose

3) Tubular secretion- the process in which some substances that the body must eliminate, such as hydrogen ions and certain toxins, are removed through filtration alone

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Final Product of theses three processes is Urine.

environmental temperature

relative humidity of the surrounding air

emotional condition

respiratory rate

body temperature