- adrenal gland
- the small glands sitting on top of the kidneys that release adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, and aldosterone
- aldosterone
- a hormone that triggers the reabsorption of sodium by the kidneys
- cortisol
- a hormone released by the adrenal glands to help maintain blood pressure
- costovertebral angle
- the area on the back flank at the bottom of the 12th rib forming a 90-degree angle to the spine
- cystitis
- inflammation of the urinary bladder
- erythropoietin
- a hormone released by the kidneys that signals the bone marrow to produce red blood cells
- glomerulus
- a cluster of capillaries around the end of a kidney tubule that filters waste products from the blood
- gluconeogenesis
- the generation of glucose from non-carbohydrate carbon substrates
- hematuria
- blood in the urine
- kidneys
- a pair of bean-shaped organs that filter out blood wastes and excrete urine
- micturition
- the act or urinating
- nephron
- the functional unit of the kidney that contains the glomerulus and its tubule
- parenchyma
- the renal cortex and medulla together
- pruritis
- uncomfortable itching
- pyelonephritis
- inflammation of the kidney
- renal bone dysplasia
- a life-threatening condition in which the body breaks down the bones to increase blood calcium levels by releasing the calcium stored in bones
- renal capsule
- the outermost layer of the kidney composed of fibrous connective tissue
- renal cortex
- the outer layer of the kidney contained inside the capsule
- renal medulla
- the inner part of the kidney that contains working filtering units
- renal papilla
- the apex of a renal pyramid
- renal pelvis
- the top part of the ureter where the kidney tubules drain
- renin
- an enzyme secreted by the kidneys that stimulates the production of angiotensin
- symphysis pubis
- the joint consisting of a fibrocartilaginous disc sandwiched between the surfaces of the pubic bones
- urea
- the wastes from the breakdown of proteins
- ureters
- two hollow tube-like ducts that allows passage of urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder
- urethra
- the hollow tube-like duct that allows urine passage from the bladder to the outside of the body
- uric acid
- the wastes from the breakdown of nucleic acids
- urinary bladder
- a hollow organ posterior to the symphysis pubis that acts as a storage reservoir for urine before excretion