- blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
- a blood test that measures the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood; elevated levels can indicate decreased renal function
- Bowman’s capsule
- part of the nephron that contains the glomerulus
- cortical nephrons
- comprise a majority of the functional units of the kidney located in the outer renal cortex
- fenestrated capillaries
- small blood vessels in the glomerulus that filter waste
- glomerular filtration
- initial step in making urine involving the filtering of excess fluid and waste products from blood
- glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
- the rate at which the kidneys filter the blood, calculated using the results of blood tests that measure renal function
- glomerulus
- located in nephrons, a tuft of capillaries surrounded by the Bowman’s capsule that filters blood
- hilum
- indentation on the medial side of the kidney that allows blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves to enter and exit
- juxtamedullary nephrons
- nephrons with longer loops of Henle that extend into the medulla
- loop of Henle
- part of the nephron that contributes to absorption of sodium
- mesangial cells
- cells that increase the body surface area for glomerular filtration by limiting the size of molecules that can be filtered
- micturition
- the process through which urine is released from the bladder
- nephrons
- the functional units of the kidney that produce urine
- renal colic
- acute pain associated with kidney stones
- renal cortex
- outermost layer of the internal areas of the kidney containing nephrons
- renal medulla
- inner part of the kidney containing structures essential for regulating urine concentration
- renal pelvis
- funnel-shaped area of the kidney that collects urine and is connected to the ureter
- tubular necrosis
- damage to the tubule cells of the kidney typically resulting from reduced blood flow or chemical exposure
- vasa recta
- long, hairpin-shaped blood vessels that run parallel to the loops of Henle and facilitate water reabsorption
- vesicoureteral reflux
- abnormal backflow of urine from the bladder up through the ureters