Renal capsule (aka fibrous capsule of kidney) - directly covers the kidneys and is composed of dense, irregular connective tissue that helps to hold the kidneys' shape and protect them; covered by the renal fat pad
Cortex - outer region of the kidney; between the renal capsule and renal medulla; houses the nephrons
Medulla - inner region of the kidney; divided into renal pyramids; important in concentrating urine
Renal pyramid (or pyramid) - triangular shaped area in the medulla; base is oriented to the cortex; tip is oriented to the pelvis; looks tubular due to the presence of nephron tubules
Renal columns - cortical projections in the medulla; separate the renal pyramids; house blood vessels (interlobar)
Minor calyx - collects urine from the renal papilla; flows into a major calyx; part of the collecting system of the kidney
Major calyx - collects urine from several minor calyces; flows into the renal pelvis; part of the collecting system of the kidney
Renal papilla - at the tip of the pyramid; where the urine is emptied into the minor calyx
Renal pelvis - funnel-like dilated part of the ureter in the kidney; formed from the major and minor calyces; funnels urine into the ureter
Nephron - the microscopic functional and structural unit of the kidney; filters blood and forms urine
Ureter - a muscular tube; emerges from the renal pelvis of each kidney; transports urine from the kidney to the bladder
Renal artery - paired; enters the hilum; brings oxygenated blood from the descending aorta
Renal vein - paired; emerges from the hilum; returns deoxygenated blood to the inferior vena cava
Arcuate artery - vessel of renal circulation, located at the border of the renal cortex and renal medulla; emerges from the interlobar artery
Interlobar artery - vessel of renal circulation; emerges from the renal artery; located in the renal columns; branches into the arcuate arteries
Arcuate vein - vessel of renal circulation; located at the border of the renal cortex and renal medulla; carries deoxygenated blood and empties into the interlobar vein
Interlobar vein - vessel of renal circulation; empties blood from the kidney into the renal vein
Urinary bladder on the reproductive models
Urinary bladder - muscular sac in the pelvis; collects urine from both ureters and empties it into the urethra
Trigone - triangular-shaped area at the base of the bladder; formed by two ureteral openings superior and one urethral opening inferior
Urethra - transports urine from the bladder to the outside of the body for disposal; shows significant anatomic difference between males and females
External urethral orifice - the external opening (or meatus) of the urethra; where urine exits in both males and females; in males, it is also where the semen is ejected during ejaculation.
Internal urethral orifice - the opening of the bladder into the urethra
Nephron (Picture)
Bowman’s capsule - surrounds the glomerulus and captures and directs the fluid filtered from the glomerulus into the proximal tubule; together with the glomerulus forms the renal corpuscle
Glomerulus - a tuft of high-pressure capillaries; filter blood; together with the Bowman’s capsule forms the renal corpuscle
Renal corpuscle - made up of the Bowman’s capsule and the glomerulus
Proximal Tubule - part of the nephron; found in the cortex of the kidney; connects to Bowman’s capsule and the nephron loop; most active part of the nephron; involved in secretion and reabsorption
Distal Tubule - part of the nephron; found in the cortex of the kidney; connects the nephron loop to the connecting duct; involved in secretion and reabsorption
Loop of Henle (aka nephron loop) - part of the nephron; a U-shaped tube that consists of a descending limb and ascending limb; found mostly in medulla; important for concentration of urine
Collecting duct - transports urine made by nephrons to the calyces of the kidney for excretion