afferent arteriole arteriole that branches from the cortical radiate artery and enters the glomerulus

ammonia compound made of one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms

ammonotelic describes an animal that excretes ammonia as the primary waste material

angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) enzyme that converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II

angiotensin I product in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone pathway

angiotensin II molecule that affects different organs to increase blood pressure

anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) hormone that prevents the loss of water

antioxidant agent that prevents cell destruction by reactive oxygen species

arcuate artery artery that branches from the interlobar artery and arches over the base of the renal pyramids

ascending limb part of the loop of Henle that ascends from the renal medulla to the renal cortex

blood urea nitrogen (BUN) estimate of urea in the blood and an indicator of kidney function

Bowman’s capsule structure that encloses the glomerulus

calyx structure that connects the renal pelvis to the renal medulla

cortex (animal) outer layer of an organ like the kidney or adrenal gland

cortical nephron nephron that lies in the renal cortex

cortical radiate artery artery that radiates from the arcuate arteries into the renal cortex

countercurrent exchanger peritubular capillary network that allows exchange of solutes and water from the renal tubules

countercurrent multiplier osmotic gradient in the renal medulla that is responsible for concentration of urine

descending limb part of the loop of Henle that descends from the renal cortex into the renal medulla

distal convoluted tubule (DCT) part of the renal tubule that is the most distant from the glomerulus

efferent arteriole arteriole that exits from the glomerulus

electrolyte solute that breaks down into ions when dissolved in water

flame cell (also, protonephridia) excretory cell found in flatworms

glomerular filtration filtration of blood in the glomerular capillary network into the glomerulus

glomerular filtration rate (GFR) amount of filtrate formed by the glomerulus per minute

glomerulus (renal) part of the renal corpuscle that contains the capillary network

hilum region in the renal pelvis where blood vessels, nerves, and ureters bunch before entering or exiting the kidney

inferior vena cava one of the main veins in the human body

interlobar artery artery that branches from the segmental artery and travels in between the renal lobes

juxtaglomerular cell cell in the afferent and efferent arterioles that responds to stimuli from the macula densa

juxtamedullary nephron nephron that lies in the cortex but close to the renal medulla

kidney organ that performs excretory and osmoregulatory functions

lobes of the kidney renal pyramid along with the adjoining cortical region

loop of Henle part of the renal tubule that loops into the renal medulla

macula densa group of cells that senses changes in sodium ion concentration; present in parts of the renal tubule and collecting ducts

Malpighian tubule excretory tubules found in arthropods

medulla middle layer of an organ like the kidney or adrenal gland

microvilli cellular processes that increase the surface area of cells

molality number of moles of solute per kilogram of solvent

molarity number of moles of solute per liter of solution

mole gram equivalent of the molecular weight of a substance

nephridia excretory structures found in annelids

nephridiopore pore found at the end of nephridia

nephron functional unit of the kidney

non-electrolyte solute that does not break down into ions when dissolved in water

osmoconformer organism that changes its tonicity based on its environment

osmoregulation mechanism by which water and solute concentrations are maintained at desired levels

osmoregulator organism that maintains its tonicity irrespective of its environment

osmotic balance balance of the amount of water and salt input and output to and from a biological system without disturbing the desired osmotic pressure and solute concentration in every compartment

osmotic pressure pressure exerted on a membrane to equalize solute concentration on either side

perirenal fat capsule fat layer that suspends the kidneys

peritubular capillary network capillary network that surrounds the renal tubule after the efferent artery exits the glomerulus

proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) part of the renal tubule that lies close to the glomerulus

renal artery branch of the artery that enters the kidney

renal capsule layer that encapsulates the kidneys

renal column area of the kidney through which the interlobar arteries travel in the process of supplying blood to the renal lobes

renal corpuscle glomerulus and the Bowman’s capsule together

renal fascia connective tissue that supports the kidneys

renal pelvis region in the kidney where the calyces join the ureters

renal pyramid conical structure in the renal medulla

renal tubule tubule of the nephron that arises from the glomerulus

renal vein branch of a vein that exits the kidney and joins the inferior vena cava

renin-angiotensin-aldosterone biochemical pathway that activates angiotensin II, which increases blood pressure

segmental artery artery that branches from the renal artery

semi-permeable membrane membrane that allows only certain solutes to pass through

transport maximum maximum amount of solute that can be transported out of the renal tubules during reabsorption

tubular reabsorption reclamation of water and solutes that got filtered out in the glomerulus

tubular secretion process of secretion of wastes that do not get reabsorbed

urea cycle pathway by which ammonia is converted to urea

ureotelic describes animals that secrete urea as the primary nitrogenous waste material

ureter urine-bearing tube coming out of the kidney; carries urine to the bladder

uric acid byproduct of ammonia metabolism in birds, insects, and reptiles

urinary bladder structure that the ureters empty the urine into; stores urine

urine filtrate produced by kidneys that gets excreted out of the body

vasa recta peritubular network that surrounds the loop of Henle of the juxtamedullary nephrons

vasodilator compound that increases the diameter of blood vessels

vasopressin another name for anti-diuretic hormone