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Urinary System and Extracellular Fluid Homeostasis

Author: Aaron Mullally
Terms to Know
Bowman's Capsule

A section of a nephron where afferent arterioles deliver blood to the nephron for water and solutes to be filtered out.

Extracellular Fluid


Fluid of the body that is contained outside of cells. Plasma is an example of extracellular fluid outside of blood cells.

Filtration

The first step in urine formation in which urine is filtered from afferent arterioles in the Bowman's capsule of a nephron.

Glomerulus

A tangle of blood vessels in the Bowman's capsule where water and solutes are forced out of blood and into the Bowman's capsule to begin the next stage of urine formation.

Kidneys

Organs of the body that produce urine and help to regulate the composition and volume of body fluids.

Peritubular Capillaries

Capillaries associated with nephrons which allow water and solutes to be exchanged between the nephron and the blood during urine formation.

Reabsorption

The second step in urine formation, in which valuable water and solutes are reabsorbed back into the blood.

Secretion

The third step in urine formation in which filtrate moves toward collecting ducts; secretion helps maintain the body's acid-base balance.

Urination

A reflex that occurs when the urinary bladder fills to capacity and is stimulated to empty itself.

Urine

A substance formed by the kidneys and excreted from the body as a means to regulate the composition and volume of extracellular fluids.