1.
ADH: Peptide hormone that directly alters the permeability of the collecting duct (allowing more water to be reabsorbed by making cell junctions in the duct leaky)
2.
Afferent arterioles: Branching of the renal artery and conglomerate into a glomerulus
3.
Aldosterone: A steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex in response to decreased blood volume. Alters the ability of the collecting duct to reabsorb sodium
4.
Bowman's capsule: Cuplike structure which surrounds the complex net of capillaries of the nephron
5.
Cortex: The more superficial division of the kidney
6.
Countercurrent multiplier system: A system employed by the kidney in the loop of Henley which creates a gradient of osmolarity, allowing us to reabsorb and excrete compounds as needed
7.
Dermis: The middle layer of the skin
8.
Efferent arterioles: Blood vessels which lead blood away from the glomeruli
9.
Endotherms: Warm-blooded animals (in which the skin has the task of thermoregulation)
10.
Epidermis: The outer layer of the skin
11.
Glomerulus: A highly convoluted structure derived from afferent arterioles
12.
Gluconeogenesis: The creation of glucose by the liver from a variety of precursors
13.
Hypodermis: The inner layer of the skin
14.
Medulla: The more profound division of the kidney
15.
Melanin: A pigment which keeps humans safe from UV light and DNA damage
16.
Melanocytes: Epidermal cells which secrete melanin
17.
Nephron: The functional unit of the kidney
18.
Portal system: Name given to two sets of capillaries in series through which the blood must travel before returning into the heart
19.
Renal artery: Vessel carrying blood into the kidney for filtration
20.
Renal vein: Vessel carrying blood out of the kidney which has been filtered
21.
Ureter: Tube which carries the filtrate out of the kidney
22.
Vasa recta: A second set of capillaries distinct from the efferent/afferent arterioles