Digestive and Urinary System

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Enzyme Noun

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[en-zahym]

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Enzyme

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A biological catalyst, typically a protein, that accelerates chemical reactions in the body, such as the breakdown of food.

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Example: This diagram shows how an enzyme (the 'lock') has a specific active site that only fits a particular substrate (the 'key'), breaking it down into products.

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Chyme Noun

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[kahym]

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Chyme

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The pulpy, acidic fluid of partly digested food and gastric juices that passes from the stomach to the small intestine.

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Example: This diagram shows how food in the stomach mixes with gastric juices to become a semi-liquid substance called chyme before passing to the intestine.

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Villi Noun

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[vil-ahy]

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Villi

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Tiny, finger-like projections lining the small intestine wall, which significantly increase the surface area for nutrient absorption.

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Example: This diagram shows villi, the finger-like projections in the small intestine, and a magnified view of the microvilli on their surface cells.

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Bile Noun

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[bahyl]

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Bile

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A digestive fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder that aids in the digestion of fats.

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Example: This diagram shows that bile is a substance stored in the gallbladder, an organ located next to the liver in the upper digestive system.

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Nephron Noun

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[nef-ron]

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Nephron

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The microscopic functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering waste products from the blood to form urine.

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Example: This diagram shows a nephron, the kidney's filtering unit, including its main parts like the glomerular capsule and tubules, and the surrounding blood vessels.

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Micturition Noun

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[mik-choo-rish-uhn]

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Micturition

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The medical term for the process of expelling urine from the urinary bladder, also known as urination or voiding.

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Example: This diagram shows how the brain controls urination (micturition). Nerves send signals from the full bladder to the brain, which then signals muscles to contract or relax.

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Uremia Noun

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[yoo-ree-mee-uh]

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Uremia

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A toxic condition where waste products, especially urea, accumulate in the blood due to the kidneys' failure to eliminate them.

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Example: This image shows the urinary system and compares normal-looking urine (microscopic hematuria) with reddish urine (gross hematuria), indicating blood is present.

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Proteinuria Noun

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[proh-tee-noor-ee-uh]

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Proteinuria

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The presence of an abnormal amount of protein, such as albumin, in the urine, often indicating kidney disease.

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Example: This chart shows the different levels used to measure the amount of protein in urine, from negative (very little) to 4+ (a large amount).

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Glycosuria Noun

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[glahy-koh-soor-ee-uh]

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Glycosuria

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The abnormal excretion of glucose into the urine, commonly associated with diabetes or impaired kidney tubule function.

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Example: This image shows a urine test strip being used, which is how glycosuria (the presence of sugar in urine) is detected in a clinical setting.

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Hematuria Noun

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[hee-muh-toor-ee-uh]

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Hematuria

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The presence of red blood cells in the urine, which can be a sign of infection, stones, or other disorders.

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Example: This image shows that hematuria means blood in the urine, which can be microscopic (not visible) or gross (visible, turning the urine red).