Med Term Final Content: Urology

glomerulonephritis

infection and inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidney

-antigen-antibody complexes clog the pores of capillaries in glomeruli

glomerul/o-

glomerulus

nephr/o-

kidney, nephron

hydronephrosis

urine distends the renal pelvis and calyces or ureter

-blood clot, infection, or kidney stone blocks flow or urine

nephrolithiasis

formation of kidney stone (calculus) in the urinary system, causes severe pain

lith/o-

stone

nephropathy

any disease of the kidney

nephroptosis

abnormally low position of the kidney

-ptosis

state of drooping

polycystic kidney disease

hereditary disease characterized by cysts in the kidney

-destroys nephrons and causes kidney failure

pyelonenephritis

infection and inflammation of the renal pelvis of the kidney, caused by bacteria from bladder

pyel/o-

renal pelvis

renal cell cancer

cancerous tumor (carcinoma) that begins in the epithelial cells in the tubules of the nephron

renal failure

urine production decreases and may even stop

acute kidney injury (AKI)

occurs suddenly, usually due to trauma, blood loss, or overwhelming infection

chronic kidney disease (CKD)

occurs gradually, wit renal insufficiency progressing to renal failure

uremia

excessive buildup of urea in the blood due to renal failure

urinary tract infection (UTI)

bacterial infection somewhere in the urinary tract, usually involves E. coli from rectum into urethra

cyst/o- (vesic/o-)

bladder, diseases of

bladder cancer

presence of a cancerous tumor (carcinoma) in the epithelial cells of the bladder

cystitis

infection or inflammation of the bladder, due to bacterial infection

cystocele

hernia in which the bladder bulges through a weakness in the muscular wall of the vagina or rectum, causing retention of urine in hernia

-cele

hernia

incontinence

inability to voluntarily keep urine in the bladder

-normal in young children because external urethral sphincter not fully developed

stress urinary incontinence (SUI)

caused by weak pelvic floor muscles

contin/o-

hold together

neurogenic bladder

nerves to the bladder are not working properly, causes urinary retention because bladder not contracting

overactive bladder

bladder has too many involuntary contractions, resulting in urgency and frequency

-urge incontinence

urinary retention

inability to empty the bladder

vesicovaginal fistula

abnormal passageway connecting to the bladder to the vagina, urine continually leaks out of body

-common when young woman's body too immature to have birth

vesic/o-

bladder

urethritis

infection or inflammation of the urethra

albuminuria

presence of albumin in the urine, also called proteinuria

-early sign of kidney disease or preeclampsia

anuria

complete absence of urine production by the kidneys

ur/o-

urine system, urine

bacteriuria

presence of bacteria in the urine, indicative of infection somewhere in urinary tract

dysuria

difficult or painful urination

enuresis

involuntary release of urine in an otherwise normal person who should have bladder control

nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting)

involuntary urination during sleep

enur/o-

urinate

frequency

urinating often, usually in small amounts

glycosuria

presence of glucose in the urine; associated with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus

hematuria

blood in the urine

hesitancy

inability to initiate a normal stream of urine, with dribbling and decrease in urinary stream

ketonuria

presence of ketones in the urine; occurs when the body metabolizes fat rather than glucose

-common with diabetes

nocturia

increased frequency and urgency of urination at night

noct/o-

night

oliguria

decreased or scanty production of urine due to kidney failure or dehydration

olig/o-

few or scanty

polyuria

excessive urine production, common with diabetes

pyuria

presence of white blood cells or pus in the urine; indicative of urinary tract infection

py/o-

pus

urgency

strong urge to urinate with a sense of pressure in the bladder; caused by obstruction or inflammation

blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

blood test that measures the amount of urea in the blood; elevated levels mean the kidneys aren't working properly

-liver produces ammonia

-nitrogen forms urea

creatinine

blood test that measures the amount of creatinine in the blood; elevated levels mean kidneys aren't working properly

-waste product from muscle contraction

culture and sensitivity (C&S)

test in which a urine sample is swabbed onto a culture medium; bacteria present in the sample can be identified, tests sensitivity to various antibiotics

drug screening

urine test performed to evaluate whether an individual is using drugs

leukocyte esterase

urine dipstick test detects the enzyme esterase, present with urinary tract infection

urinalysis (UA)

urine test that describes the general characteristics of a patient's urine

albumin

abnormal finding that indicates damage to the glomerulus

color

normal urine is light yellow to amber in color

-pink or reddish means bleeding the urinary tract

-turbid indicates UTI

glucose

abnormal finding that indicates uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or malnutrition

odor

normal urine has a faint odor; fruity smelling indicates diabetes

pH

normal is slightly alkaline, pH just over 7

red blood cells

presence of RBCs indicates bleeding in the urinary tract

sediment

crystals can form kidney stones, epithelial cells are normal

specific gravity (SG, sp gr)

measurement of the concentration of urine as compared to that of water

white blood cells

indicates urinary tract infection, milky or cloudy is too numerous to count (TNTC)

intravenous pyelography (IVP)

uses x-rays and contrast dye to visualize the urinary system

-dye injected intravenously and flows through blood

kidneys, ureters, bladder (KUB) x-ray

x-ray of the kidney's, ureters, and bladder that shows only those structures and does not use contrast dye

renal angiography

procedure that uses x-rays and radiopaque contrast dye to produce images of the renal artery

ultrasonography

use of high-frequency sound waves to produce an image of the urinary system

voiding cystourethrography (VCUG)

procedure in which contrast dye is inserted into the bladder through catheter and image taken while patient urinating

catheterization (cath)

insertion of a flexible tube called a catheter through the urethra and into the bladder to drain urine

dialysis

procedure to remove waste products from the blood of patient with renal failure

hemodialysis

one needle removes blood and sends to dialysis machine for purification, the other returns blood to the body

-takes place at clinic

peritoneal dialysis

permanent catheter is inserted through the abdominal wall; dialysate fluid put into abdominal cavity and then removed along with waste products from blood

-can take place at home

intake and output (I & O)

procedure that documents a patient's total amount of fluid intake and total fluid output

urine specimen

collecting patient's urine for testing in the office or medical laboratory

-clean caught specimen is obtained after cleansing urethral meatus

antibiotics

treat urinary tract infections caused by bacteria

antispasmodics

relax smooth muscle in the walls of the urinary tract; used to treat cystitis or overactive bladder

diuretics

block sodium reabsorption in the kidney, which decreases blood volume and increases urine volume

overactive bladder drugs

decreases contractions of smooth muscle in the bladder

potassium supplements

replace potassium that is lost when taking diuretic drugs

urinary analgesics

relieve pain in the mucosa or the urinary tract

bladder neck suspension

corrects stress urinary incontinence; insertion of supportive sling of muscle tissue or synthetic mesh around bladder neck and urethra

cystectomy

surgical removal of the bladder; used with treatment of bladder cancer

cystoscopy (cysto)

use of instrument to examine inside of the bladder

-cystoscope is inserted through urethra

kidney transplantation

treats patient in end-stage renal failure by transplanting new kidney from donor

-matched by blood and tissue type

-immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their lives

lithotripsy

uses laser or sound waves to break up kidney stone

-tripsy

process of crushing

nephrectomy

surgical removal of diseased or cancerous kidney, also used to remove healthy kidney from living donor

nephrolithotomy

endoscope is inserted into kidney and used to remove a stone embedded in renal pelvis or calyces

nephropexy

surgical correction of an abnormally low kidney by suturing it into the correct position

-pexy

fixing in place

renal biopsy

small piece of kidney is removed for microscopic analysis

stone basketing

cystoscope is inserted into bladder, small wire basket passed through scope to remove kidney stones from bladder

urethroplasty

plastic surgery procedure to reposition the urethral meatus in male patients who have hypospadias or epispadias

spad/o-

opening