The Language of Medicine Chapter 7

arteriole

small artery

calciferol

active form of vitamin D, secreted by the kidney

calyx or

cup-like collecting region of the renal pelvis

catheter

tube for injecting or removing fluids

cortex

outer region of an organ; the renal cortex is the outer region of the kidney

creatinine

nitrogenous waste excreted in the urine

electrolyte

chemical element that carries an electrical charge when dissolved in water. Necessary for functioning of muscles and nerves.

Erythropoietin (EPO)

hormone secreted by the kidney to stimulate the production of red blood cells by bone marrow

filtration

process whereby some substances, but not all, pass through a filter

glomerular capsule

enclosing structure surrounding each glomerulus

glomerulus

tiny ball of capillaries in the kidney

hilum

depression in an organ where blood vessels and nerves enter and leave

kidney

one of two bean-shaped organs on either side of the backbone in the lumbar region; it filters nitrogenous wastes from the bloodstream to form urine

meatus

opening or canal

medulla

innner region of an organ. The renal medulla is the inner region of the kidney.

nephron

combination of glomerulus and renal tubule where filtration, reabsorption, and secretion take place in the kidney

nitrogenous waste

substance containing nitrogen and excreted in urine

Potassium (K+)

electrolyte regulated by the kidney so that a proper concentration is maintained within the blood

reab

process whereby renal tubules return materials necessary to the body back into the bloodstream

renal artery

blood vessel that carries blood to the kidney

renal pelvis

central collecting region in the kidney

renal tubule

microscopic tube in the kidney where urine is formed after filtration

renal vein

blood vessel that carries blood away from the kidney and toward the heart

renin

hormone secreted by the kidney; it raises blood pressure by influencing vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels)

Sodium (Na+)

electrolyte regulated in the blood and urine by the kidneys; needed for proper transmission of nerve impulses, heart activity, and other metabolic functions

trigone

triangular area in the urinary bladder

urea

major nitrogenous waste excreted in urine

ureter

one of the two tubes leading from the kidneys to the urinary bladder

urethra

tube leading from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body

uric acid

nitrogenous waste excreted in the urine

urinary bladder

hollow, muscular sac that holds and stores urine

urination

process of expelling urine; also called micturition

cali/o

calyx (calix); cup-shaped

cyst/o

urinary bladder

glomerul/o

glomerulus

meat/o

meatus

nephr/o

kidney

pyel/o

renal pelvis

ren/o

kidney

trigon/o

trigone (region of the bladder)

ureter/o

ureter

urethr/o

urethra

vesic/o

urinary bladder

albumin/o

albumin

azot/o

Nitrogen

bacteri/o

bacteria

dips/o

thirst

kal/o

Potassium

ket/o

ketone bodies (ketoacids and acetone)

lith/o

stone

natr/o

Sodium

noct/o

night

olig/o

scanty

-poietin

substance that forms

py/o

pus

-tripsy

crushing

ur/o,

urine

-uria

urination, urine condition

urinalysis

the examination of urine to determine the presence of abnormal elements

glomerulonephritis

inflammation of the glomeruli within the kidney

interstitial nephritis

inflammation of the connective tissue that lies between the renal tubules

nephrolithiasis

kidney stones

nephrotic syndrome

group of clinical signs and symptoms caused by excessive protein loss in urine

polycystic kidney

multiple fluid-filled sacs (cysts) within and on the kidney

pyelonephritis

inflammation of the renal pelvis and the kidney

renal cell carcinoma

cancerous tumor of the kidney in adulthood

renal failure

decrease in excretion of wastes results from impaired filtration function

renal hypertension

high blood pressure resulting from kidney disease

wilms tumor

malignant tumor of the kidney occurring in childhood

bladder cancer

malignant tumor of the urinary bladder

diabetes insipidus

antidiuretic hormone is not secreted adequately, or the kidney is resistant to its effect

diabetes mellitus

insulin is not secreted adequately (type 1) or tissues are resistant to its effects (type 2)

blood urea

measurement of urea levels in blood

creatinine clearance

measurement of the rate at which creatinine is cleared from the blood by the kidney

CT urography

x-ray images obtained using computed tomography show multiple cross-sectional and other views of the kidney

kidneys, ureters, and bladder (KUB)

x-ray examination (without contrast) of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder

renal angiography

x-ray examination (with contrast) of the blood vessels of the kidney

retrograde pyelogram

x-ray image of the renal pelvis and ureters after injection of contrast through a urinary catheter into the ureters from the bladder

voiding cystourethrogram

x-ray image (with contrast) of the urinary bladder and urethra obtained while the patient is voiding

ultrasonography

imaging of urinary tract structures using high-frequency sound waves

radioisotope scan

image of the kidney obtained after injecting a radioactive substance into the bloodstream

MRI urography

changing magnetic field produces images of the kidney and surrounding structures in three planes of the body

cystoscopy

direct visualization of the urethra and urinary bladder with an endoscope

dialysis

process of separating nitrogenous waste materials from the blood

hemodialysis

uses an artificial kidney machine to subtract and add substances to the blood as needed

peritoneal dialysis

uses a catheter to introduce fluid into the peritoneal cavity

lithotripsy

urinary tract stones are crushed

renal angioplasty

dilation of narrowed areas in renal arteries

renal biopsy

removal of kidney tissue for microscopic examination

renal transplantation

surgical transfer of a kidney from a donor to a recipient

urinary catheterization

passage of a flexible, tubular instrument through the urethra into the urinary bladder