Urology Vocabulary Flashcards

Flashcards for reviewing key urology vocabulary from lecture notes.

Kidneys

Bilateral bean-shaped retroperitoneal organ, approximately 12 X 6 X 3 cm, lying along the lateral borders of the psoas muscles.

Renal Hilum

Shallow depression at the center of the medial border of the kidney, transmitting the renal vein (anterior), renal artery (middle), and renal pelvis (posterior).

Renal Capsule

Fibrous layer directly adherent to the kidney parenchyma.

Perinephric Fat

Fatty layer inside Gerota’s fascia surrounding the kidney.

Perirenal (Gerota's) Fascia

Layer of fascia surrounding the kidney and perinephric fat.

Paranephric Fat

Fatty layer outside Gerota’s fascia surrounding the kidney.

Renal Cortex

Outer region of the renal parenchyma, characterized by a homogenous appearance.

Renal Medulla

Central region of the renal parenchyma, formed of pyramids (converging collecting renal tubules) with tips called papillae.

Pelvicalyceal System

Composed of minor calices (8-12) that unite to form 2 or 3 major calices, which further unite to form the renal pelvis.

Renal Artery

Branch of the aorta at T12 that supplies blood to the kidney.

Interlobar Arteries

Arteries between the pyramids in the kidney.

Arcuate Arteries

Arteries that form an arch along the base of the pyramids in the kidney.

Interlobular Arteries

Arteries that branch off the arcuate arteries and lead to the afferent arterioles.

Vasa Recta

Vessels parallel to the Loop of Henle in the kidney.

Ureter

Tube, approximately 25-30 cm long, that carries urine from the renal pelvis to the bladder.

UPJ (Ureteropelvic Junction)

Area where the ureter connects to the renal pelvis.

Urinary Bladder

Hollow muscular organ that acts as a reservoir for urine.

Uretero-vesical Junction (UVJ)

Area where the ureters enter the bladder postero-inferiorly.

Trigone

Inverted triangle at the base of the bladder, leading to the urethra.

Prostate Gland

Chestnut-shaped fibromuscular gland that measures approximately 4 X 3 X 2 cm and weighs 18 gm in a young adult.

Posterior Urethra

Structure perforated posteriorly by the ejaculatory ducts, which open in the veru montanum (seminal colliculus).

Periprostatic (Santorini) Venous Plexus

Vein plexus that drains the prostate.

Internal Urethral Meatus

The start of the male urethra, at the bladder neck.

External Urethral Meatus

The end of the male urethra, a sagittal slit near the tip of the penis ventrally.

Prostatic Urethra

Portion of the male urethra that traverses the prostate, approximately 5 cm long.

Membranous Urethra

Segment of the male urethra that traverses the urogenital diaphragm, approximately 1.5-2.5 cm long.

Bulbous Urethra

Part of the anterior male urethra, surrounded by the bulb of the corpus spongiosum.

Pendulous (Penile) Urethra

Part of the anterior male urethra, surrounded by the corpus spongiosum.

Glandular Urethra

Part of the anterior male urethra, surrounded by the glans, dilating as the fossa navicularis.

Buck's Fascia

Tissue surrounding the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum in the penis.

Deep Artery of the Penis (Cavernosal Artery)

Artery that runs at the center of the corpus cavernosum and supplies it.

Dorsal Artery of the Penis

Artery that runs distally on the dorsum of the penis deep to Buck's fascia, supplying the glans and some corpus cavernosum.

Visceral Layer

Tunica vaginalis layer covering the testis.

Epididymis

highly coiled duct (6-7 m if uncoiled) consists of head and tail continuous with the vas deferens.

Vas Deferens

Tube (45 cm) transmit & store sperms. Start at tail of epididymis lower lat. post. aspect of testis → run medial to epididymis → extraperitoneal → Cross medial to ureter → base of bladder → Ampulla of vas: terminal dilated tortuous end

Spermatic Cord

Begins at internal inguinal ring → inguinal canal → testis. vas, vestige of processus vaginalis & cremaster ms ,testicular, vassal & cremastric arteries,pampiniform plexus of vs, lymphatics & sympath. nerves

Urinalysis

Single most important screening test available to the urologist

Microscopic hematuria

Microscopic hematuria is presence of > 3 RBCs / HPF.

Normomorphic RBCs

Normomorphic (Epithelial) RBCs have regular shape and even hemoglobin distribution. It indicates urological cause of hematuria.

Dysmorphic RBCs

Dysmorphic (Glomerular) RBCs have irregular shapes and uneven hemoglobin distribution. It suggests glomerular (medical) cause of hematuria..

Red blood cell casts

casts are diagnostic of glomerulonephritis

White blood cell casts

casts suggest pyelonephritis

Urine Culture

used to confirm urinary tract infection suspected by symptoms and urinalysis (pyuria and bacteruria).

Segmented urine cultures

collecting the urine in specific segmented samples to localize the source of UTI in male patients

Serum Creatinine

Creatinine is a metabolic product of creatine phosphate in skeletal muscle.

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)

Urea is a metabolic product of protein catabolism that is excreted by the kidneys.

Serum Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)

glycoprotein in the cytoplasm of prostatic epithelial cells and serum

Ultrasonography (U/S)

generated sound waves penetrate soft tissues and reflected by tissues of different density into a transducer that receives it as echos.

PUT

plain urinary tract X-ray also called KUB (kidney-ureter-bladder X-ray) or scout film.

Intravenous urography (IVU) or intravenous pyelography (IVP)

contrast X-ray study that includes many X-ray films taken at intervals after IV Injection of contrast medium (iodine based) that is excreted through kidney.

Retrograde pyelography or uretero-pyelography

contrast X-ray study performed by insertion of a ureteric catheter by urethro-cystoscopy into distal ureter and injection of contrast medium then images are taken

Retrograde urethrogram

contrast X-ray study that visualizes anterior urethra after injection of contrast medium in oblique position.

Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) or Micturating cystourethrogram (MCUG)

contrast X-ray study that visualizes urinary bladder and urethra after injection of contrast medium (via catheter) and while patient is voiding.

Computed Tomography (CT scan) or computed axial tomography (CAT scan)

reconstructed image (tomogram) generated by computerized interpretation of absorption (attenuation) values of many sequential axial X-rays passing through body at few mm apart.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI scan)

reconstructed image generated by measurement of intensity of magnetic signal (absorption and release of magnetic energy) of soft tissues

Nuclear medicine (Radioisotope scan)

functional imaging of body by IV administration of radiopharmaceutical (organic material (e.g, Iodine) labeled by radioactive isotope (e.g, Technicium - 99mTc)) and measuring tissue absorption of radiation by gamma camera.

Angiography

radiographic imaging of arterial (arteriography), venous (venography) or lymphatic system (lymphangiography).

Hematuria

blood in urine) presence of > 3 RBCs per high power field (HPF) in microscopic examination of urine.

Bladder cancer

the most common cause of gross hematuria in patients above 50 years

Bacteriuria

presence of bacteria in the urine

Pyuria

presence of white blood cells in urine

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Inflammatory response of the urothelium to bacterial invasion (usually includes both bacteriuria and pyuria).

Acute bacterial cystitis

Infection of the bladder

Acute bacterial cystitis

Acute bacterial cystitis: Infection of the bladder

Antibiotic for Acute Bacterial Cystitis

Oral TMP/SMX (Septrin DS tab bid) or quinolones (ciprofloxacin 500mg tab bid) for 3-5 days for first infection.

Chronic cystitis

Chronic inflammation in the bladder due to infectious or non-infectious causes.

Acute pyelonephritis

Acute Inflammation of the renal pelvis, calyces and renal parenchyma

Pyonephrosis

due to infection within an obstructed kidney.

Perinephric abscess

Started at Gerota’s fascia but may then rupture to reach adjacent psoas muscle, bowel or skin.

Chronic pyelonephritis

Renal scarring due to recurrent acute infection.

Prostatitis

Inflammation of prostatic tissue either acute or chronic.

NIH

National institution of health Categories for prostatitis

Acute Prostatitis Symptoms

acute onset of suprapubic, penile, perineal or anal pain voiding or storage LUTS.

Chronic Prostatitis Symptoms

chronic suprapubic, penile, anal or perineal pain

4-glass (Steamy-Mears) test

Segmented urine culture used to localize source of UTI in males

Epididymitis and orchitis

Infection of testis alone (orchitis) or both testis and epididymis (epididymo-orchitis).

Scrotal doppler US

show increased blood flow (D.D. with torsion).

supersaturation

increase concentration of ions above formation concentration which leads to stone formation (crystallization → nucleation → aggregation).