Overview of the Urinary System and Its Functions, Common Urinary System Conditions and Symptoms, Urinary System Diseases and Diagnostic Procedures, Medical Terminology for Kidney Treatments and Procedures

Urinary System

Major filtering system cleansing blood of waste.

Homeostasis

Physiological equilibrium maintained by body systems.

Filtration

Kidneys separate metabolic waste from blood.

Waste Storage

Urinary bladder stores urine until excretion.

Excretion

Discharge of urine from the body.

Hormone Production

Kidneys produce hormones regulating bodily functions.

Renal Pelvis

Upper part of ureter receiving urine from kidneys.

Hilum

Depression allowing passage for vessels and nerves.

Ureters

Tubes transporting urine from kidneys to bladder.

Peristalsis

Involuntary contractions moving substances through tubes.

Urinary Bladder

Muscular organ storing urine before expulsion.

Ureteral Openings

Entry points for urine into the bladder.

Trigone

Triangle formed by ureteral openings and urethra.

Bladder Capacity

Can store up to 16 ounces of urine.

Nephron

Functional unit of kidneys filtering blood.

Excess Water

Fluid removed by urinary system to maintain balance.

Ions

Electrically charged atoms excreted with urine.

Kidney Function

Remaining kidney compensates if one fails.

Muscular Organ

Bladder's structure enabling urine storage and expulsion.

Gravity

Facilitates urine movement through ureters.

Metabolic Waste

Byproducts of metabolism needing removal from body.

Urethra

Tube transporting urine from bladder to outside body.

Urethral Sphincters

Muscle tissues controlling urine flow.

Internal Sphincter

Involuntary muscle near bladder neck.

External Sphincter

Voluntary muscle closer to urethra end.

Female Urethra Length

Approximately 1.5 inches (4 cm) long.

Male Urethra Length

Approximately 8 inches (20 cm) long.

Urinary Meatus

External opening for urine exit.

Micturition

Medical term for urination process.

Nephrons

Basic functional units of the kidney.

Renal Cortex

Outer layer of the kidney containing nephrons.

Filtration

Process separating waste from blood in kidneys.

Bowman's Capsule

Membrane surrounding glomerulus in nephron.

Glomerulus

Cluster of capillaries for filtration in nephron.

Filtrate

Filtered substances entering renal tubule.

Reabsorption

Process reclaiming useful substances from filtrate.

Renal Tubule

Long, twisted tube attached to Bowman's capsule.

Urea

Waste product from protein breakdown.

Renal Pelvis

Central part of the kidney collecting urine.

Urination

Discharge of urine from the body.

Capillaries

Small blood vessels involved in filtration.

Sphincters

Muscles controlling openings in the body.

Renal Medulla

Inner region of the kidney.

Erythropoietin

Hormone stimulating red blood cell production.

Calcitriol

Active vitamin D form aiding calcium absorption.

Homeostasis

Body's maintenance of stable internal conditions.

Kidneys

Organs filtering blood and producing urine.

Urinary Bladder

Organ temporarily storing urine before excretion.

Urethra

Tube through which urine exits the body.

Blood Pressure

Force exerted by circulating blood on vessel walls.

pH Levels

Measurement of acidity or alkalinity in blood.

Electrolytes

Minerals that become ions in water.

Sodium

Major electrolyte important for fluid balance.

Chloride

Electrolyte aiding in maintaining osmotic pressure.

Potassium

Electrolyte essential for muscle and nerve function.

Calcium

Mineral vital for bone health and muscle function.

Phosphate

Mineral important for energy transfer in cells.

Magnesium

Electrolyte involved in over 300 biochemical reactions.

Retroperitoneal Cavity

Space behind the peritoneum housing the kidneys.

Adipose Tissue

Fat tissue protecting and supporting kidney position.

Reabsorption

Process returning substances from filtrate to blood.

Secretion

Process pushing waste products into tubules.

Renal Medulla

Inner kidney region containing urine-carrying tubules.

Medullary Pyramids

Triangle-shaped tissue sections in the renal medulla.

Renal Calyces

Cup-like cavities collecting urine from pyramids.

dysuria

Difficult or painful urination.

enuresis

Involuntary discharge of urine.

glycosuria

Condition in which carbohydrates or sugars are excreted in the urine.

hematuria

Condition in which blood or blood cells are excreted in the urine.

nocturnal enuresis

Involuntary discharge of urine that occurs during sleep; bed-wetting.

oliguria

Condition in which a scanty (very small) amount of urine is produced.

polyuria

Condition of excessive urine production.

urinary incontinence

Loss of voluntary control over the discharge of urine from the bladder; also called incontinence.

urinary retention

Inability to completely empty the bladder due to a urethral blockage or a neurological disorder.

urinary urgency

Sudden, compelling urge to urinate. May be associated with many disorders and also tends to increase with age.

cystitis

Inflammation of the bladder.

cystocele

Herniation of the bladder through the vaginal wall in females.

cystolithiasis

Calculi of the urinary bladder; bladder stones.

diabetes

A condition characterized by excessive amounts of urine.

anuria

Absence of urine production.

diuresis

Abnormal increase in production of urine.

diabetes insipidus (DI)

A condition caused by inadequate secretion of, or resistance of the kidney to, the action of antidiuretic hormone (ADH). The lack of ADH prevents water from being reabsorbed into the blood through the renal tubules, leading to urine that is highly diluted and blood sugar that is less diluted. This condition is characterized by polydipsia, or excessive thirst, and polyuria, or excessive urination.

diabetes mellitus (DM)

A condition characterized by inadequate secretion or improper utilization of insulin (a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels). Common symptoms are glycosuria, or secretion of carbohydrates in the urine; hyperglycemia; polydipsia; and polyuria. High glucose levels in the blood damage the walls of the renal artery and the renal vein.

glomerulonephritis

Inflammation of the glomeruli in the kidney.

interstitial cystitis

Chronic inflammation of the bladder wall.

nephritic syndrome

Group of clinical signs and symptoms, present in some disorders, that cause glomerulonephritis; marked by blood and protein in the urine and by edema in various parts of the body.

nephrolithiasis

Renal calculi; kidney stones.

nephrosclerosis

A disease in which the arteriole walls in the kidneys become narrowed and thickened, often due to essential hypertension; may lead to renal ischemia.

phenylketonuria (PKU)

An inherited disorder that causes increased blood levels of phenylalanine, an amino acid found in protein. Infants born with this disorder lack an enzyme essential for processing phenylalanine. Buildup of phenylalanine can lead to developmental delays and intellectual disability. PKU is signaled by the buildup of phenylketones in the urine.

polycystic kidney disease (PKD)

Disease characterized by the development of cysts (fluid-filled sacs) in the kidney, leading to an enlargement and impaired function of the kidney.

pyelonephritis

Inflammation of the lining of the renal pelvis and the functional tissue of the kidney.

renal cell carcinoma

Cancerous tumor of the kidney that occurs in adulthood; hypernephroma (HIGH-per-neh-FROH-muh).

renal failure

Condition in which kidney disease or damage results in impaired filtration of waste products from the blood.

renal hypertension

High blood pressure resulting from kidney disease.

renal ischemia

A condition in which blood flow to the glomerulus severely decreases, resulting in atrophy and scarring of the kidney tissue; often a result of nephrosclerosis.

urinary tract infection (UTI)

Infection that usually originates in the bladder, causing symptoms such as pain or burning with urination; fever; fatigue; urinary urgency; and pain in the lower back.

vesicovaginal fistula

Abnormal opening between the bladder and vagina, often resulting from tissue damage; characterized by urinary or fecal incontinence.

Wilms tumor

Malignant tumor of the kidney that occurs in childhood.

biopsy

The removal of a small piece of living tissue for microscopic examination.

excisional biopsy

Surgical removal of an entire lesion or tumor.