Urology Flashcards

Flashcards for reviewing Urology and the Urinary System.

Urology

The medical specialty that studies the anatomy and physiology of the urinary system.

Kidneys

Key organs of the urinary system, located in the retroperitoneal space.

Hilum (of Kidney)

Indentation on the side of the kidney where the renal artery, renal vein, and ureter connect to the kidney.

Cortex (of Kidney)

The layer under the fibrous capsule of the kidney.

Medulla (of Kidney)

The layer under the cortex of the kidney.

Minor Calyx

A urine-collecting duct connected to the tip of medullar tissue in the kidney.

Major Calyx

Formed when several minor calices drain into a larger calyx.

Renal Pelvis

All of a kidney’s major calices drain into this.

Ureter

A 12-inch tube that connects the renal pelvis of the kidney to the bladder.

Ureteral Orifices

Openings where the ureters enter the posterior side of the bladder.

Cyst/o-

Combining form meaning 'bladder', commonly used when talking about diseases of the bladder.

Vesic/o-

Combining form meaning 'bladder'.

Vesical

Adjective form of 'bladder'.

Rugae

Mucosa folds on the interior of the bladder, which collapse when the bladder is empty.

Internal Urethral Sphincter

Regulates the flow of urine out of the bladder and into the urethra.

Urethra

A tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.

Urethral Meatus

The external opening of the urethra.

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney and the site of urine production.

Glomerulus

A network of intertwining capillaries in the nephron.

Filtration

The process by which wastes and nutrients are removed from the blood.

Filtrate

Water, wastes, and nutrients collected in the glomerular capsule during filtration.

Reabsorption

The process where most water and nutrients move out of the tubule and back into the blood.

Urination/Micturition/Voiding

Terms that refer to eliminating urine from the body.

Aldosterone and ADH

Secretion causes the kidneys to produce more concentrated urine.

Renin

An enzyme released by the kidneys that raises blood pressure.

Erythropoietin

A hormone secreted by the kidneys that stimulates red cell production.

Glomerulonephritis

Infection and inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidney.

Hydronephrosis

Condition in which urine distends the renal pelvis and calices or ureter.

Nephrolithiasis

Formation of a kidney stone (calculus) in the urinary system.

Nephropathy

General term for any disease of the kidney.

Nephroptosis

Abnormally low position of a kidney.

Nephrotic Syndrome

Condition in which damaged pores in the capillaries of the glomerulus allow large amounts of albumin to enter the urine.

Polycystic Kidney Disease

Hereditary disease characterized by cysts in the kidney.

Pyelonephritis

Infection and inflammation of the renal pelvis of the kidney.

Renal Cell Cancer

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

Renal Failure

Disease in which urine production decreases and may even stop.

Uremia

Condition in which there is excessive buildup of urea in the blood due to renal failure.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Bacterial infection somewhere in the urinary tract.

Cystitis

Infection or inflammation of the bladder, often due to bacterial infection.

Cystocele

Hernia in which the bladder bulges through a weakness in the muscular wall of the vagina or rectum.

Incontinence

Inability to voluntarily keep urine in the bladder.

Neurogenic Bladder

Condition in which nerves to the bladder are not working properly.

Overactive Bladder

Condition in which the bladder has too many involuntary contractions, resulting in urgency and frequency; also known as urge incontinence.

Urinary Retention

Inability to empty the bladder.

Vesicovaginal Fistula

Abnormal passageway connecting the bladder to the vagina; urine flows through this passageway and continually leaks out of the body through the vagina.

Urethritis

Infection or inflammation of the urethra.

Albuminuria

Presence of albumin in the urine; also called proteinuria.

Anuria

Complete absence of urine production by the kidneys.

Bacteriuria

Presence of bacteria in the urine; indicative of infection somewhere in the urinary tract.

Dysuria

Difficult or painful urination.

Enuresis

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

Glycosuria

Presence of glucose in the urine; associated with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.

Hematuria

Blood in the urine; may be gross/frank or microscopic.

Hesitancy

Inability to initiate a normal stream of urine, with dribbling and a decrease in the width of the urinary stream.

Hypokalemia

Decreased amount of potassium in the blood.

Ketonuria

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

Nocturia

Increased frequency and urgency of urination at night.

Oliguria

Decreased or scanty production of urine due to kidney failure or dehydration.

Polyuria

Excessive urine production; common symptom of diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus.

Pyuria

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

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.

Creatinine (blood test)

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

Culture and Sensitivity (C&S)

Test in which a urine sample is swabbed onto a culture medium so that any bacteria present in the sample can be identified.

Cystometry

Diagnostic procedure that evaluates the function of the nerves to the bladder.

Leukocyte Esterase

Quick urine dipstick test that detects the enzyme esterase, which is associated with the white blood cells that are present with a urinary tract infection.

Urinalysis (UA)

Urine test that describes the general characteristics of a patient’s urine and detects substances in it.

Intravenous Pyelography (IVP)

Radiologic procedure that uses x-rays and contrast dye to visualize the urinary system.

Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder (KUB) x-ray

X-ray of the kidneys, 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.

Voiding Cystourethrography (VCUG)

Procedure in which contrast dye is inserted into the bladder through a catheter; the dye outlines the bladder and urethra, and an x-ray image is taken while the patient is urinating.

Catheterization

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 a patient who is in renal failure.

Intake and Output (I&O)

Procedure that documents a patient’s total amount of fluid intake and total amount of fluid output over the course of a day.

Urine Specimen

Process of collecting a patient’s urine for testing in the office or medical laboratory.

Cystectomy

Surgical removal of the bladder; used in the treatment of bladder cancer.

Cystoscopy

Use of an instrument called a cystoscope to examine the inside of the bladder.

Lithotripsy

Procedure that uses a laser or sound waves to break up a kidney stone.

Nephrectomy

Surgical removal of a diseased or cancerous kidney; also the procedure used to remove a healthy kidney from a living donor.

Nephrolithotomy

Procedure in which an endoscope is inserted into the kidney through a slit in the skin, then used to remove a stone embedded in the renal pelvis or calices.

Renal Biopsy

Procedure in which a small piece of kidney is removed for microscopic analysis.

TURBT

Procedure in which a resectoscope is used to cut out a bladder tumor, cauterize bleeding blood vessels, and flush tissue pieces out of the bladder.

AKI

Acute Kidney Injury

BUN

Blood Urea Nitrogen

C&S

Culture and Sensitivity

CKD

Chronic Kidney Disease

CT

Computerized Tomography

ESWL

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy

GU

Genitourinary

I&O

Intake and Output

IVP

Intravenous Pyelogram/Pyelography

KUB

Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder

UA

Urinalysis

UTI

Urinary Tract Infection

VCUG

Voiding Cystourethrogram/Cystourethrography

WBC

White Blood Count