Urinary System: Kidney Functions, Diseases, and Diagnostic Terms

Kidney Functions

Maintain blood volume, pH, and composition.

ur/o

Urine or urinary tract.

urin/o

Urine.

-uria

Urine or urination.

-ation

Process.

albumin/o

Albumin.

-esis

Action, process, or result of.

glycos/o

Sugar.

olig/o

Few, scanty.

nephr/o, ren/o

Kidney.

ureter/o

Ureter.

cyst/o

Bladder (sometimes cyst or sac).

urethr/o

Urethra.

pyel/o

Renal pelvis.

glomerul/o

Glomerulus.

Urinalysis (U/A, UA)

Laboratory examination of urine.

Urine culture

Test used to identify microorganisms in urine.

Antibiotic sensitivity test

Determines which antibiotics are effective against bacteria.

Glycosuria

Glucose in urine.

Hematuria

Blood in urine.

Albuminuria

Albumin in urine.

Proteinuria

Protein in urine.

Pyuria

Pus/white blood cells in urine.

Ketonuria

Ketones in urine.

BUN (blood urea nitrogen)

Measures nitrogen from urea in the blood.

Catheter

Tube inserted into the body to drain fluid or obtain a specimen.

Catheterization

Insertion of a catheter.

Catheterized urine specimen

Urine collected through a catheter.

Nephromalacia

Softening of the kidney.

Nephrolithiasis / nephrolith

Kidney stone formation / a kidney stone.

Nephritis

Inflammation of the kidney.

Glomerulonephritis

Inflammation/damage involving the glomeruli.

Dysuria

Painful or difficult urination.

Polyuria

Excessive urination.

Anuria

Absence or near absence of urine production.

Oliguria

Abnormally low urine output.

Uremia

Buildup of urea and other wastes in the blood.

Renal failure (ARF/CRF)

Loss of kidney function; acute vs. chronic.

Nephrotoxic

Harmful to the kidneys.

Polycystic kidney disease

Cysts develop in the kidneys and can impair function.

Polyp

A growth projecting from a tissue surface.

Renal insufficiency

Reduced kidney function.

UTI

Infection of the urinary tract.

Urinary incontinence

Involuntary urine leakage.

Urinary retention

Inability to empty the bladder completely.

Nephrostomy

Opening from kidney to outside the body for drainage.

Nephrectomy

Surgical removal of a kidney; laparoscopic uses small incisions.

Nephropexy

Surgical fixation of a kidney.

Percutaneous bladder/renal biopsy

Tissue sample obtained through the skin.

Cystectomy

Surgical removal of the bladder.

Cystostomy

Opening into the bladder for drainage.

Hemodialysis

Blood is filtered using a dialysis machine.

Peritoneal dialysis

Dialysis using the peritoneal membrane as the filtering surface.

Renal transplant

Placement of a donated kidney.

Immunosuppressive therapy

Suppresses immune activity to help prevent transplant rejection.

Lithotripsy / ESWL

Shock waves break urinary stones into smaller pieces.

Lithotrite

Instrument used to crush a urinary stone.

Nephrolithotomy / pyelolithotomy

Surgical removal of a kidney/renal pelvis stone.

Ureteroplasty

Surgical repair/reconstruction of a ureter.

ADH

Antidiuretic hormone.

ARF

Acute renal failure.

BUN

Blood urea nitrogen.

ESWL

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

IVP

Intravenous pyelogram.

pH

Measure of acidity/alkalinity.

TUR

Transurethral resection.

TURP

Transurethral resection of the prostate.

U/A, UA

Urinalysis.