Urinary System

albumin/o

protein

azot/o

nitrogenous compounds

bacteri/o

bacteria

cyst/o

bladder

vesic/o

bladder

glomerul/o

glomerulus

kal/i

potassium (an electrolyte)

keton/o

ketone bodies

lith/o

stone, calculus

meat/o

opening, meatus

nephr/o

kidney

ren/o

kidney

noct/o

night

olig/o

scanty

py/o

pus

pyel/o

renal pelvis

ur/o

urine, urinary tract

ureter/o

ureter

urethr/o

urethra

-genesis

forming, producing, origin

-iasis

abnormal condition

-uria

urine

dia

through, across

retro-

backward, behind

anuria

absence of urine production or output

bladder neck obstruction (BNO)

blockage at the base of the bladder that reduces or prevents urine from passing into the urethra

cystocele

prolapsing or downward displacement of the bladder due to weakening of the supporting tissues between the bladder and vagina

end-stage renal disease (ESRD)

any type of kidney disease in which there is little or no remaining kidney function, requiring the patient to undergo dialysis or kidney transplant for survival.

enuresis

involuntary discharge of urine, also called incontinence

hydronephrosis

Abnormal dilation of the renal pelvis and the calyces of one or both kidneys caused by pressure from accumulated urine that cannot flow past an obstruction in the urinary tract

interstitial cystitis (IC)

Chronic inflammation of the bladder wall that is not caused by bacterial infection and is not responsive to conventional antibiotic therapy; also called painful bladder syndrome

nephrotic syndrome

loss of large amounts of plasma protein, usually albumin through urine due to an increased permeability of the glomerular membrane

neurogenic bladder

Impairment of bladder control as a result of brain, spinal cord, or nerve damage

polycystic kidney disease (PKD)

Inherited disease in which sacs of fluid called cysts develop in the kidneys

pyelonephritis

Infection of the kidney, usually the result of an infection that begins in the urethra or bladder and ascends the ureters to the kidney

urgency

sensation of the need to void immediately

urinary tract infection

An infection, typically of bacterial origin, in any part of the urinary tract, including the kidneys (acute pyelonephritis), bladder (cystitis), or urethra (urethritis)

vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)

Disorder caused by the failure of urine to pass through the ureters to the bladder, usually as a result of impairment of the valve between the ureter and bladder or obstruction in the ureter

Wilms tumor

Rapidly developing malignant tumor of the kidney that usually occurs in children; also called nephroblastoma

electromyography

Measures the contraction of muscles that control urination using electrodes placed in the rectum and urethra

cystoscopy (cysto)

Examination of the urinary bladder for evidence of pathology, to obtain biopsies of tumors or other growths, or to remove polyp

blood urea nitrogen

Test that determines the amount of nitrogen in blood that comes from urea, a waste product of protein metabolism

culture and sensitivity (C&S)

Test that determines the causative organism of an infection and identifies how the organism responds to various antibiotics

urinalysis (UA)

Urine screening test that includes physical observation, chemical tests, and microscopic evaluation

bladder ultrasound

A noninvasive painless test that uses high-frequency soundwaves to produce images of the bladder before and after urination to check for urinary retention

intravenous pyelography

Imaging of the urinary tract after IV injection of a contrast medium; also called excretory urography

renal nuclear scan

Nuclear imaging test using a radioactive substance (tracer) injected intravenously to produce images of the kidneys

voiding cystourethrography (VCUG)

X-ray of the bladder and urethra performed before, during, and after voiding using a contrast medium to enhance imaging

kidney transplant

Replacement of a diseased kidney with one that is supplied by a compatible donor (usually a family member or a cadaver who has donated the kidney before death)

nephrostomy

Opening created between the skin and kidney to drain urine through a tube to a collecting receptacle outside the body when the ureters are unable to do so

ureteral stent placement

Insertion of a thin, narrow tube into the ureter to prevent or treat obstruction of urine flow from the kidney

dialysis

Filtering procedure used to remove fluid and waste products from the blood and correct for electrolyte imbalances

peritoneal dialysis

Dialysis in which toxic substances are removed from the body by using the peritoneal membrane as the filter by perfusing (flushing) the peritoneal cavity with a warm, sterile chemical solution