Urinary System Medterm Study Guide

Arterioles

Small arteries leading to capillaries.

Bladder cancer

Tumor in the urinary bladder.

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

Blood test to check kidney function.

Calyx/Calix (pl. calyces/calices)

Cup-like area in kidney that collects urine.

Cali/o

Root word meaning calyx.

Calic/o

Root word meaning calyx.

Diabetes insipidus (DI)

Disorder with excessive urination due to low antidurectic hormone, causes excessive urination and thirst.

CT urography

CT scan of urinary system using contrast.

Cortex

Outer layer of the kidney.

Cyst/o

Root word meaning bladder.

Diabetes mellitus (DM)

Disease with high blood sugar.

Cystoscopy

Viewing the bladder with a scope.

Creatinine

Waste product filtered by kidneys.

Glomerul/o

Root word for glomerulus.

Glomerulonephritis

Inflammation of glomeruli.

Dialysis

Machine filters blood when kidneys fail.

Electrolytes

Minerals like sodium and potassium in the body.

Meat/o

Root word for meatus (opening).

Interstitial nephritis

Inflammation of kidney tissue.

Kidneys, ureters, and bladder (KUB)

X-ray of urinary tract.

Erythropoietin (EPO)

Hormone that stimulates red blood cell production.

Nephr/o

Root word for kidney.

Nephrolithiasis

Kidney stones.

Lithotripsy

Breaking kidney stones with sound waves.

Pyel/o

Root word for renal pelvis.

Nephrotic syndrome (nephrosis)

Kidney condition with protein loss in urine.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) urography

MRI scan of urinary tract.

Glomerulus (pl. glomeruli)

Tiny kidney filter unit.

Ren/o

Root word for kidney.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)

Inherited kidney cyst disorder.

Hilum

Entry/exit area of vessels in organs.

Trigon/o

Root word for trigone of bladder.

Pyelonephritis

Kidney infection.

Renal angiography

Imaging of kidney blood vessels.

Kidney

Filters blood, makes urine.

Ureter/o

Root word for ureter.

Renal cell carcinoma (hypernephroma)

Kidney cancer.

Renal angioplasty

Widening narrowed kidney arteries.

Meatus

Body opening.

Urethr/o

Root word for urethra.

Renal failure

Kidneys stop functioning.

Renal biopsy

Removal of kidney tissue for testing.

Medulla

Inner part of the kidney.

Vesic/o

Root word for bladder.

Renal hypertension

High blood pressure from kidney disease.

Renal transplantation

Kidney transplant.

Nephron

Functional unit of the kidney.

Angi/o

Root word for vessel.

Wilms tumor

Kidney cancer in children.

Retrograde pyelogram (RP)

X-ray of urinary tract using contrast through bladder.

Bowman’s capsule

Surrounds glomerulus; starts urine formation.

Noct/o

Root word for night.

Cystitis

Bladder inflammation/infection.

Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)

First part of kidney tubule.

Dips/o

Root word for thirst.

Glycosuria

Sugar in urine.

Descending loop of Henle

Part of tubule that reabsorbs water.

Olig/o

Root word for scanty/small amount.

Enuresis

Involuntary urination (bedwetting).

Nephrectomy

Kidney removal surgery.

Loop of Henle

U-shaped tubule that concentrates urine.

Albumin/o

Root word for albumin (a protein).

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Infection of urinary system.

Cystogram

Bladder x-ray with contrast.

Ascending loop of Henle

Reabsorbs salts; not water.

Azot/o

Root word for nitrogen.

Polyuria

Excessive urination.

Urinary catheterization

Tube inserted to drain urine.

Nitrogenous waste

Waste products with nitrogen (e.g., urea).

Bacteri/o

Root word for bacteria.

Dysuria

Painful urination.

Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG)

Bladder x-ray during urination.

Distal convoluted tubule (DCT)

Last tubule part; adjusts urine.

Hematuria

Blood in urine.

Renal artery

Brings blood to kidneys.

Kal/i

Root word for potassium.

Collecting duct

Final tubule where urine collects.

Ket/o

Root word for ketones.

Keton/o

Root word for ketones (type of acid that are a byproduct of fat breakdown).

Renal pelvis

Central part of kidney collecting urine.

Natr/o

Root word for sodium.

Renal tubule

Tubule in nephron where urine forms.

Py/o

Root word for pus.

Renal vein

Takes filtered blood from kidney.

Ur/o

Root word for urine.

Path of Urine Production

Glomerulus → Bowman’s capsule → PCT → Loop of Henle → DCT → Collecting duct → Renal pelvis → Ureter → Bladder → Urethra.

Trigone

Triangle-shaped area in bladder.

Urin/o

Root word for urine.

Urinalysis

Specific test – Urine test checking for disease or substances.

Urea

Waste product from protein breakdown.

Hydr/o

Root word for water.

Ureter

Tube from kidney to bladder.

Lith/o

Root word for stone.

Urethra

Tube that carries urine out.

Hemat/o

Root word for blood.

Uric acid

Waste from purines; high levels cause gout.

Glyc/o

Root word for sugar.

Urinary bladder

Stores urine.

Prote/o

Root word for protein.

Urgency

Sudden urge to urinate.