Essentials of Pathophysiology: Kidney — Vocabulary Flashcards

50 vocabulary-style flashcards covering key renal anatomy, functions, diseases, and renal failure concepts from the notes.

Abdominal aorta

The major artery that continues from the thoracic aorta to supply abdominal organs.

Inferior vena cava

The large vein returning deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart.

Renal artery

Blood vessel delivering arterial blood to the kidneys.

Renal vein

Vein draining kidney blood into the inferior vena cava.

Kidney

Organ that filters blood, excretes wastes, and maintains fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance.

Ureter

Tube carrying urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder via peristalsis.

Urinary bladder

Elastic reservoir for urine before micturition.

Urethra

Channel through which urine is excreted from the bladder to the exterior.

Renal diseases

Disorders that affect kidney structure or function.

Nephrotic syndrome

Disorder with increased glomerular permeability causing proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, edema, and hyperlipidemia.

Glomerulonephrities

Inflammation of the glomeruli, acute or chronic, often with hematuria.

Diabetic glomerulosclerosis

Diabetic kidney disease with glomerular basement membrane thickening and nodular glomerulosclerosis.

Hypertensive glomerular disease

Kidney damage from chronic hypertension (hypertensive nephrosclerosis).

Pyelonephritis

Kidney infection resulting from ascending bacteria; infection of the kidneys.

Drug related nephropathies

Kidney damage caused by drugs or toxins.

Acute renal failure

Sudden loss of kidney function with reduced GFR over hours to days.

Chronic renal failure

Progressive, long-term loss of kidney function leading to end-stage renal disease.

Excretion of metabolic wastes

Primary kidney function of removing waste products from metabolism.

Regulation of mineral and water balance

Maintaining electrolyte, acid-base, and fluid homeostasis.

Release of renin

Renin release from juxtaglomerular cells regulates blood pressure and blood volume.

Release of erythropoietin

Erythropoietin produced in response to hypoxia, stimulating red blood cell production.

Creatinine

By-product of skeletal muscle metabolism; stable plasma level; used to assess renal function.

Creatinine clearance

Estimate of glomerular filtration rate based on creatinine in plasma and urine.

Inulin

Polysaccharide used to measure GFR; not metabolized; eliminated only by filtration; requires IV administration.

Glomerular filtration barrier

Filtration barrier whose permeability determines protein loss; increased permeability in nephrotic syndrome.

Proteinuria

Presence of excess protein in urine.

Hypoalbuminemia

Low albumin levels in blood.

Edema

Swelling due to fluid retention from hypoalbuminemia or volume overload.

Hyperlipidemia

Elevated lipid levels in blood, common in nephrotic syndrome.

Facial puffiness

Facial swelling associated with nephrotic syndrome (especially in children).

Pitting edema

Edema that leaves a pit when pressed.

Ascites

Fluid accumulation in the peritoneal cavity.

ACE inhibitors

Drugs that inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme, lowering blood pressure and reducing proteinuria.

Diuretics

Drugs increasing urine output to reduce edema and blood pressure.

Cholesterol-reducing medications

Antilipidemic drugs (e.g., statins) used to manage hyperlipidemia.

Anticoagulants

Blood thinners (e.g., heparin, warfarin) used to reduce thrombosis risk.

Immunosuppressive medications

Drugs that suppress the immune system to treat immune-mediated glomerulonephritis.

Thickening of basement membrane

Early diabetic glomerulosclerosis feature: thickened glomerular basement membrane.

Glomerulosclerosis

Scarring of the glomeruli; can be nodular in diabetes.

Nodular diabetic glomerulosclerosis

Nodules of scar within glomeruli due to diabetes (Kimmelstiel-Wilson lesions).

Berger's disease

IgA nephropathy; immune complex deposition in glomeruli causing glomerulonephritis.

IgA Nephropathy

Glomerulonephritis due to IgA deposition in glomeruli.

Goodpasture syndrome

Autoimmune disease affecting lungs and kidneys; hemoptysis and hematuria.

Hemoptysis

Coughing up blood from the lungs.

Hematuria

Blood in urine.

Oliguria

Reduced urine output.

Prerenal failure

Renal failure due to decreased renal perfusion from shock, hypotension, or sepsis.

Intrarenal (intrinsic) failure

Renal failure due to damage within kidney structures (glomeruli, tubules).

Postrenal failure

Renal failure due to obstruction of urine outflow (stones, tumors, BPH).

Uremia

Clinical syndrome from advanced renal failure with accumulation of urea and other wastes; multi-system effects.