ch 48 Kidney Disorders Lecture Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards summarizing key terms and definitions from the Kidney Disorders lecture to aid exam preparation.

Glomerulus

Network of capillaries in the nephron where blood filtration begins.

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

Volume of filtrate produced each minute by both kidneys; normal ≈ 125 mL/min.

Renal Tubule

Nephron segment where reabsorption and secretion modify filtrate into urine.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

Pituitary hormone that increases water reabsorption in distal tubules and collecting ducts.

Aldosterone

Adrenal cortex hormone that promotes sodium and water reabsorption and potassium excretion in the kidney.

Atrial Natriuretic Hormone (ANH)

Cardiac atrial hormone that increases sodium and water excretion and inhibits ADH and aldosterone.

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)

Hormone that increases renal calcium reabsorption and phosphate excretion.

Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone System (RAAS)

Hormonal cascade activated by low renal perfusion that raises blood pressure and volume.

Erythropoietin

Kidney-produced hormone that stimulates red blood cell formation in bone marrow.

Acute Nephritic Syndrome

Inflammatory glomerular disorder characterized by hematuria, edema, azotemia, and hypertension.

Glomerulonephritis (GN)

Bilateral inflammation of glomeruli, often post-streptococcal; can be acute or chronic.

Nephrotic Syndrome

Condition of massive proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, edema, and hyperlipidemia due to increased glomerular permeability.

Hematuria

Presence of blood in urine; classic sign of glomerular injury.

Proteinuria

Excess protein in urine indicating glomerular membrane damage.

Oliguria

Urine output < 400 mL/day, common in early AKI.

Azotemia

Accumulation of nitrogenous wastes (BUN, creatinine) in the blood.

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

Rapid decline in renal function over hours-days, usually reversible.

Prerenal AKI

AKI caused by impaired renal blood flow, e.g., hypovolemia or shock.

Intrarenal (Intrinsic) AKI

AKI from direct kidney tissue damage such as nephrotoxins or ischemia.

Postrenal AKI

AKI resulting from obstruction of urine outflow (e.g., stones, enlarged prostate).

Oliguric Phase (AKI)

Initial AKI stage with low urine output, rising BUN/creatinine, acidosis.

Diuretic Phase (AKI)

Stage with high dilute urine output and risk for dehydration, electrolyte loss.

Recovery Phase (AKI)

Final stage where GFR improves and labs return toward baseline.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Progressive, irreversible loss of kidney function lasting > 3 months.

End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD)

Stage 5 CKD with GFR < 15 mL/min requiring dialysis or transplant.

Uremia

Clinical syndrome of organ dysfunction caused by accumulated uremic toxins in CKD.

Hyperkalemia

Serum potassium > 5.0 mEq/L, life-threatening complication of renal failure.

Hemodialysis

Renal replacement therapy using an external dialyzer to remove wastes and fluid from blood.

Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)

Dialysis using the peritoneum as a semipermeable membrane for waste exchange.

Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)

Slow, continuous extracorporeal therapy for hemodynamically unstable patients with AKI.

Ultrafiltration

Removal of water across a membrane driven by pressure gradient during dialysis.

Diffusion (Dialysis)

Movement of solutes from high to low concentration across the dialysis membrane.

Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF)

Surgical connection of an artery to a vein providing vascular access for hemodialysis.

Arteriovenous Graft (AVG)

Synthetic conduit connecting artery and vein for hemodialysis access when vessels unsuitable for AVF.

Dialysis Disequilibrium Syndrome

Neurologic symptoms from rapid solute removal during hemodialysis causing cerebral edema.

Peritonitis

Infection of peritoneal cavity, most common serious complication of PD.

Hyperacute Rejection

Transplant rejection within minutes-48 hours due to pre-existing antibodies; graft must be removed.

Acute Rejection

Immune-mediated graft rejection occurring within 1 week-2 years post-transplant; treatable with immunosuppression.

Chronic Rejection

Slow, progressive loss of transplanted kidney function over months-years.

ACE Inhibitors

Medications that block angiotensin-converting enzyme; slow CKD progression and control BP.

Furosemide

Loop diuretic used to treat edema and hypertension in kidney disorders.

Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate

Cation-exchange resin used to lower high serum potassium in AKI or CKD.

Anasarca

Generalized body edema, often seen in nephrotic syndrome.

Hypoalbuminemia

Low serum albumin level resulting from heavy proteinuria.

Podocyte

Epithelial cell of glomerular basement membrane; injury increases protein leak.

Afferent Arteriole

Blood vessel that supplies blood to the glomerulus.

Efferent Arteriole

Blood vessel that carries blood away from the glomerulus.

Hypertensive Encephalopathy

Acute cerebral dysfunction caused by severe hypertension; possible complication of GN.

Bone (Renal) Osteodystrophy

Skeletal disorder in CKD due to altered calcium-phosphate metabolism.

Phosphate Binders

Drugs that reduce GI phosphate absorption to control hyperphosphatemia in CKD.

Epoetin Alfa (Epogen/Procrit)

Synthetic erythropoietin used to treat anemia of CKD.

Kidney-Ureter-Bladder (KUB) Radiograph

Plain abdominal x-ray used to assess kidney size and stone presence.

Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD)

Manual PD performed 4–5 exchanges daily without a machine.

Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD)

Machine-assisted PD that cycles dialysate exchanges, usually overnight.

Antistreptolysin-O (ASO) Titer

Blood test detecting recent streptococcal infection linked to post-infectious GN.

Urine Specific Gravity

Measure of urine concentration; fixed at 1.010 indicates loss of concentrating ability.

Hemodialysis Catheter

Central venous catheter providing temporary vascular access for dialysis.

Hyperlipidemia (Renal)

Elevated serum lipids associated with nephrotic syndrome and CKD.