Med Occs Urinary System

kidneys

filters blood and creates urine as waste product

nephron

structural and functional unit that does the filtering, regulates water concentration, and regulates concentration of soluble substances

juxtamedullary

type of nephron “next to the medulla”

cortical

type of nephron starting higher up in the cortex

renal cortex and renal medulla

outer and inner regions of kidney

renal pyramids

make up much of the medullary tissue in the kidney

renal columns

areas where cortical tissue dips into the medulla between the pyramids

calyx

cuplike structure at each renal papilla that collects urine

renal pelvis

narrows as it exits the kidney to become the ureter; acts as a collection basin to drain urine from the kidney

renal artery

large branch of the abdominal aorta; brings blood into each kidney

interlobar arteries

between the pyramids of the medulla; form the arcuate arteries

afferent arterioles

afferent arterioles extend to the nephrons

ureters

tubes running from each kidney to the urinary bladder; moves urine through peristalsis

urine formation

glomerular filtration → tubular reabsorption → tubular secretion

urine compositon

water, urea, uric acid, and small # of amino acids + electrolytes

micturition reflex

stretch receptors in bladder sense distensions, initiating desire to urinate; voluntarily assisted by abdominal muscles and continued relaxation of external urethral sphincter

urinalysis

a test that examines a urine sample to check for disease, infection, kidney function, etc

nephrology

the medical specialty that focuses on the kidneys and kidney diseases

anuria

almost no urine output

hematuria

blood in the urine

glomerulonephritis

inflammation of the glomeruli

cystitis

inflammation or infection of the bladder

lithotripsy

a procedure that uses shock waves to break kidney stones in smaller pieces to let them pass

renal

relating to the kidneys

nocturia

waking up at night to urinate frequently

proteinuria

protein in the urine

oliguria

low urine output

micturition

urination

specific gravity

measure of how concentrated the urine is

pH

a measure of how acidic or basic the urine is

urology

the medical specialty that deals with the urinary tract

bacteriouria

bacteria in the urine

hemolysis

breaking down of the red blood cells

uretral

relating to the ureter

ketonuria

ketones in the urine (usually seen in diabetes or fasting)

cystalgia

bladder pain

cystolith

bladder stone

cystorrhagia

bleeding from the bladder

dysuria

painful or difficult urination

glycosuria

sugar (glucose) in the urine

nephrolith

a kidney stone

nephromegaly

enlarged kidney

polyuria

excessive urine output

urethralgia

pain in the urethra

hydronephrosis

swelling of the kidney because of buildup of urine

pyelonephritis

a type of kidney infection affecting the renal pelvis and kidney tissue