Medical Assistant Chapter 47: Urinalysis

artificial insemination

The injection of semen into the vagina or uterus using a catheter or syringe. Nonsexual.

catheter

A hollow, flexible tube that can be inserted into a vessel, organ, or cavity of the body to withdraw or instill fluid, monitor information, and visualize a vessel or cavity.

creatinine clearance rates

Result from a procedure used to evaluate the glomerular filtration rate of the kidneys.

crystals

Solid substances with a regular shape due to the structure of molecules.

decanting

Pouring a liquid gently so that it does not disturb the remaining sediment.

esterase

Any enzyme that breaks down esters (a type of organic molecule) into alcohols and acids.

follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

A glycoprotein hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. It stimulates the growth of ova (eggs) in the ovary and induces the formation of sperm in the testis.

glomerulonephritis

A kidney disease affecting the glomeruli of the nephron. Characterized by albumin in the urine, edema, and high blood pressure.

graduated cylinder

A narrow, tube-shaped container marked with horizontal lines to represent units of measurement. Used to precisely measure the volume of liquids.

homeostasis

The internal environment of the body that is compatible with life. A steady state that is created by all the body systems working together to provide a consistent and unvarying internal environment.

ion

An electrically charged atom or the smallest component of an element. (A cation has a positive charge, and an anion has a negative charge.)

jaundice

Yellow discoloration of the skin, whites of the eyes, and mucous membranes due to an increase of bilirubin in the blood.

luteinizing hormone (LH)

A hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland. LH stimulates ovulation and the developmenr of the corpus luteum in females and the production of testosterone in males.

micturate

Urinate.

meatus

A body opening or passage, especially the external opening of a structure.

myoglobin

Type of hemoglobin found in the muscle.

nephrotoxic

Damaging or destructive to the kidneys.

normal flora

Microorganisms (mostly bacteria and yeast) that live on or in the body. Normal microscopic residents of the body.

phenylalanine

An essential amino acid found in milk, eggs, and other foods.

protozoa

Single-celled organisms that are the most primitive form of animal life. Most are microscopic. Examples are amoebas, ciliates, flagellates, and sporozoans.

quantitative

Describes a test result that is expressed as a number, usually with units of measure atrached to numeric values.

renal ischemia

A blood flow deficiency to the kidney(s).

renal threshold

The blood level of a substance above which the kidneys fail to reabsorb it, so the substance will appear in the urine.

sediment

An insoluble material that settles to the bottom of a liquid specimen and the bottom of a centrifuged sample.

supernatant

The clear liquid above the sediment in a centrifuged urine specimen.