Urinary System Part 2 (2)

cyst(o)-

a root word that means bladder; e.g., cystitis

lith(o)

a root word that means stone; e.g., lithotripsy

-lysis

a suffix that means to reduce or dissolve; e.g., dialysis

ren-

a root word that means kidney; e.g., renal failure

uri-, uric-, urico-

a root word that means uric acid; e.g., urinary tract

urinalysis

the process of analyzing a sample of urine

urea

a waste product of metabolism that is excreted into the urine

creatinine

a waste product of muscle metabolism that is excreted into the urine

creatinine clearance

a test of renal function that measures the amount of creatinine removed from the blood by the kidneys per unit of time

blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

a test that measures the amount of urea in the blood

glomerular filtration rate (GFR)

a test of renal function that measures the flow of filtered fluid through the kidneys per unit of time; GFR is often estimated by measuring the creatinine clearance

cystogram

an image of the urinary bladder made using X-rays and a liquid placed in the bladder that appears in an X-ray

cystoscopy

the visualization of the inside of the bladder using a tiny camera mounted on the tip of a long, flexible tube inserted into the bladder via the urethra

intravenous pyelogram

an image of the urinary system made using X-rays and a liquid injected into a vein that is excreted into the urine, where it appears in an X-ray

sonogram

an image made using sound waves; e.g., a kidney sonogram to check for the presence of kidney stones

urinary incontinence

involuntary urination

polyuria

excessive urination, typically 2.5 - 3 liters or more per 24 hour period; can be caused by a variety of conditions, including untreated diabetes

stress incontinence

incontinence that occurs when the structures around the bladder are weakened or damaged, causing urine leakage when the body is physically stressed through coughing, straining, or sneezing

urge incontinence

incontinence that occurs when the bladder contracts at the wrong time; also known as overactive bladder

nocturia

getting up at night to urinate

renal failure

the decreased ability or complete inability of the kidneys to filter waste and toxins from blood

acute renal failure

the sudden failure of the kidneys

gout

a disease characterized by arthritis due to the buildup of uric acid, a metabolic waste product, in the joints; can result from several factors, including underexcretion of uric acid by the kidneys

diabetes

a disease characterized by high levels of glucose, the body’s primary sugar molecule, in the urine; can lead to a variety of secondary diseases, including renal failure

chronic renal failure

gradual failure of the kidneys over a period of time

renal colic

intense waves of pain, often associated with blockage of the urinary system by a kidney stone

kidney stones

small stones that form from waste in the kidneys and that become trapped in the urinary tract

hematuria

blood in the urine, often seen with infections, cancers, or kidney stones

interstitial cystitis

chronic inflammation of the walls of the bladder of unknown cause

urinary tract infection (UTI)

an infection of any organ of the urinary system

adrenalectomy

the surgical removal of the adrenal gland, which sits atop the kidney and secretes a variety of hormones

dialysis

the filtration of the blood using a machine to partially substitute for kidney function by filtering toxins and removing excess water from the body

kidney biopsy

the surgical removal of a small sample of kidney tissue, typically using a special needle inserted through the skin, in order to diagnose conditions such as cancer

kidney transplant

the surgical transfer of a kidney from one person to another

peritoneal dialysis

an alternative to dialysis by blood filtration; it involves injecting a volume of fluid into the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity, followed by its removal a few hours later after it has acquired a load of metabolic wastes

lithotomy

the surgical removal of a stone; e.g., a kidney stone

lithotripsy

a procedure that uses ultrasound waves to break kidney stones into smaller pieces

cystectomy

the surgical removal of all or part of the urinary bladder

ureteroscopy

the visualization of the inside of the ureter using a tiny camera mounted on the tip of a long, flexible tube

urinary catheterization

the insertion of a thin tube, called a catheter, into the urinary bladder

antibiotic

a drug that can kill or slow the growth of bacteria

antispasmodic

a drug that can relieve muscle spasm, including, for example, bladder spasms

diuretic

a substance that encourages urine production

gout diet

a nutritional approach that helps manage gout by reducing foods, such as meat, seafood, and alcohol, whose breakdown produces uric acid

oxybutynin

a common antispasmodic drug used to treat polyuria caused by an overactive bladder