Urinary System Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering anatomy, physiology, medical word analysis, disorders, diagnostic tests, and treatments related to Chapter 6 Urinary System.

Excretion

The process of removing metabolic waste from the body, which is essential for maintaining homeostasis.

Nephrologist

A medical specialist who specializes in diseases and disorders of the kidney.

Urologist

A medical specialist who focuses on the surgical and medical diseases of the male and female urinary-tract system and the male reproductive organs.

-ous

A suffix meaning pertaining to.

-al

A suffix meaning pertaining to.

-ary

A suffix meaning pertaining to.

nephr-

A root element meaning kidney.

ren-

A root element meaning kidney.

Urinary System Anatomy

An organ system consisting of two kidneys, two ureters, one urinary bladder, and one urethra.

Kidney Anatomy

Bean-shaped organs located on either side of the vertebral column consisting of three main internal regions: cortex, medulla, and pelvis.

Renin

An enzyme/hormone secreted by the kidney that is responsible for maintaining blood pressure.

Erythropoietin

A hormone secreted by the kidney that regulates the production of red blood cells.

Nephron Anatomy

The basic filtration unit of the kidney located in the renal cortex, consisting of a glomerulus, Bowman capsule, loop of Henle, and collecting duct.

Filtrate

Fluid containing water, urea, glucose, electrolytes, and amino acids that enters the kidney as part of blood filtration.

Calyces

The plural form of the medical term calyx.

Cortices

The plural form of the medical term cortex.

Glomeruli

The plural form of the medical term glomerulus.

Hila

The plural form of the medical term hilum.

Urinary Bladder

A hollow muscular organ located on the floor of the pelvic cavity that stores approximately 200 mL (7 ounces) of urine prior to micturition.

Urethra

A hollow tube varying from 1.5 to 8 inches in length depending on gender, which transports urine from the urinary bladder to the outside.

Micturition

The process of releasing or expelling urine from the bladder via the urethra; also referred to as urination or voiding.

Meatus

The external opening of a passage.

Sphincter

A circular band of muscle that encircles an opening.

Renal Cell Carcinoma

The most common form of kidney cancer, primary treatment for which is nephrectomy.

Wilms Tumor

Also called nephroblastoma, a malignant kidney tumor that usually affects children between 3 and 8 years of age.

Hematuria

The presence of blood in the urine.

Acute Glomerulonephritis

An inflammation of the glomerulus that often develops after a streptococcal infection.

Nephrotic Syndrome

A kidney condition involving large amounts of blood proteins leaking out into the urine, leading to fluid retention (edema); treated with steroids.

Interstitial Nephritis

An acute, temporary inflammation of the spaces between the renal tubules, often due to allergies or side effects of medication.

Pyelonephritis

An infection of the renal pelvis, which sometimes occurs as part of a UTI.

Primary Hypertension

High blood pressure of unknown cause that can damage blood vessels inside the kidneys, leading to further increases in blood pressure.

Polycystic Kidney Disease

An inherited disease causing multiple cysts that lead to ineffective kidney function.

Acute Renal Failure

A sudden cessation of kidney filtration caused by medicines, toxins, burns, trauma, systemic infections, or blood disorders.

Chronic Renal Failure

A gradual, progressive loss of kidney function.

End-Stage Renal Disease

A state where the kidneys are functioning at less than 10% of their total capacity.

Anuria

The complete cessation of urine output.

Azotemia

An accumulation of nitrogenous waste products in the blood.

Oliguria

A marked reduction in urine output.

Proteinuria

The presence of abnormal amounts of protein in the urine.

Uremia

The complex of symptoms and signs associated with renal failure.

Nephrolithiasis

The condition of having kidney stones (calculi) in the renal pelvis or urinary tract.

Renal Calculi

Kidney stones starting in the renal pelvis as tiny grains of undissolved material, often calcium oxalate.

Hydronephrosis

Dilatation of the renal pelvis caused by back-flow pressure when a stone lodges in and obstructs the ureter.

Urinary Retention

The abnormal, involuntary holding of urine in the bladder.

Transitional Cell Carcinoma

The most common type of bladder cancer.

Urinalysis

The diagnostic analysis of urine, incorporating physical, chemical, and microscopic examination.

Urine Dipstick Test

A reagent strip method used in routine urinalysis to check pH, specific gravity, protein, glucose, ketones, and leukocyte esterase.

KUB

An X-ray of the Kidneys, Ureters, and Bladder used to diagnose obstructions and masses.

Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP)

A diagnostic procedure using contrast dye injected into the bloodstream followed by rapid X-ray images of the urinary tract.

Retrograde Pyelogram

A procedure using dye introduced through a urinary catheter to locate calculi and obstructions in the ureters.

Voiding Cystourethrogram (VCUG)

An X-ray examination of the bladder and urethra performed while the patient is urinating after dye is introduced into the bladder.

Cystoscopy

Endoscopic examination used to inspect the inside lining of the bladder.

Glycosuria

The presence of glucose in the urine.

Ketones

Chemical compounds formed and excreted in urine when the body metabolizes fat during starvation or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.

Nitrites

Chemical compounds formed in the urinary bladder in the presence of bacteria.

Hemodialysis

A procedure that filters blood through an artificial kidney (dialyzer) to remove metabolic wastes and excess fluid in renal failure.

Lithotripsy

A therapeutic method combining lith/o (stone) and -tripsy (to crush), meaning to crush a kidney stone using sound waves.

Diuretics

Pharmacologic agents that increase urine output by the kidney.