In-Depth Study of Medical Language: Chapter 6 - Key Terms and Definitions

kidneys

two bean-shaped organs located on each side of the vertebral column on the posterior wall of the abdominal cavity behind the parietal peritoneum. Their function is to remove waste products from the blood and to aid in the maintaining water and electrolyte balances

nephron

urine-producing microscopic structure. Approximately 1 million nephrons are located in each kidney

glomerulus

cluster of capillaries at the entrance of the nephron. The process of filtering the blood, thereby forming urine, begins here

renal pelvis

funnel-shaped reservoir that collects the urine and passes it to the ureter

hilum

indentation on the medial side of the kidney where the ureter leaves the kidney

ureters

two slender tubes, approximately 10 to 13 inches (26 to 33 cm) long, that receive the urine from the kidneys and carry it to the posterior portion of the bladder

urinary bladder

muscular, hollow organ that temporarily holds the urine. As it fills, the thick, muscular wall becomes thinner and the organ increases in the size

urethra

lowest part of the urinary tract, through which the urine passes from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body. This narrow tube caries in length by sex. It is approximately 1.5 inches (3.8cm) long in the female and approximately 8 inches (20cm) in the male, in whom it is also part of the reproductive system. It carries seminal fluid (semen) at the time of ejaculation

urinary meatus

opening through which the urine passes to the outside

cyst/o

vesic/o

bladder, sac

glomerul/o

glomerulus

meat/o

meatus (opening)

nephr/o

ren/o

kidney

pyel/o

renal pelvis

ureter/o

ureter

urethr/o

urethra

albumin/o

albumin

azot/o

urea, nitrogen

blast/o

developing cell, germ cell

glyc/o

glycos/o

sugar

hydr/o

water

lith/o

stone, calculus

noct/i

night

olig/o

scanty, few

urin/o

ur/o

urine, urinary tract

-iasis

-esis

condition

-lysis

loosening, dissolution, separating

-ptosis

drooping, sagging, prolapse

-rrhaphy

suturing, repairing

-tripsy

surgical crushing

-trophy

nourishment, development

-uria

urine, urination

azotemia

urea in the blood (a toxic condition) also called uremia

cystitis

inflammation of the bladder

cystocele

protrusion of the bladder

cystolith

stone in the bladder

glomerulonephritis

inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidney

hydronephrosis

abnormal condition of water in the kidney

nephritis

inflammation of a kidney

nephrblastoma

kidney tumor containing developing cell

nephrohyptertrophy

excessive development (increase in size) of the kidney

nephrolithiases

condition of stone(s) in the kidney

nephroma

tumor of the kidney

nephromegaly

enlargement of a kidney

nephroptosis

drooping kidney

pyelitis

inflammation of the renal pelvis

pyelonephritis

inflammation of the renal pelvis and the kidney

uremia

urine (urea Nitrogen) in the blood (refers to the presence of azotemia and a wide range of signs and symptoms associated with chronic kidney disease, including polyuria (excessive urination) polydipsia (excessive thirst), vomiting and weight loss; associated with renal failure) also called uremic syndrome)

ureteritis

inflammation of a ureter

ureterocele

protrusion of a ureter

ureterolithiasis

condition of stones in the ureters

urethritis

inflammation of the urethra

ureterostenosis

narrowing of the ureter

urethrocystitis

inflammation of the urethra and the bladder

vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)

reflux pertaining to the bladder and ureter (condition in which urine flows backward towards the kidneys. May occur in up to 10% of children, and in some adults)

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

abrupt decline in kidney function that occurs over hours to days and is usually reversible (also called acute renal failure (ARF))

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

progressive, irreversible loss of kidney function (also called chronic renal failure [CRF])

epispadias

congenital defect in which the urinary meatus is located on the upper surface of the penis

hypospadias

congenital defect in which the urinary meatus is located on the underside of the penis; a similar defect can occur in the female

polycystic kidney diesase (PKD)

condition in which the kidney contains many cysts and is enlarged

renal calculus

stone in the kidney

renal failure

loss of kidney function resulting in its inability to remove waste products from the body and maintain electrolyte balance

renal hypertension

elevated blood pressure resulting from kidney disease

urinary retention

abnormal accumulation of urine in the bladder because of an inability to urinate

urinary suppression

sudden stoppage of urine formation

urinary tract infection (UTI)

infection of one or more organs of the urinary tract

cystectomy

excision of the bladder

cystolithotomy

incision of the bladder to remove a stone

cystorrhaphy

suturing the bladder

cystostomy

creating an artificial opening into the bladder

custotomy, vesicotomy

incision of the bladder

lithtripsy

surgical crushing of a stone

meatotomy

incision of the meatus

nephrectomy

excision of a kidney

nephropyelolithotomy

incision through the kidney to remove a stone

nephrolithotripsy

surgical crushing of stones in the kidney

neprholysis

separating the kidney (from other body structures)

nephropexy

surgical fixation of the kidney

nephrostomy

creation of an artificial opening into the kidney

pyelolithotomy

incision of the renal pelvis to remove a stone

pyeloplasty

surgical repair of the renal pelvis

ureterectomy

excision of a ureter

ureterostomy

creation of an artificial opening into the ureter

urethroplasty

surgical repair of the urethra

vesicourethral suspension

suspension pertaining to the bladder and urethra

extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

a noninvasive treatment for removal of a kidney or ureteral stone(s). By using ultrasound and fluoroscopic imaging, the stone is positioned at the focal point. Repeated firing of shock waves renders the body in the urine

fulfuration

destruction of living tissue with an electric spark

renal transplant

surgical implantation of a donor kidney to replace a nonfunctioning kidney

cystogram

radiographic image of the bladder

cystography

radiographic imaging of the bladder

intravenous urogram (IVU)

radiographic image of the urinary tract

nephrography

radiographic imaging of the kidney

nephrosonography

process of recording the kidney using sound (ultrasonography)

nephrotomogram

sectional radiographic image of the kidney

renogram

(graphic) record of the kidney

retrograde urogram

radiographic image of the urinary tract (retrograde means to move in a direction opposite from normal) with contrast medium instilled through urethral catheters by a cystoscope

voiding cystourethrography (VCUG)

radiographic imaging of the bladder and the urethra. Radiopaque dye is instilled in the bladder. Radiographic images called cystourethrograms are taken of the bladder and during urination of the dye

cystoscope

instrument used for visual examination of the bladder

custoscopy

visual examination of the bladder

nephroscopy

visual examination of the kidney