The Urinary System - Vocabulary

Flashcards covering the vocabulary and key concepts of the urinary system.

-cele

Hernia, tumor, swelling

cyst/o

Urinary bladder, cyst, sac of fluid

dia-

Through, between, apart, complete

-ectasis

Stretching, dilation, enlargement

glomerul/o

Glomerulus

lith/o

Stone, calculus

-lysis

Breakdown, separation, loosening, setting free, destruction

nephr/o

Kidney

-pexy

Surgical fixation

pyel/o

Renal pelvis, bowl of kidney

-tripsy

To crush

ur/o

Urine, urinary tract

ureter/o

Ureter; tube b/t kidney and bladder

urethr/o

Urethra; tube that carries urine outside of body

-uria

Urination, urine

Homeostasis

State of equilibrium that produces a constant balanced internal environment

Urea

Major waste product of protein metabolism

Urinary System Structures

Two kidneys, two ureters, bladder, and urethra

Bladder

An oval hollow muscular organ that is a reservoir for urine located in the anterior portion of the pelvic cavity behind the pubic symphysis

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Bacterial infection in the bladder and/or the urethra

Urinary Incontinence

The inability to control the voiding of urine

Urinary Retention

The inability to completely empty the bladder when attempting to urinate

Anuria

Absence of urine formation by the kidneys

Diuresis

Increased output of urine

Dysuria

Difficult or painful urination

Enuresis

The involuntary discharge of urine

Nocturnal Enuresis

Urinary incontinence during sleep (aka: bed wetting)

Nocturia

Frequent and excessive urination during the night

Oliguria

Scanty urination (decreased urine output)

Polyuria

Excessive urination

Catheterization

Insertion of a sterile catheter through the urethra and into the urinary bladder

Cystoscopy

Visual examination of the urinary bladder using a scope

Retroperitoneally

Located behind the peritoneum, which is the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity

Renal Cortex

Outer region of the kidney that contains 1 million microscopic units called nephrons

Medulla

Inner region of the kidney that contains most of the urine-collecting tubules

Renal Pelvis

Funnel-shaped area inside each kidney that is surrounded by the renal cortex and medulla where the newly formed urine from the nephrons collects before it flows into the ureters

Nephrons

Functional units of the kidneys where urine is produced through the processes of filtration, reabsorption and secretion

Reabsorption

The return to the blood of some of the substances that were removed during filtration

Glomerulus

A cluster of capillaries surrounded by a cup-shaped membrane called the Bowman’s capsule which is active in filtering urine

Urochrome

The pigment that gives urine its normal yellow-amber or straw color

Hydronephrosis

Dilation of the renal pelvis of the kidneys

Renal Failure

Inability of the kidney to perform their functions

Dialysis

A procedure to remove waste products from the blood of patients whose kidneys no longer function

Hemodialysis

Filters waste products from the patient’s blood using dialysate, and a shunt implanted in the patient’s arm is connected to the artificial kidney machine

Peritoneal Dialysis

Lining of the peritoneal cavity acts as the filter to remove waste from the blood

Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

Provides ongoing dialysis as the patient goes about his daily activities

Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis

Uses a machine to cycle the dialysate fluid during the night while the patient sleeps

Kidney Transplant

Grafting (replacing) a donor kidney into the body to replace the recipient’s failed kidney

Nephrolithiasis

Condition of a stone in the kidney

Lithotripsy

Destruction of kidney stone with the use of ultrasonic waves traveling through water

Nephrolithotomy

Surgical removal of a kidney stone through an incision into the kidney

Intravenous Pyelogram

Radiographic (x-ray) study of the kidneys and ureters in which iodine is injected into a vein as a contrast medium to define these structures more clearly

Ureters

Narrow tubes about 10” to 12” long that carry urine from the kidney to the bladder

Urethra

Tube extending from the bladder to the outside of the body

Urethral Meatus

External opening of the urethra

Nephrologist

Specializes in diagnosing & treating diseases of the kidneys

Urologist

Specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases & disorders of the urinary system of females & genitourinary system of males