Medical Terminology Chapter 11: Urinary System

The formation of urine begins with _____. As the blood is filtered through the _____, substances the body can use are retained, and those it cannot use are excreted as urine.

blood; kidneys

Structures:

• the kidneys remove wastes from the blood in the form of urine

• the ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder

• the bladder stores urine prior to urination

• the urethra carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body

Functions:

• filtering wastes from the body

• regulating fluid levels and electrolytes and reclaiming important electrolytes and water

• contributing to blood pressure control

• playing a role in red blood cell production via the hormone erythropoietin, which is produced in the kidneys

• carrying urine through the system until it is excreted during the process of urination

kidney

one of two bean-shaped organs that remove wastes from the blood and help maintain fluid and electrolyte balance in the body

calyx

cup-like structure that drains into the renal pelvis

renal artery

one of two vessels that branch off the abdominal aorta and supply the kidney with blood; left renal artery and right renal artery

renal cortex

outer part of the kidney

renal medulla

inner part of the kidney

renal pelvis

a reservoir in each kidney that collects urine

renal vein

one of two blood vessels that drain the kidney and connect to the inferior vena cava; left renal vein and right renal vein

nephron

microscopic functional unit of the kidney that forms urine; found in the cortex and medulla, it consists of a renal corpuscle and its associated tubule; each kidney contains about 1 million nephrons

renal corpuscle

structure composed of the glomerulus and the glomerular capsule

glomerulus

one of several capillary clusters at the entrance of each nephron that initiate the process of filtering of the blood

glomerular capsule/ Bowman capsule

sac that surrounds the glomerulus (tuft or capillaries) and marks the beginning of the nephron

afferent arteriole

blood vessel that supplies the nephron

collecting duct

tubule that connects the nephrons to the renal pelvis

distal convoluted tubule (DCT)

segment of the nephron between the nephron loop and the collecting duct

efferent arteriole

blood vessel that forms from the convergence of the glomerular capillaries; takes blood to capillaries of proximal convoluted tubule

nephron loop

U-shaped segment of the nephron between the proximal convoluted tubule and the distal convoluted tubule

peritubular capillaries

tiny blood vessels alongside the nephrons where reabsorption and secretion between the blood and the nephron take place

proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)

segment of the nephron between the glomerular capsule and the nephron loop

ureter

one of two narrow tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder

urethra

tubular structure through which urine passes from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body

urinary bladder

muscular organ that holds the urine until it is released

detrusor muscle

muscle that forms the urinary bladder

external urethral orifice

opening that carries urine from the urethra to the outside of the body; external urethral meatus (opening)

trigone of bladder

triangular region at the base of the urinary bladder between the openings of the two ureters and the urethra

urine

water, waste products, and other substances secreted by the kidneys

albumin/o

albumin

bacteri/o

bacteria

cyst/o

fluid-filled sac (urinary bladder)

enur/o

to urinate in

glomerul/o

glomerulus

glyc/o, glycos/o

glucose, sugar

hemat/o

blood

hydr/o

water, fluid

lith/o

stone, calculus

meat/o

meatus (opening)

nephr/o, ren/o

kidney

noct/i

night

olig/o

scanty, few

py/o

pus

pyel/o

renal pelvis

son/o

sound, sound waves

ureter/o

ureter

urethr/o

urethra

ur/o, urin/o

urine

vesicul/o, vesic/o

fluid-filled sac (urinary bladder)

dys-

painful, difficult, abnormal

gluco-

glucose (sugar)

ply-

many, much

ure-

urea, urine

-cele

herniation, protrusion

-ernia

blood (condition of)

-iasis, -esis

condition of

-lith

stone, calculus

-lysis

destruction, breakdown, separation

-ptosis

prolapse, drooping, sagging

-scopy

viewing or examining with an instrument

-stenosis

stricture, narrowing

-stomy

surgical opening

-tripsy

crushing

-uria

urine, urination

cystic/ vesical

pertaining to the urinary bladder

genitourinary (GU)

pertaining to the organs of reproduction and urination

meatal

pertaining to the meatus

micturate

to urinate

micturition

urination

nephric/ renal

pertaining to the kidneys

ureteral

pertaining to the ureter

urethral

pertaining to the urethra

urinary

pertaining to urine

urinate/ void

to pass urine

albuminuria

presence of albumin (a blood protein) in the urine; usually a sign of disease

anuria

absence of urine formation; failure of the kidneys to produce urine

bacteriuria

bacteria in the urine

cystitis

inflammation of the bladder

cystocele

protrusion of the bladder

cystolith

stone in the bladder

diuresis

increased or excessive production of urine

dysuria

difficulty urinating; painful urination

end-stage renal disease/ renal failure

loss of kidney function; the final phase of chronic kidney disease

enuresis

involuntary urination

epispadias

congenital defect in which the urethral opening (orifice) is located on the upper surface of a nonerect penis

glomerulonephritis

inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidney

glucosuria/ glycosuria

glucose in the urine

hematuria

blood in the urine

hydronephrosis

dilation of the renal pelvis and calyces of one or both kidneys caused by obstruction of urine flow (urine builds up) usually due to a stone or stricture; literally “water inside the kidney”

hydroureter

dilation of a ureter caused by obstruction of urine flow usually due to a stone or stricture; literally “water inside the ureter”

hypospadias

congenital defect in which the urethral opening (orifice) is located on the underside of a nonerect penis

nephritis

inflammation of the kidney

nephrolith/ renal calculus

kidney stone

nephrolithiasis

presence of kidney stones

nephromegaly

enlargement of the kidney

nephroptosis

drooping of the kidney

nocturia

excessive urination at night

nocturnal enuresis

involuntary urination at night; bed-wetting

oliguria

scanty amount of urine

polycystic kidney disease

condition in which many cysts occur within and upon the kidneys, resulting in the loss of functional renal tissue

polyuria

excessive and frequent urination