Chapter 10: The Urinary System

-cele

hernia, tumor, swelling

cyst/o

urinary bladder, cyst, sac of fluid

dia-

through, between, apart, complete

glomerul/o

glomerulus

hydr/o

water

lith/o

stone, calculus

-lysis

breakdown, separation, setting free, destruction, loosening

nephr/o

kidney

pyel/o

renal pelvis, bowl of kidney

-tripsy

to crush

ur/o

urine, urinary tract

ureter/o

ureter

urethr/o

urethra

-uria

urination, urine

vesic/o

urinary bladder

ablation

the term used to describe some types of treatment of prostate cancer; this treatment involves the removal of a body part or the destruction of its function through the use of surgery, hormones, drugs, heat, chemicals, electrocautery, or other methods.

acute renal failure

(ARF) has sudden onset and is characterized by uremia.

anuria

the absence of urine formation by the kidneys.

benign prostatic hyperplasia

also known as benign prostatic hypertrophy or an enlarged prostate, is an enlargement of the prostate gland that most often occurs in men older than age 50.

chronic kidney disease

(CKD) is the progressive loss of renal function over months or years.

cystitis

an inflammation of the bladder.

cystocele

also known as a prolapsed bladder, is a hernia of the bladder through the vaginal wall.

cystolith

a stone located within the urinary bladder.

cystoscopy

the visual examination of the urinary bladder with the use of a specialized type of endoscope known as a cystoscope.

dialysis

a procedure to remove waste products, such as urea, creatinine, and excess water, from the blood of a patient whose kidneys no longer function.

diuresis

the increased output of urine.

dysuria

difficult or painful urination.

ectopic kidney

a congenital condition in which one kidney is located in an abnormal position or has fused with the other kidney.

edema

excessive fluid accumulation in body tissues that can be symptomatic of nephrotic syndrome and other kidney diseases.

end-stage renal disease

(ESRD), also known as kidney failure, is the final stage of chronic kidney disease, and this condition is fatal unless the functions of the failed kidneys are replaced by dialysis, or with a successful kidney transplant.

epispadias

a congenital abnormality of the urethral opening.

extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy

(ESWL) is the most common kidney stone treatment. High-energy ultrasonic waves traveling through water or gel are used to break the stone into fragments, which are then excreted into the urine.

glomerulonephritis

a type of nephritis caused by inflammation of the glomeruli that causes red blood cells and proteins to leak into the urine.

hemodialysis

the process by which waste products are filtered directly from the patient’s blood.

hydronephrosis

the dilation (swelling) of one or both kidneys.

hydroureter

the distention (swelling) of the ureter with urine that cannot flow because of a ureteral obstruction.

hyperproteinuria

the presence of abnormally high concentrations of protein in the urine.

hypoproteinemia

the presence of abnormally low concentrations of protein in the blood.

hypospadias

a congenital abnormality of the urethral opening.

incontinence

the inability to control the excretion of urine, feces, or both.

interstitial cystitis

a chronic inflammation within the walls of the bladder.

intravenous pyelogram

(IVP) is a set of x-ray images of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder using an intravenous contrast medium to clearly visualize the structures.

nephrolith

also known as a kidney stone or renal calculus, is found in the kidney.

nephrolithiasis

the presence of stones in the kidney.

nephrolysis

the surgical freeing of a kidney from adhesions.

nephrons

the microscopic functional units of each kidney.

nephropathy

any disease of the kidney.

nephrostomy

the placement of a catheter to maintain an opening from the pelvis of one or both kidneys to the exterior of the body.

nephrotic syndrome

also known as nephrosis, is a group of conditions in which excessive amounts of protein are lost through the urine.

neurogenic bladder

a urinary problem caused by interference with the normal nerve pathways associated with urination.

nocturia

frequent and excessive urination during the night.

nocturnal enuresis

urinary incontinence during sleep; it is also known as bed-wetting.

oliguria

scanty urination.

percutaneous nephrolithotomy

(PCNL) is the surgical removal of a nephrolith through a small incision in the .

peritoneal dialysis

the lining of the peritoneal cavity acts as a filter to remove waste from the blood.

polycystic kidney disease

a genetic disorder characterized by the growth of numerous fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys.

polyuria

excessive urination and is a common symptom of diabetes.

prostatism

a disorder resulting from the compression or obstruction of the urethra due to benign prostatic hyperplasia.

pyelonephritis

an inflammation of both the renal pelvis and kidney.

pyelotomy

a surgical incision into the renal pelvis.

renal colic

an acute pain in the kidney area that is caused by blockage during the passage of a nephrolith (kidney stone).

suprapubic catheterization

the placement of a catheter into the bladder through a small incision made through the abdominal wall just above the pubic bone.

transurethral prostatectomy

(TURP) is the removal of excess tissue from an enlarged prostate gland with the use of a resectoscope.

uremia

also known as uremic poisoning, is a toxic condition resulting from renal failure in which kidney function is compromised and urea and other waste products normally secreted in the urine are retained in the blood.

ureterolith

a stone located anywhere along the ureter.

ureterorrhagia

the discharge of blood from the ureter.

urethritis

an inflammation of the urethra.

urethroplasty

the surgical repair of damage or a defect in the walls of the urethra.

urethrorrhagia

bleeding from the urethra.

urethrostenosis

or urethral stricture, is narrowing of the urethra.

urethrotomy

a surgical incision into the urethra.

urinary catheterization

also known as cathing, is the insertion of a flexible plastic tube called a catheter into the bladder to withdraw urine for diagnostic purposes, to allow urine to drain freely, or to place a fluid such as a chemotherapy solution.

vesicovaginal fistula

an abnormal opening between the bladder and vagina that allows constant involuntary flow of urine from the bladder into the vagina.

voiding cystourethrography

a diagnostic procedure in which fluoroscopy is used to examine the flow of urine from the bladder and through the urethra.

Wilms tumor

also known as a nephroblastoma, is a rare type of malignant tumor of the kidney that occurs in young children.