Ch 6- Urinary Tract Practice Flashcards

These flashcards cover the vocabulary and key concepts from the Urinary Tract chapter, including anatomy, congenital anomalies, inflammatory diseases, tumors, and renal failure.

Nephrons

Microscopic functional units of the kidney located on either side of the spine that filter blood and form urine through filtration, reabsorption, and secretion.

Erythropoietin

A hormone released by the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells.

Peristaltic contractions

Wave-like muscle contractions used by the ureters to propel urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder.

Unilateral Renal Agenesis (URA)

A congenital condition where one kidney and its associated ureter fail to develop, resulting in a single functioning kidney that undergoes compensatory hypertrophy.

Supernumerary Kidney

A rare congenital anomaly characterized by an additional third kidney that has its own blood supply, collecting system, and capsule.

Hypoplastic Kidney

A developmental abnormality where one or both kidneys are reduced in size due to an incomplete development of nephrons, though they remain structurally normal.

Kidney Malrotation

A congenital anomaly where the kidney has an abnormal orientation due to incomplete or excessive rotation during development, meaning the hilum does not face medially.

Ectopic Kidney

A congenital condition where one or both kidneys are located outside the normal renal fossa, most commonly in the pelvis.

Crossed renal ectopia

A type of ectopic kidney where a kidney crosses to the opposite side of the body and may fuse with the contralateral kidney.

Horseshoe Kidney

The most common renal fusion anomaly where the kidneys fuse (usually at the lower poles) to form a U-shaped structure that crosses the midline.

Fused Kidney

Also known as Pancake kidney or Disk kidney, this rare anomaly involves the complete fusion of both kidneys into a single renal mass, usually located in the pelvis.

Duplex Kidney

A congenital anomaly in which a single kidney develops two separate renal collecting systems, which may drain through one or two ureters.

Ureterocele

A congenital cystic dilation of the distal ureter as it enters the bladder, caused by stenosis of the ureteral orifice.

Posterior Urethral Valves

Congenital obstructing membranous folds in the posterior urethra of male infants, often identified by the "keyhole sign" on ultrasound.

Glomerulonephritis (GN)

A group of inflammatory disorders of the glomeruli, often following a streptococcal infection or caused by autoimmune disorders, leading to blood and protein leaking into the urine.

Nephritic Syndrome

A clinical presentation of glomerular disease characterized by hematuria (cola-colored urine), hypertension, and oliguria.

Nephrotic Syndrome

A clinical presentation of glomerular disease characterized by heavy proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and edema.

Pyelonephritis

A bacterial (suppurative) infection of the renal parenchyma and renal pelvis, most commonly caused by Escherichia coli.

Emphysematous Pyelonephritis (EPN)

A severe, necrotizing urologic emergency characterized by gas formation within the renal parenchyma, most commonly affecting patients with diabetes mellitus.

Renal Tuberculosis

An infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that leads to small granulomas in the renal cortex and can result in "putty kidney" (autonephrectomy).

Papillary Necrosis

Ischemic necrosis of the renal papillae, often associated with analgesic abuse or diabetes, sometimes identified by the "Ring sign" on CT or the "Golf ball-on-tee" sign on IVP.

Cystitis

Inflammation of the urinary bladder, most commonly due to a bacterial infection from E. coli.

Urolithiasis

The formation of solid concretions (stones) within the urinary tract due to the crystallization of minerals and salts in urine.

Staghorn Calculi

Large branching renal stones, usually composed of struvite, that occupy the renal pelvis and extend into multiple calyces resembling antlers.

Nephrocalcinosis

A condition involving the diffuse deposition of calcium salts within the renal parenchyma, most commonly affecting the renal medulla.

Hydronephrosis

Dilatation of the renal pelvicalyceal system caused by a blockage that impedes the normal flow of urine.

Simple Renal Cysts

Benign, thin-walled, fluid-filled sacs that do not communicate with the collecting system and are found in over 50% of people over age 50.

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD)

A genetic disorder presenting in adulthood characterized by numerous cysts causing progressive renal enlargement and possible Berry aneurysms in the brain.

Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD)

A severe genetic disorder presenting in infancy characterized by enlarged, echogenic kidneys and hepatic fibrosis.

Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)

Also known as Hypernephroma, it is the most common primary malignant kidney tumor in adults, arising from the tubular epithelium.

Wilms Tumor

Also known as Nephroblastoma, the most common primary malignant renal tumor in children, typically occurring between ages 2 and 5.

Bladder Carcinoma

The most common malignancy of the urinary tract, most frequently presenting as transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) with painless gross hematuria.

Renal Vein Thrombosis (RVT)

Formation of a thrombus in the renal vein, most frequently occurring in severely dehydrated children or adults with Nephrotic Syndrome.

Acute Renal Failure (AKI)

A sudden decline in renal function resulting in decreased GFR and the accumulation of nitrogenous waste, sometimes accompanied by "fishy" breath.

Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)

A progressive, irreversible decline in renal function lasting at least 3 months, most commonly caused by Diabetes Mellitus or Hypertension.

Hemodialysis

A life-sustaining treatment where blood is passed through an artificial kidney (dialyzer) to remove waste and excess fluid, usually via an AV fistula.

Peritoneal Dialysis

A dialysis method using the patient's peritoneal membrane as a filter by infusing dialysate fluid into the abdominal cavity via a catheter.