HSCI 131 - Med Terms: Urinary System

electrolyte

mineral salt of the body that carries an electrical charge and regulates nerve impulses, muscle contraction, hydration, and blood pH

filtrate

fluid that passes from the blood through the capillary walls of the glomeruli into Bowman capsule

nitrogenous waste

product of protein metabolism that includes urea, uric acid, creatine, creatinine, and ammonia

peristaltic wave

sequence of rhythmic contraction of smooth muscles of a hollow organ to force material forward and prevent backflow

peritoneum

serous membrane that lines the abdominopelvic cavity and covers most of the organs within the cavity

pH

symbol that expresses the alkalinity or acidity of a solution

plasma

liquid portion of blood that is filtered by the nephrons to remove dissolved wastes

eryhtropoietin

hormone that acts on bone marrow to stimulate production of red blood cells when blood oxygen levels are low

albumin/o

albumin, protein

azot/o

nitrogenous compounds

bacteri/o

bacteria

cyst/o

bladder

vesic/o

bladder

glomerul/o

glomerulus

kal/i

potassium

keton/o

ketone bodies

lith/o

stone, calculus

meat/o

opening, meatus

nephr/o

kidney

ren/o

kidney

noct/o

night

olig/o

scanty

py/o

pus

pyel/o

renal pelvis

ur/o

urine, urinary tract

ureter/o

ureter

urethr/o

urethra

-genesis

forming; producing; origin

-iasis

abnormal condition (produced by something specified)

-uria

urine

dia-

through, across

retro-

backward, behind

anuria

absence of urine production or output

bladder neck obstruction (BNO)

blockage at the base of the bladder that reduces or prevents urine from passing into the urethra

cystocele

prolapsing or downward displacement of the bladder due to weakening of the supporting tissues between the bladder and vagina

end-stage renal disease (ESRD)

any type of kidney disease in which there is little or no remaining kidney function, requiring the patient to undergo dialysis or kidney transplant for survival

enuresis

involuntary discharge of urine; also called incontinence

fistula

abnormal passage from a hollow organ to the surface or from one organ to another

hydronephrosis

abnormal dilation of the renal pelvis and the calyces of one or both kidneys caused by pressure from accumulated urine that cannot flow past an obstruction in the urinary tract

interstitial cystitis (IC)

chronic inflammation of the bladder wall that is not caused by bacterial infection and is not responsive to conventional antibiotic therapy; also called painful bladder syndrome

nephrotic syndrome

loss of large amounts of plasma protein, usually albumin, through urine due to an increased permeability of the glomerular membrane

neurogenic bladder

impairment off bladder control as a result of brain, spinal cord, or nerve damage

polycystic kidney disease

inherited disease in which sacs of fluid called cysts develop in the kidneys

pyelonephritis

infection of the kidney, usually the result of an infection that begins int he urethra or bladder and ascends the ureters to the kidney

urgency

sensation of the need to void immediately

urinary tract infection (UTI)

an infection, typically of bacterial origin, in any part of urinary tract, including the kidneys (acute pyelonephritis), bladder (cystitis), or urethra (urethritis)

vesicoureteral reflux

disorder caused by the failure of urine to pass through the ureters to the bladder, usually as a result of impairment of the valve between the ureter and bladder or obstruction in the ureter

Wilms tumor

rapidly developing malignant tumor of the kidney that usually occurs in children; also called nephroblastoma

electromyography (EMG)

measures the contraction of muscles that control urination using electrodes placed in the rectum and urethra

cystoscopy (cysto)

examination of the urinary bladder for evidence of pathology, to obtain biopsies of tumors or other growths, or to remove polyps

blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

test that determines the amount of nitrogen in blood that comes from urea, a waste product of protein metabolism

culture and sensitivity (C&S)

test that determines the causative organism of an infection and identifies how the organism responds to various antibiotics

urinalysis (UA)

urine screening test that includes physical observation, chemical tests, and microscopic evaluation

bladder ultrasound

a noninvasive painless test that uses high-frequency soundwaves to produce images of the bladder before and after urination to check for urinary retention

intravenous pyelography (IVP)

imaging of the urinary tract after IV injection of a contrast medium; also called excretory urography

renal nuclear scan

nuclear imaging test using a radioactive substance (tracer) injected intravenously to produce images of the kidneys

voiding cystourethrography (VCUG)

x-ray of the bladder and urethra performed before, during, and after voiding using a contrast medium to enhance imaging

kidney transplant

replacement of a diseased kidney with one that is supplied by a compatible donor (usually a family member or a cadaver who has donate the kidney before death)

nephrostomy

opening created between the skin and kidney to drain urine through a tube to a collecting receptacle outside the body when the ureters are unable to do so

ureteral stent replacement

insertion of a thin, narrow tube into the ureter to prevent or treat obstruction of urine flow from the kidney

dialysis

filtering procedure used to remove fluid and waste products from the blood and correct for electrolyte imbalances

hemodialysis

dialysis in which an artificial kidney machine receives waste-filled blood, filters it using a solution called a dialysate, and then returns the dialyzed (clean) blood to the patient’s bloodstream

peritoneal dialysis

dialysis in which toxic substances are removed from the body by using the peritoneal membrane as the filter by perfusing (flushing) the peritoneal cavity with a warm, sterile chemical solution

urology

branch of medicine concerned with urinary disorders and diseases of the male reproductive system

dysuria

pain during urination

nephrology

the branch of medicine concerned specifically with diseases of the kidney, electrolyte imbalance, renal transplantation, and dialysis therapy

colic

intense, throbbing pain