Key Roots, Suffixes, and Prefixes for the Urologic System

Calic/o, Calyx
- Definition: Relates to calyx, a cup-like structure in the kidney that collects urine from the renal papillae.
cali/o
- Definition: Another form relating to calyx, indicating a similar anatomical component in urinary physiology.
Cyst/o
- Definition: Refers to a filled sac or pouch, commonly used to describe the urinary bladder or any cyst present in the body.
Dips/o
- Definition: Indicates thirst; used in medical terminology to describe conditions associated with excessive thirst or the need for fluids.
Glomerul/o
- Definition: Pertaining to the glomerulus, a network of capillaries in the kidney involved in the filtration of blood.
Hydr/o
- Definition: Refers specifically to water or fluid; used in terms related to hydration or fluid retention in the body.
Ket/o
- Definition: Pertains to ketone bodies, often referenced in metabolic states such as ketosis or diabetes.
Lith/o
- Definition: Refers to calculus or stone; commonly used in terms for kidney stones or ureteral stones.
-lysis
- Definition: Suffix denoting separation, loosening, dissolving, or destruction; often used in medical terms involving breakdown processes.
Nephr/o
- Definition: Relating to the kidney; used broadly in nephrology and anatomical references to kidney structures.
Pyel/o
- Definition: Pertains to the renal pelvis, an area in the kidney that collects urine before it moves to the ureter.
Ren/o
- Definition: Another term that signifies kidney; frequently used interchangeably with nephrology vocabulary.