Urinary System Medterm Study Guide

Arterioles – Small arteries leading to capillaries.

Structures – Body parts or formations.

Bladder cancer – Tumor in the urinary bladder.

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) – Blood test to check kidney function.

Calyx/Calix (pl. calyces/calices) – Cup-like area in kidney that collects urine.

Cali/o – Root word meaning calyx.

Calic/o – Root word meaning calyx.

Diabetes insipidus (DI) – Disorder with excessive urination due to low ADH.

CT urography – CT scan of urinary system using contrast.

Cortex – Outer layer of the kidney.

Cyst/o – Root word meaning bladder.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) – Disease with high blood sugar.

Cystoscopy – Viewing the bladder with a scope.

Creatinine – Waste product filtered by kidneys.

Glomerul/o – Root word for glomerulus.

Glomerulonephritis – Inflammation of glomeruli.

Dialysis – Machine filters blood when kidneys fail.

Electrolytes – Minerals like sodium and potassium in the body.

Meat/o – Root word for meatus (opening).

Interstitial nephritis – Inflammation of kidney tissue.

Kidneys, ureters, and bladder (KUB) – X-ray of urinary tract.

Erythropoietin (EPO) – Hormone that stimulates red blood cell production.

Nephr/o – Root word for kidney.

Nephrolithiasis – Kidney stones.

Lithotripsy – Breaking kidney stones with sound waves.

Pyel/o – Root word for renal pelvis.

Nephrotic syndrome (nephrosis) – Kidney condition with protein loss in urine.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) urography – MRI scan of urinary tract.

Glomerulus (pl. glomeruli) – Tiny kidney filter unit.

Ren/o – Root word for kidney.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) – Inherited kidney cyst disorder.

Hilum – Entry/exit area of vessels in organs.

Trigon/o – Root word for trigone of bladder.

Pyelonephritis – Kidney infection.

Renal angiography – Imaging of kidney blood vessels.

Kidney – Filters blood, makes urine.

Ureter/o – Root word for ureter.

Renal cell carcinoma (hypernephroma) – Kidney cancer.

Renal angioplasty – Widening narrowed kidney arteries.

Meatus – Body opening.

Urethr/o – Root word for urethra.

Renal failure – Kidneys stop functioning.

Renal biopsy – Removal of kidney tissue for testing.

Medulla – Inner part of the kidney.

Vesic/o – Root word for bladder.

Renal hypertension – High blood pressure from kidney disease.

Renal transplantation – Kidney transplant.

Nephron – Functional unit of the kidney.

Angi/o – Root word for vessel.

Wilms tumor – Kidney cancer in children.

Retrograde pyelogram (RP) – X-ray of urinary tract using contrast through bladder.

Bowman’s capsule – Surrounds glomerulus; starts urine formation.

Noct/o – Root word for night.

Cystitis – Bladder inflammation/infection.

Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) – First part of kidney tubule.

Dips/o – Root word for thirst.

Glycosuria – Sugar in urine.

Descending loop of Henle – Part of tubule that reabsorbs water.

Olig/o – Root word for scanty/small amount.

Enuresis – Involuntary urination (bedwetting).

Nephrectomy – Kidney removal surgery.

Loop of Henle – U-shaped tubule that concentrates urine.

Albumin/o – Root word for albumin (a protein).

Urinary tract infection (UTI) – Infection of urinary system.

Cystogram – Bladder x-ray with contrast.

Ascending loop of Henle – Reabsorbs salts; not water.

Azot/o – Root word for nitrogen.

Polyuria – Excessive urination.

Urinary catheterization – Tube inserted to drain urine.

Nitrogenous waste – Waste products with nitrogen (e.g., urea).

Bacteri/o – Root word for bacteria.

Dysuria – Painful urination.

Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) – Bladder x-ray during urination.

Distal convoluted tubule (DCT) – Last tubule part; adjusts urine.

Hematuria – Blood in urine.

Renal artery – Brings blood to kidneys.

Kal/i – Root word for potassium.

Collecting duct – Final tubule where urine collects.

Ket/o – Root word for ketones.

Keton/o – Root word for ketones.

Renal pelvis – Central part of kidney collecting urine.

Natr/o – Root word for sodium.

Renal tubule – Tubule in nephron where urine forms.

Py/o – Root word for pus.

Renal vein – Takes filtered blood from kidney.

Ur/o – Root word for urine.

Path of Urine Production – Glomerulus → Bowman’s capsule → PCT → Loop of Henle → DCT → Collecting duct → Renal pelvis → Ureter → Bladder → Urethra.

Trigone – Triangle-shaped area in bladder.

Urin/o – Root word for urine.

Urinalysis – Specific test – Urine test checking for disease or substances.

Urea – Waste product from protein breakdown.

Hydr/o – Root word for water.

Ureter – Tube from kidney to bladder.

Lith/o – Root word for stone.

Urethra – Tube that carries urine out.

Hemat/o – Root word for blood.

Uric acid – Waste from purines; high levels cause gout.

Glyc/o – Root word for sugar.

Urinary bladder – Stores urine.

Prote/o – Root word for protein.

Urgency – Sudden urge to urinate.

Dia- – Prefix meaning through, complete.

Urination – Process of releasing urine.

Anti- – Prefix meaning against.

Urine – Liquid waste from kidneys.

Dys- – Prefix meaning bad, difficult.

Voiding – Another term for urination.

-emia – Suffix meaning blood condition.

Urinary meatus – Opening where urine exits body.

-poietin – Suffix meaning substance that forms.

-plasty – Suffix meaning surgical repair.

-stenosis – Suffix meaning narrowing.

-tripsy – Suffix meaning crushing.

-uria – Suffix meaning urine condition.

Poly- – Prefix meaning many, much.

-ectasis – Suffix meaning dilation or widening.

-gram – Suffix meaning record or image.

-pathy – Suffix meaning disease.

-stomy – Suffix meaning surgical opening.

-tomy – Suffix meaning cutting, incision.

-ole – Suffix meaning small.

-sclerosis – Suffix meaning hardening.

-lysis – Suffix meaning breakdown or separation.

-osis – Suffix meaning abnormal condition.

-itis – Suffix meaning inflammation