Medical Terminology

Medical Terminology: Urinary & Reproductive Systems

Key Definitions

  • Excretion

    • Elimination of body waste.

  • Nephroscopy

    • A procedure using a fiberoptic instrument for direct visualization of the kidney.

  • Diuretic

    • An agent that promotes increased urination.

  • Amniotic Sac

    • A transparent sac enclosing the fetus in utero.

  • Salpingorrhaphy

    • Surgical suture of a uterine tube.

  • Dysuria

    • The term for painful or burning urination.

  • Nephron

    • The functional unit of the kidney responsible for urine formation.

  • Placenta

    • The membrane through which the fetus receives nourishment from the mother.

Medical Prefixes and Suffixes

  • Amni/o

    • Refers to the amnion, the sac surrounding the fetus in the womb.

  • -uria

    • A suffix indicating urine or urination.

  • Nephr/o

    • Prefix meaning 'pertaining to the kidney.'

Surgical Procedures

  • Prostatectomy

    • Excision of all or part of the prostate gland.

  • Nephrolithiasis

    • A condition characterized by the presence of kidney stones.

  • Amniocentesis

    • Surgical puncture of the amnion for sampling of amniotic fluid.

  • Cystostomy

    • Surgical creation of a new opening into the bladder.

  • Nephrectomy

    • Surgical removal of a kidney.

  • Nephroptosis

    • Downward displacement of a kidney.

  • Lithotripsy

    • A procedure using high-energy shock waves or lasers to break stones into fragments.

  • Orchidectomy

    • Surgical removal of a testicle.

  • Orchiopexy

    • Surgical fixation of an undescended testicle.

  • Amniotomy

    • Surgical rupture of the fetal membrane.

Medical Conditions

  • Urea

    • Major waste product found in the urine of an individual.

  • Bilateral Nephromegaly

    • Enlargement of both kidneys.

  • Orchiditis

    • Inflammation of a testicle.

  • Polyp

    • A small growth projecting from a mucous membrane surface.

  • Gynecology

    • The study of diseases of the female reproductive organs.

  • Pap

    • Abbreviation for a test to diagnose cancer of the uterus early.

  • Hemodialysis

    • A process where blood is diffused through a membrane to remove wastes and maintain proper balance.

  • Down Syndrome

    • A congenital condition involving cognitive impairment ranging from mild to severe.