Urinary System Medical Terms

bladder

glomerulus

opening, meatus

hernia, swelling

kidney

renal pelvis

urine, urinary tract

ureter

urethra

blood condition

nitrogenous compounds

abnormal condition (produced by something specified)

separation; destruction; loosening

fixation of an organ

prolapse, downward displacement

crushing

urine

many, much

toxic condition caused by the kidney's failure to remove urea from the blood

used to diagnose urinary tract disorder, obtain tissue and urine samples, excise tumors, or inject a contrast medium into the bladder

• cluster of capillaries forming the structural and functional unit of the kidney known as the nephron.
• Glomerular capillaries filter fluid, the first step in urine formation

gland

cancer

intestine (usually small intestine)

red

stomach

blood

liver

stone, calculus

night

scanty

pus

rectum

hardening; sclera (white of eye)

vein

suture

dilation, expansion

vomiting

to go

record, writing

digestion

above, excessive, superior

kidneys, ureters, bladder & urethra

regulate the volume and composition of fluids in the body and remove waste substances and excess fluid from the blood

regulate the amount of water in the body and keep the body fluids at a constant concentration and acid-base level. 

Achieve this by filtering blood and excreting waste substances and excess water as urine.  Other essential substances are reabsorbed into the bloodstream by REABSORPTION.

stable environment is necessary for the cells of the body to survive and carry out their functions effectively

artificial kidney that filters impurities out of blood

treats disorders of the female and male urinary systems.

Also the male reproductive system

diagnosis and manage kidney disease, kidney transplantation and dialysis therapies

hernial protrusion of urinary bladder

vary in size from microscopic (sand or gravel) to large enough to block the ureter or fill the renal pelvis

leads to nephritis & nephralgia

nephrolithiasis

produced by kidney disease

most common type of hypertension caused by glomerulonephritis or renal artery stenosis

• group of symptoms:
• -chronic loss of protein in urine proteinuria
• (leads to depletion of body protein, especially albumin)
• -albumin (and other serum proteins) maintain fluid within the vascular space. 
• -when levels of proteins are low, fluid leaks from blood vessels into tissues, resulting in edema

edema, especially around ankles, feet, and eyes

excess fluid in tissues

Diuretic drugs (coffee is one)

• edema around ankles and feet may be due to high sodium diet.
• -physician may prescribe low-sodium diet

hypertension - arteriosclerosis causes thickening of renal blood

nephrolithotomy

nephroptosis (floating kidney) can be caused by birth defect or injury

downward displacement may occur because the kidney supports are weakened due to sudden strain or blow

nephropexy

• ureters
• urinary bladder
• urethra
• urinary meatus

dilation/expansion of ureter

lithotripsy

• infection or
• mechanical irritation of a stone
• -(ureterolith)

urterolithiasis

ureterolithotomy

• -renal calculi get trapped in the ureter THEN
• -urine is blocked causing pressure on the walls of the ureter

stores urine until voided

urterocystoscope

protrusion of an anatomical structure through the wall that normally contains it

herniation of urinary bladder through the vaginal wall caused by weakened pelvic muscles

develops over years as vaginal muscles weaken and can no longer support the weight of urine in the bladder.

causes urinary retention in the part of the bladder that pouches into the vagina

may be caused by childbirth or age

usually occurs after a woman has delivered several infants and elderly persons because of weakened pelvic muscles

herniation of the rectum toward the vagina through weakened vaginal muscles

inserted through the urethra to examine the urinary bladder

has optical lighting system, special lenses and mirrors

can obtain biopsy specimens and remove tumors and small stones (video attachment can be used to create a permanent visual record)

catheters may be placed through the cystoscope to obtain urine samples and to inject a contrast medium into bladder during radiography

cystitis and urethritis

narrowing of the lumen (tubular space) caused by scar tissue

results in diminished urinary stream and causes UTIs because of urinary flow obstruction

• -commonly results when catheters or surgical instruments are inserted into the urethra
• -other causes are untreated gonorrhea and congenital abnormalities.

cystourethroscopy

condition

• do not invade surrounding tissue
• contained within a capsule
• only harmful when they place pressure on adjacent structures

• spread rapidly
• invasive
• life-threatening

adenocarcinoma (malignant glandular tumor)

benign glandular tumor composed of tissue from which it is developing

microscopic filtering units of the kidneys

designed to filter urea and other waste products from blood

nephrons are also responsible for maintaining homeostasis (keeping body fluids in balance)

calyces (funnel shaped extension) and then emptied into the renal pelvis and through the ureters.

micturition

inflammation of renal pelvis

Nephrons

glomerulus, collecting tubule, bowman capsule

nephrons maintain homeostasis in the body by selectively removinig waste products from blood by forming urine

tiny ball of coiled, intertwined capillaries

surrounded by the bowman capsule

convey newly formed urine to the renal pelvis where it is excreted by the kidneys

inflammatory disease of the kidney that involves the glomerulus primarily

• CHARACTERIZED BY:
• hypertension, oliguria, electrolyte imbalances and edema

scanty

funnel shaped dilation that drains urine from the kidney into the ureter

radiographic study of kidney, ureters and bladder after injection of a contrast agent

Kidney ureter bladder - radiographic examination

determines urinary tract abnormalities - tumors, swollen kidneys, & calculi

identifies location, size, shape and malformation of the kidneys, ureters and bladder

• intravenous pyelography
• pyelogram, urogram: image produces

-provides multiple radiographic images of the renal pelvis and urinary tract after injection of a contrast medium. 

• -provides detailed information about the structure and function of the entire urinary tract; kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra
• - used to identify nephroliths and ureteroliths

backward, behind

to go

retrograde pyelography

radiographic images taken after contrast medium is injected through a urinary catheter (and cystoscope) directly into the urethra, bladder, and ureters

useful in locating urinary tract obstruction

fiberoptic instrument used to visualize kidney and disintegrate & remove renal calculi

incised

pyelonephritis

bacteria may gain access into the bladder via the urethra and ascend to the kidney

-can be extremely dangerous for pregnant women because it can cause premature labor

cysto, urethro, recto, entero

poisonous substance in urine

pyorrhea

pyonephrosis

urinalysis - look for blood, pus or other chemicals properties

physical, chemical microscopic evaluation of urine

anuria

HYDRONEPHROSIS

caused by stricture, tumor, or stone in proximal part of ureter

causes pain, hematuria, and pyuria

• when obstruction occurs in the distal part of the ureter, the condition is called
• hydroureter with hydronephrosis

• pus in urine
• excessive number of white blood cells in urine
• sign of UTI

polycystic kidney disease

abnormal condition where kidneys are enlarged and contain many cysts

kidney failure commonly develops over time which requires dialysis or kidney transplantation

uncontrolled loss of urine from the bladder

(elderly)

inflammatory condition caused by bacterial infection

characterized by pain, frequent urination, sometimes hematuria

more common in women due to shorter urethra & closeness of urethra to the anus

urinalysis reveals bacteriuria and pyuria

inflammation of the renal pelvis and the kidney

common type of kidney disease and a frquent complication of cystitis

form of nephritis in which lesions involve primarily the glomeruli

may result in proteinuria & hemturia

acute renal failure

condition that impairs flow of blood to the kidneys, such as shock, injury, or exposure to toxins

Nephrolithiasis

stone must be excreted or crushed

EXTRACORPOREAL SHOC-WAVE LITHOTRIPSY

sound vibrations to break up calculi in urinary tract or gallbladder

US is uwed to locate and monitor stones as they are being destroyed.

increase of nitrogenous substances, especially urea, in urine

(may be called uremia)

increased formation and secretion of urine

di: double

painful or difficult urination, symptomatic of cystitis and other urinary tract conditions

end stage renal disease (chronic renal failure)

kidney disease that advanced to the point that kidneys can no longer adequately filter the blood.  Requires dialysis or renal transplantation for survival

involuntary discharge of urine after the age that bladder control should be established

(bed-wetting or nocturnal enuresis)

abnormal congenital opening of the male urethra on the undersurface of the penis

slit, fissure

pathological changes in the renal interstitial tissue that may be primary due to a toxic agent (drug).

results in destruction of nephrons and severe impairment of renal function

high BP that results from kidney disease

elevated level of urea and other nitrogenous waste products in the blood as occurs in renal failure (aka azotemia)

malignant neoplams of the kidney that occurs in young children (under 5)

early signs: hypertension, palpable mass, pain, hematuria

blood urea nitrogen - lab test that measures the urea (nitrogenous waste product) in blood and demonstrates the kidney's ability to filter urea from the blood for excretion in urine

increase in BUN indicates impaired kidney function

computed tomography

-radiographic technique that uses a narrow beam of x-rays that rotates in a full arc around the patient.  multiple view produce cross-sectional images of that body part

used to diagnose kidney, ureter, bladder tumors, cysts, inflammation, abscesses, perforation

with or without contrast medium

nuclear medicine imaging procedure that determines renal function and shape through measurement of a radioactive substance thats injected intravenously and concentrates in the kidney

voiding cystourethrography

radiography of bladder and urethra after filling the bladder with a contrast medium and during the process of voiding urine

• insertion of catheter into body cavity to instill or remove a substance. 
• 2 types of catheters: straight & indweeling

organ transplant of a kidney in a patient with endstage renal disease

mechanical filtering process used to cleanse blood of high concentration of metabolic waste products, draw off excess fluids, and regulate body chemistry when kidneys fail to function properly

hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis

removes excess fluids and toxins from the blood by continually shunt the patient's blood from the body into a dialysis machine for filtering and then returning the clean blood to the patient's body via tubes connected to the circ system

patient's own peritoneum is used as the dialysis membrane

dialyzing fluid passes through a tube into the peritoneal cavity and remains there for a prescribed period.  During this time, wastes diffuse across the peritoneal membrane into the fluid.  Contaminated fluid then drains out and is replaced with fresh solution

repeated as often as required and may be continuous or intermittent