ren/o
kidney
Ex. Suprarenal
above the kidney
nephr/o
kidney
Ex. Nephrosis
any noninflammatory disease condition of the kidney
glomerul/o
glomerulus
Ex. Juxtaglomerular
near the glomerulus
pyel/o
renal pelvis
Ex. Pyelectasis
dilatation of the renal pelvis
cali/o-, calic/o-
calyx
Ex. Caliceal
pertaining to a renal calyx (note addition of e); also spelled calyceal
ur/o
urine, urinary tract
Ex. Urosepsis
generalized infection that originates in the urinary tract
urin/o
urine
Ex. Nocturia
urination during the night (noct/i)
ureter/o
ureter
Ex. Ureterostenosis
narrowing of the ureter
cyst/o
urinary bladder
Ex. Cystocele
hernia of the bladder
vesic/o
urinary bladder
Ex. Intravesical
within the urinary bladder
urethr/o
urethra
Ex. Urethrotome
instrument for incising the urethra
antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
A hormone released from the pituitary gland that causes water reabsorption in the kidneys, thus concentrating the urine
angiotensin
A substance that increases blood pressure; activated in the blood by renin, an enzyme produced by the kidneys
calyx
A cuplike cavity in the pelvis of the kidney; also calix (plural: calices) (root: cali, calic)
diuresis
Increased excretion of urine
diuretic
A substance that increases the excretion of urine; pertaining to diuresis
erythropoietin (EPO)
A hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates red blood cell production in the bone marrow
glomerular capsule
The cup-shaped structure at the beginning of the nephron that surrounds the glomerulus and receives material filtered out of the blood; Bowman (BŌ-man) capsule
glomerular filtrate
The fluid and dissolved materials that filter out of the blood and enter the nephron through the glomerular capsule
glomerulus
The cluster of capillaries within the glomerular capsule (plural: glomeruli) (root: glomerul/o)
kidney
An organ of excretion (root: ren/o, nephr/o); the two kidneys filter the blood and form urine, which contains metabolic waste products and other substances as needed to regulate the water and electrolyte balance and the pH of body fluids
micturition
The voiding of urine; urination
nephron
A microscopic functional unit of the kidney; working with blood vessels, the nephron filters the blood and balances the composition of urine
renal cortex
The kidney’s outer portion; contains portions of the nephrons
renal medulla
The kidney’s inner portion; contains portions of the nephrons and ducts that transport urine toward the renal pelvis
renal pelvis
The expanded upper end of the ureter that receives urine from the kidney; Greek root pyel/o means “basin”
renal pyramid
A triangular structure in the renal medulla; composed of the nephrons loops and collecting ducts
renin
An enzyme produced by the kidneys that activates angiotensin in the blood
trigone
A triangle at the base of the bladder formed by the openings of the two ureters and the urethra
tubular reabsorption
The return of substances from the glomerular filtrate to the blood through the peritubular capillaries
urea
The main nitrogenous (nitrogen-containing) waste product in the urine
ureter
The tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder (root: ureter/o)
urethra
The tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body (root: urethr/o)
urinary bladder
The organ that stores and eliminates urine excreted by the kidneys (root: cyst/o, vesic/o)
urination
The voiding of urine; micturition
urine
The fluid excreted by the kidneys. It consists of water, electrolytes, urea, other metabolic wastes, and pigments. A variety of other substances may appear in urine in cases of disease (root: ur/o)
acidosis
Excessive acidity of body fluids
bacteriuria
Presence of bacteria in the urine
cast
A solid mold of a renal tubule found in the urine
cystitis
Inflammation of the urinary bladder, usually as a result of infection
dysuria
Painful or difficult urination
glomerulonephritis
Inflammation of the kidney primarily involving the glomeruli. The acute form usually occurs after an infection elsewhere in the body; the chronic form varies in cause and usually leads to renal failure
hematuria
Presence of blood in the urine
hydronephrosis
Collection of urine in the renal pelvis caused by obstruction; causes distention and renal atrophy
hypokalemia
Deficiency of potassium in the blood
hyponatremia
Deficiency of sodium in the blood
hypoproteinemia
Decreased amount of protein in the blood; may be caused by kidney damage resulting from protein loss
hyperkalemia
Excess amount of potassium in the blood
hypernatremia
Excess amount of sodium in the blood
nephrotic syndrome
Condition that results from glomerular damage leading to loss of protein in the urine (proteinuria). There is low plasma protein (hypoproteinemia), edema, and increased blood lipids as the liver releases lipoproteins. Also called nephrosis
oliguria
Elimination of small amounts of urine
proteinuria
Presence of protein, mainly albumin, in the urine
pyelonephritis
Inflammation of the renal pelvis and kidney, usually as a result of infection
pyuria
Presence of pus in the urine
renal colic
Radiating pain in the region of the kidney associated with the passage of a stone
uremia
Presence of toxic levels of urea and other nitrogenous substances in the blood as a result of renal insufficiency
urethritis
Inflammation of the urethra, usually due to infection
urinary stasis
Stoppage of urine flow; urinary stagnation
catheterization
Introduction of a tube into a passage, such as through the urethra into the bladder for withdrawal of urine
cystoscope
An instrument for examining the inside of the urinary bladder. Also used for removing foreign objects, for surgery, and for other forms of treatment
dialysis
Separation of substances by passage through a semipermeable membrane. Dialysis is used to rid the body of unwanted substances when the kidneys are impaired or missing. The two forms of dialysis are hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis
hemodialysis
Removal of unwanted substances from the blood by passage through a semipermeable membrane
intravenous pyelography (IVP)
See intravenous urography
intravenous urography (IVU)
Radiographic visualization of the urinary tract after intravenous administration of a contrast medium that is excreted in the urine; also called excretory urography or intravenous pyelography, although the latter is less accurate because the procedure shows more than just the renal pelvis
lithotripsy
Crushing of a stone
peritoneal dialysis
Removal of unwanted substances from the body by introduction of a dialyzing fluid into the peritoneal cavity followed by removal of the fluid
retrograde pyelography
Pyelography in which the contrast medium is injected into the kidneys from below, by way of the ureters
specific gravity (SG)
The weight of a substance compared with the weight of an equal volume of water. The specific gravity of normal urine ranges from 1.015 to 1.025. This value may increase or decrease in disease
urinalysis (UA)
Laboratory study of the urine. Physical and chemical properties and microscopic appearance are included
cystectomy
Surgical removal of all or part of the urinary bladder
ileal conduit
Diversion of urine by connection of the ureters to an isolated segment of the ileum. One end of the segment is sealed, and the other drains through an opening in the abdominal wall. A procedure used when the bladder is removed or nonfunctional. Also called ileal bladder
lithotomy
Incision of an organ to remove a stone (calculus)
renal transplantation
Surgical implantation of a donor kidney into a patient
aldosterone
A hormone secreted by the adrenal gland that regulates electrolyte excretion by the kidneys
clearance
The volume of plasma that can be cleared of a substance by the kidneys per unit of time; renal plasma clearance
creatinine
A nitrogenous byproduct of muscle metabolism. An increase in blood creatinine is a sign of renal failure
detrusor muscle
The muscle in the bladder wall
glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
The amount of filtrate formed per minute by the nephrons of both kidneys
maximal transport capacity (Tm)
The maximum rate at which a given substance can be transported across the renal tubule; tubular maximum
renal corpuscle
The glomerular capsule and the glomerulus considered as a unit; the filtration device of the kidney
anuresis
Lack of urination
anuria
Lack of urine formation
azotemia
Presence of an increased nitrogenous waste, especially urea, in the blood
azoturia
Presence of an increased nitrogenous compounds, especially urea, in the urine
cystocele
Herniation of the bladder into the vagina; vesicocele
dehydration
Excessive loss of body fluids
diabetes insipidus
A condition caused by inadequate production of antidiuretic hormone, resulting in excessive excretion of dilute urine and extreme thirst
enuresis
Involuntary urination, usually at night; bed-wetting
epispadias
A congenital condition in which the urethra opens on the dorsal surface of the penis as a groove or cleft; anaspadias
glycosuria
Presence of glucose in the urine, as in cases of diabetes mellitus
horseshoe kidney
A congenital union of the lower poles of the kidneys, resulting in a horseshoe-shaped organ
hydroureter
Distention of the ureter with urine caused by obstruction
hypospadias
A congenital condition in which the urethra opens on the undersurface of the penis or into the vagina
hypovolemia
A decrease in blood volume
neurogenic bladder
Any bladder dysfunction that results from a central nervous system lesion
nocturia
Excessive urination at night (noct/o means “night”)
polycystic kidney disease
A hereditary condition in which the kidneys are enlarged and contain many cysts
polydipsia
Excessive thirst
polyuria
Elimination of large amounts of urine, as in diabetes mellitus
retention of urine
Accumulation of urine in the bladder because of an inability to urinate
staghorn calculus
A kidney stone that fills the renal pelvis and calices to give a “staghorn” appearance
ureterocele
A cyst-like dilation of the ureter near its opening into the bladder. Usually results from a congenital narrowing of the ureteral opening
urinary frequency
A need to urinate often without an increase in average output
urinary incontinence
Inability to retain urine; may originate with a neurologic disorder, trauma to the spinal cord, weakness of the pelvic muscles, urinary retention, or impaired bladder function
urinary urgency
Sudden need to urinate
water intoxication
Excess intake or retention of water with decrease in sodium concentration. May result from excess drinking, excess ADH, or replacement of a large amount of body fluid with pure water. Causes an imbalance in the cellular environment, with edema and other disturbances
Wilms tumor
A malignant tumor of the kidney that usually appears in children before the age of 5 years
anion gap
A measure of electrolyte imbalance
blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
Nitrogen in the blood in the form of urea. An increase in BUN indicates an increase in nitrogenous waste products in the blood and renal failure
clean-catch specimen
A urine sample obtained after thorough cleansing of the urethral opening and collected in midstream to minimize the chance of contamination
cystometrography
A study of bladder function in which the bladder is filled with fluid or air and the pressure exerted by the bladder muscle at varying degrees of filling is measured. The tracing recorded is a cystometrogram
protein electrophoresis (PEP)
Laboratory study of urinary proteins; used to diagnose multiple myeloma, systemic lupus erythematosus, and lymphoid tumor
urinometer
Device for measuring the specific gravity of urine
indwelling Foley catheter
A urinary tract catheter with a balloon at one end that prevents the catheter from leaving the bladder
lithotrite
Instrument for crushing a bladder stone
ACE
Angiotensin-converting enzyme
ADH
Antidiuretic hormone
ARF
Acute renal failure
ATN
Acute tubular necrosis
BUN
Blood urea nitrogen
CAPD
Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
CCPD
Continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis
CMG
Cystometrography; cystometrogram
CRF
Chronic renal failure
EPO
Erythropoietin
ESRD
End-stage renal disease
ESWL
Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy
GFR
Glomerular filtration rate
GU
Genitourinary
IVP
Intravenous pyelography
IVU
Intravenous urography
K
Potassium
KUB
Kidney–ureter–bladder (radiography)
Na
Sodium
PEP
Protein electrophoresis
SG
Specific gravity
Tm
Maximal transport capacity
UA
Urinalysis
UTI
Urinary tract infection