Urinary System Medical Terminology For Healthcare

Front 1

pyel/o

Back 1

renal pelvis (basin)

Front 2

kidneys

Back 2

two structures located on each side of the lumbar region that filter blood and secrete impurities, forming urine

Front 3

cortex

Back 3

outer part of the kidney (cortex = bark)

Front 4

hilum

Back 4

indented opening in the kidney where vessels enter and leave

Front 5

medulla

Back 5

inner part of the kidney

Front 6

calices
calyces

Back 6

ducts that carry urine from the nephrons to the renal pelvis
(kalyx = cup of flower)

Front 7

nephron

Back 7

microscopic functional units of the kidney, compromised of kidney cells and capillaries, each of which is capable of forming urine

Front 8

glomerulus

Back 8

small, ball-shaped cluster of capillaries located at the top of each nephron

Front 9

bowman capsule

Back 9

top part of the nephron that encloses the glomerulus

Front 10

renal tubule

Back 10

stem portion of the nephron

Front 11

ureter

Back 11

tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder

Front 12

renal pelvis

Back 12

basin-like portion of the ureter within the kidney

Front 13

uretropelvic junction

Back 13

point of connection between the renal pelvis and the ureter

Front 14

urinary bladder

Back 14

sac that holds the urine

Front 15

urethra

Back 15

single canal that carries urine to the outside of hte body

Front 16

urethral meatus

Back 16

opening in the urethra to the outside of the body

Front 17

urine

Back 17

fluid produced by the kidneys, containing water and waste products

Front 18

urea

Back 18

waste product formed in the liver, filtered out of the blood by the kidneys, and excreted in urine

Front 19

creatinine

Back 19

waste product of muscle metabolism, filtered out of the blood by the kidneys, and excreted in urine

Front 20

albuminuria

Back 20

presence of albumin in the urine, such as occurs in renal disease or in normal urine after heavy exercise

Front 21

anuria

Back 21

absence of urine formation

Front 22

bacteriuria

Back 22

presence of bacteria in the urine

Front 23

dysuria

Back 23

painful urination

Front 24

enuresis

Back 24

involuntary discharge of urine, usually referring to a lack of bladder control

Front 25

nocturnal enuresis

Back 25

bed-wetting during sleep

Front 26

glucosuria
glycosuria

Back 26

glucose (sugar) in the urine

Front 27

hematuria

Back 27

presence of blood in the urine

Front 28

incontinence

Back 28

involuntary discharge of urine or feces

Front 29

stress urinary incontinence (SUI)

Back 29

involuntary discharge of urine with coughing, sneezing, and/or strained exercise

Front 30

keoturia

Back 30

presence of ketone bodies in urine

Front 31

ketone bodies
ketone compound

Back 31

acetone, beta-hydroxybutyric acid , and acetoacetic acid; products of metabolism that appear in the urine from the body's abnormal utilization of carbohydrates, such as occurs in uncontrolled diabetes or starvation

Front 32

nocturia

Back 32

urination at night

Front 33

oliguria

Back 33

scanty production of uria

Front 34

polyuria

Back 34

condition of excessive urination

Front 35

pyuria

Back 35

presence of white cells in the urine, usually indicating infection

Front 36

urinary retention

Back 36

retention of urine resulting from an inability to void (urinate) naturally because of spasm or obstruction

Front 37

adult polycystic kidney disease (APKD)

Back 37

inherited condition of multiple cysts that gradually form in the kidney, causing destruction of normal tissue that leads to renal failure; diagnosed in adults presenting with hypertension, kidney enlargement, and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Front 38

glomerulonephritis

Back 38

form of nephritis involving the glomerulus

Front 39

hydronephrosis

Back 39

pooling of urine in dilated areas of the renal pelvis and calices of one or both kidneys caused by an obstructed outflow of urine

Front 40

nephrosis

Back 40

degenerative disease of the renal tubules

Front 41

urinary tract infection

Back 41

invasion of pathogenic organisms (commonly bacteria) in the urinary tract, especially the urethra and bladder; symptoms include dysuria, urinary frequency, and malaise

Front 42

intravenous pyelogram
(IVP)
intravenous urogram (IVU)

Back 42

ex-ray image of the urinary tract obtained after an iodine contrast medium has been injected into the bloodstream; the contrast passes through the kidney and many reveal an obstruction, evidence of trauma, etc.

Front 43

kidneys, ureters, bladder (KUB)

Back 43

abdominal x-ray image of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder,typically used as a scout film before obtaining an intravenous pyelogram (IVP)

Front 44

scout film

Back 44

plain-film x-ray image obtained to detect any obvious pathology before further imaging (a KUB before an VIP)

Front 45

retrograde pyelogram (RP)
retrograde urogram

Back 45

x-ray image of the bladder, ureters, and renal pelvis obtained after contrast medium has been injected up to the kidney by way of a small catheter passed through a cystocope; used to detect the presence of stones, obstruction, etc.

Front 46

abdominal sonogram

Back 46

abdominal ultrasound image of the urinary tract, including the kidney and bladder

Front 47

blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

Back 47

blood test to determine the level of urea in the blood; a high BUN indicates the inability of one or both kidneys to excrete urea

Front 48

creatine, serum

Back 48

test to determine level of creatine in the blood, useful in assessing kidney function

Front 49

creatine, urine

Back 49

test to determine the level of creatine in the urine

Front 50

urologic endoscopic surgery

Back 50

use of a specialized endoscope (resectoscope) within the urinary tract to perform various surgical procedures, such a resection of a tumor, repair of an obstruction, stone retrieval, placement of a stent, etc.

Front 51

resectoscope

Back 51

urologic endoscope inserted through the urethra to resect (cut and remove) lesions of the bladder, urethra, or prostate

Front 52

intracorporeal lithotripsy

Back 52

method of destroying stones within the urinary tract using discharges of electrical energy that are transmitted to a probe within a flexible endoscope (most commonly used to pulverize bladder stone)

Front 53

stent placement

Back 53

use of a device to hold open vessels or tubes

Front 54

urinary diversion

Back 54

creation of a temporary or permanent diversion of the urinary tract to provide a new passage through which urine exits the body; used to treat defects or diseases (bladder cancer)

Front 55

noncontinent ileal conduit

Back 55

removal of a portion of the ileum to use as a conduit to which the ureters are attached at one end; the other end is brought through an opening (stoma) created in the abdomen; urine drains continually into an external appliance; continent indicates that urine cannot be held and drains continually

Front 56

continent urostomy

Back 56

an internal reservoir (pouch) constructed from a segment of intestine that diverts urine through an opening (stoma) that is brought through the abdominal wall; a valve is created internally to prevent leakage, and the patient empties the pouch by catherization; continent refers to the ability to hold or retain urine

Front 57

orthotopic bladder
neobladder

Back 57

bladder constructed from portions of intestine connected to the urethra, allowing "natural" voiding

Front 58

extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)

Back 58

procedure using ultrasound outside the body to bombard and disintegrate a stone within; most commonly used to treat urinary stones above the bladder

Front 59

kidney dialysis

Back 59

methods of filtering impurities from the blood, replacing the function of one or both kidneys lost in renal failure

Front 60

hemodialysis

Back 60

method of removing impurities by pumping the patients' blood through a dialyzer, the specialized filter of the artificial kidney machine (hemodialyzer)

Front 61

peritoneal dialysis

Back 61

method of removing impurities using the peritoneum as the filter; a catheter inserted in the peritoneal cavity delivers cleansing fluid (dialysate) that is washed in and out of cycles

Front 62

urinary catherization

Back 62

methods of placing a tube into the bladder to drain or collect urine

Front 63

straight catheter

Back 63

a type of catheter that is inserted through the urethra into the bladder to relieve urinary retention or to collect a sterile specimen of urine for testing; the catheter is removed immediately after the procedure

Front 64

Foley catheter

Back 64

indwelling catheter inserted through the urethra and into the bladder that includes a collection system allowing urine to be drained into a bag; the catheter can remain in place for an extended period

Front 65

suprapubic catheter

Back 65

indwelling catheter inserted directly in the bladder through an abdominal incision above the pubic bone that includes a collection system that allows urine to be drained into a bag; used in patients requiring long-term catherization