Key Terms Flashcards
Active Transport
Movement of a molecule through a cell membrane from a region of lower concentration to one of higher concentration; movement requires energy consumption within the cell.
Acute renal Failure (ARF)
The sudden onset of severely decreased urine production.
Acute Tubular Necrosis
A particular syndrome characterized by the sudden death of tubular cells.
Antidiuresis
Formation and passage of a concentrated urine, preserving blood volume.
Anuria
No elimination of urine.
Ascending Loop of Henle
The part of the tubule beyond the descending loop of henle.
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
A noncancerous enlargement of the prostate associated with aging.
Bowman’s Capsule
The hollow, cup-shaped first part of the nephron tubule.
Chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, (CAPD)
A dialysis procedure that relies on the patient’s peritoneal membrane as the semipermeable membrane. Dialysate is introduced into the abdomen via a closed system that allows the patient to be ambulatory during dialysis. Also called peritoneal dialysis.
Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)
Permanently inadequate renal function due to nephron loss.
Collecting Duct
The larger structure beyond the distal tubule into which urine drips.
Community-acquired Infection
An infection offering in a non hospitalized patient who is not undergoing regular medical procedures, including the use of instruments such as catheters.
Cortex
The outer tissue of an organ such as the kidney
Creatinine
A waste product caused by metabolism within muscle cells.
Cystitis
an infection and inflammation of the urinary bladder
Descending Loop of Henle
The part of the tubule beyond the proximal tubule
Dialysate
The solution used in dialysis and is hypo-osmolar to many of the wastes and key electrolytes in blood.
Distal Tubule
The part of the tubule beyond the ascending loop of henle
End-stage renal failure
An extreme failure of kidney function due to nephron loss
Epididymis
A saclike duct adjacent to a testis that stores sperm cells
Facilitated Diffusion
A form of molecular diffusion in which a molecule-specific carrier in a cell membrane speeds the molecule’s movement from a region of higher concentration to one of lower concentration.
Filtrate
The fluid produced in Bowman’s capsule by filtration of blood.
Flanks
The part of the back below the ribs and above the hip bones.
Genitourinary System
The male organ systems that includes reproductive and urinary structures.
Glomerular Filtration
The removal of water and other elements from blood in the nephron tubule
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
The volume per day at which blood is filtered through capillaries of the glomerulus
Glomerulus
A tuft of capillaries from which blood is filtered into a nephron.
Glucose Intolerance
The body cells’ inability to take up glucose from the blood stream
Hemodialysis
A dialysis procedure relying on vascular access to the blood and on an artificial membrane.
Hilum
The notched part of the kidney where the ureter and other structures join kidney tissue
Hyperosmolar
A solution that has a concentration of the substance greater than that of a second solution.
Hypo-osmolar
A solution that has a concentration of the substance lower than that of a second solution.
Interstitial Nephritis
An inflammation within the tissue surrounding the nephrons.
Intrarenal Abscess
pocket of infection within kidney tissue
Isosthenuria
The inability to concentrate or dilute urine relative to the osmolarity of blood.
Kidney
An organ that produces urine and performs other functions related to the urinary system
Medulla
The inner tissue of an organ such as the kidney
Microangiopathy
A Disease affecting the smallest blood vessels.
Nephrology
The medical specialty dealing with the kidneys
Nephron
A microscopic structure within the kidney that produces urine.
Nosocomial Infection
An infection acquired in a medical setting
Oliguria
Decreased urinary elimination to 400-500mL or less per day
Osmolarity
The measure of a substances concentration in water
Osmosis
The diffusion pattern of water in which molecules move to equalize concentration on both sides of a membrane
Osmotic Diuresis
Greatly increased urination and dehydration that results when high levels of glucose cannot be reabsorbed into the blood from the kidney tubules and the osmotic pressure of the glucose in the tubules also prevents water reabsorption.
Papilla
The tip of a pyramid; it juts into the hollow space of the kidney.
Penis
The male organ of copulation
Pernephric Abscess
A pocket of infection in the layer of fat surrounding the kidney.
Postrenal ARF
Acute renal failure caused by obstruction distal to the kidney
Prerenal ARF
Acute renal failure caused by decreased blood perfusion to the kidney.
Preventive Strategy
A management plan to minimize further damage to vital tissues.
Priapism
A painful, prolonged erection of the penis.
Prostate Gland
A gland that surrounds the male bladder neck and the first portion of the urethra; it produced fluid that mixes with sperm to make semen.
Postatitis
infection and inflammation of the prostate gland.
Proximal tubule
The part of the tubule beyond Bowman’s Capsule
Pyelonephritis
An infection or inflammation of the kidney
Pyramids
The visible tissue structures within the medulla of the kidney
Reabsorption
The movement of a substance from a nephron tubule back into the blood.
Reduced Nephron Mass
The decrease in number of functional nephrons that causes chronic renal failure.
Reduced Renal Mass
The decrease in kidney size associated with chronic renal failure.
Referred Pain
Pain felt in a location other than that of its origin
Renal
pertaining to the kidney
Renal ARF
Acute renal failure (ARF) caused by pathology within the kidney tissue itself.
Renal Calculi
Kidney Stones.
Renal Dialysis
Artificial Replacement of some critical kidney functions
Renal Pelvis
The hollow space of the kidney that junctions with a ureter
Renin
An enzyme produced by the kidney cells that places a key role in controlling arterial blood pressure
Secretion
The movement of a substance from the blood into a nephron tubule
Semen
Male reproductive Fluid
Simple Diffusion
The random motion of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration.
Sperm Cell
Male reproductive Cell
Testes
Male Sex organs
Testicular Torsion
Twisting of the spermatic cord, resulting in blockage of the blood supply to the testicle and surrounding structures within the scrotum.
Urea
Waste derived from ammonia produced through protein metabolism.
Uremia
The syndrome of signs and symptoms associated with chronic renal failure.
Ureter
A duct that carries urine from kidney to urinary bladder.
Urethra
The duct that carries urine from the bladder out of the body; in men, it also carries reproductive fluid (Semen) to the outside of the body.
Urethritis
An infection and inflammation of the urethra.
Urinary Bladder
The muscular organ that stores urine before its elimination from the body.
Urinary Stasis
A condition in which the bladder empties incompletely during urination.
Urinary Tract Infection
An infection, usually bacterial, at any site in the urinary tract.
Urine
The fluid made by the kidney and eliminated from the body
Urology
The surgical specialty dealing with the urinary/genitourinary system
Vas Deferens
The duct that carries sperm cells from the epididymis to the urethra
Visceral Pain
Dull, poorly localized pain that originates in the walls of hollow organs such as the ureter or bladder.
