unit 12 (urinary) - medical vocabulary Flashcards
antibiotic
a drug that fights or prevents bacterial infections
anuria
the absence of urine production
biopsy
the removal of a small piece of living tissue for microscopic examination
Bowman’s capsule
a membrane that surrounds the glomerulus of each nephron inside the kidney
BUN (blood urea nitrogen)/creatinine ratio
a test that measures the levels of urea and creatinine in the blood
case management nurse (CMN)
a registered nurse (RN) who can work in a variety of settings and makes sure that a patient receives the most efficient and effective care for his or her particular condition
computed tomography (CT)
a process in which radiographic images of a specific section of the body are taken from multiple angles and then analyzed by a computer to identify injury or disease; also known as computerized tomography
creatinine clearance
a urine test that estimates glomerular filtration rate (GFR), providing a measurement of how well the glomeruli (filtering units) of the kidney are functioning
cystitis
inflammation of the bladder
cystocele
herniation of the bladder through the vaginal wall in females
cystolithiasis
calculi of the urinary bladder; bladder stones
cystoscopy
a visual examination of the urinary bladder using a cystoscope
diabetes
a condition characterized by excessive amounts of urine
diabetes insipidus (DI)
a condition characterized by polydipsia and polyuria; caused by inadequate secretion of, or resistance of the kidney to, the action of ADH
diabetes mellitus (DM)
a condition characterized by improper secretion or utilization of insulin; characterized by glycosuria, hyperglycemia, polydipsia, and polyuria
dialysis
an artificial method by which waste materials are removed from the blood after kidney failure
dialysis technician
a healthcare worker who operates machines that remove metabolic waste products and excess fluids from the blood of patients whose kidneys are not functioning properly
dieresis
an abnormal increase in production of urine
dipstick urinalysis
a type of urinalysis that is used to screen for chemical changes
diuretic
a drug that increases urine output
dysuria
difficult or painful urination
enuresis
the involuntary discharge of urine
excisional biopsy
surgical removal of an entire lesion or tumor
filtrate
a substance made up of water, sugar, salts, urea, smaller amino acids, and other wastes
filtration
the process during which the kidneys separate metabolic waste products from the blood
glomerulonephritis
inflammation of the glomeruli in the kidney
glomerulus
a cluster of capillaries in the shape of a tiny knot or ball
glycosuria
a condition in which carbs or sugar are excreted in the urine
hematuria
a condition in which blood or blood cells are excreted in the urine
hemodialysis
a type of dialysis in which a machine receives waste-filled blood from the patient’s bloodstream, filters the blood, and then returns the cleansed blood to the patient’s body; sometimes called an artificial kidney
hilum
a depression in the kidney that serves as a passageway for blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves
incisional biopsy
incision into body tissue for removal of a small piece of living tissue for microscopic examination
interstitial cystitis
chronic inflammation of the bladder wall
intravenous pyelogram (IVP)
X-ray examination of the kidneys, ureters, and urinary bladder using a contrast agent
kidney transplant
a surgical procedure in which a kidney is removed from a live or deceased donor and implanted into a patient with renal failure
kidneys
two bean-shaped organs that perform the crucial tasks of filtering metabolic waste products, ions, and excess water from the blood and forming urine
kidneys, ureters, and bladder (KUB) X-ray
an X-ray of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder
laboratory (lab) tests
examination of body fluids or tissues taken from the patient to aid in diagnosing health problems
lithotomy
the surgical removal of one or more stones from the kidney, gallbladder, or urinary bladder through a small incision made in the organ
lithotripsy
a procedure in which high-energy shock waves are used to break up stones in the kidney, bladder, or ureter into smaller pieces, allowing the stones to pass naturally from the body
manual or microscopic urinalysis
a type of urinalysis that is used to test urine sediment
medullary pyramids
triangle-shaped tissue sections that contain tubules that carry urine from the renal cortex to the renal calyces; also known as the renal pyramids
needle biopsy
procedure in which a hollow needle is used to remove a core sample of tissue for microscopic examination
nephrectomy
the surgical removal of a kidney due to damage or dysfunction
nephritic syndrome
a group of clinical signs and symptoms, present in some disorders, that cause glomerulonephritis; marked by blood and protein in the urine and by edema (swelling) in various parts of the body
nephrolithiasis
renal calculi; kidney stones
nephron
the basic structural and functional unit of the kidney
nephrosclerosis
a disease in which the arteriole walls in the kidneys become narrowed and thickened, often due to essential hypertension; may lead to renal ischemia
nocturnal enuresis
the involuntary discharge of urine that occurs during sleep; commonly known as bed-wetting
oliguria
a condition in which a small amount of urine is produced
peritoneal dialysis
a type of dialysis in which a catheter is inserted into the peritoneum and a solution called a dialysate is introduced into the peritoneal cavity; the fluid removes wastes from the blood and exits via the catheter
phenylketonuria (PKU)
an inherited disorder that causes increased blood levels of phenylalanine, an amino acid found in protein
phenylketonuria (PKU) test
a test that checks for phenylketonuria in infants
polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
a disease characterized by the development of cysts (fluid-filled sacs) in the kidney, leading to an enlargement and impaired function of the kidney
polyuria
a condition of excessive urine production
pyelonephritis
inflammation of the lining of the renal pelvis and the functional tissue of the kidney
reabsorption
Definition (57 of 95)The process during which the blood reclaims useful substances from the filtrate that flows through the renal tubules
renal angiogram
X-ray examination that uses a camera and a contrast medium to take “moving images” of blood flow through the blood vessels in the kidneys
renal angioplasty
the dilation and/or repair of one or more major blood vessels in the kidney through stent placement
renal artery
the blood vessel that supplies blood to the kidneys
renal calyces
cup-like cavities that collect urine
renal cell carcinoma
a cancerous tumor of the kidney that occurs in adulthood; also known as hypernephroma
renal cortex
the outer layer of the kidney
renal failure
a condition in which kidney disease or damage results in impaired filtration of waste products from the blood
renal hypertension
high blood pressure resulting from kidney disease
renal ischemia
a condition in which blood flow to the glomerulus severely decreases, resulting in atrophy and scarring of the kidney tissue; often a result of nephrosclerosis
renal medulla
the inner region of the kidney
renal pelvis
the widened, upper part of the ureter
renal tubule
the part of a nephron that leads away from a glomerulus and empties into a collecting tubule
retrograde pyelogram
X-ray visualization of the renal pelvis, ureters, and bladder using a contrast agent
secretion
the process during which waste products, such as urea and creatinine, along with some water, are pushed into tubules for excretion out of the body
sonography
a diagnostic imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to generate images of organs and structures in the body
surgery
surgical treatment often necessary to improve the quality of life for patients with chronic kidney disease
trigone
a triangle formed by the ureteral openings and the internal opening of the urethra; also known as the bladder neck
urea
a waste product broken down by the liver
ureter
the tube through which urine flows from the renal calyces to the urinary bladder
urethra
a tube that transports urine from the bladder to the outside of the body
urethral sphincters
two structures composed of muscle tissue that work together to control the flow of urine
urinalysis (UA)
examination of the urine for the presence of abnormal elements that may indicate a pathological condition
urinary bladder
a hollow, muscular organ located in the anterior portion of the pelvic cavity, which serves as a reservoir for urine until the urine can be expelled from the body
urinary catheterization (CATH)
the insertion of a flexible, hollow tube through the urethra into the bladder to drain urine
urinary incontinence
the loss of voluntary control over the discharge of urine from the bladder; also known as incontinence
urinary meatus
the exit point of the urethra; also known as the external urethral orifice
urinary retention
the inability to completely empty the bladder due to a urethral blockage or a neurological disorder
urinary system
the major filtering system of the body, which aids the cardiovascular system by cleansing the blood of metabolic waste and by flushing excessive fluids from the body
urinary tract
part of the urinary system, which includes the ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra, and is responsible for draining urine from the kidneys
urinary tract infection (UTI)
an infection that usually originates in the bladder, causing symptoms such as pain or burning with urination; fever; fatigue; urinary urgency; and pain in the lower back
urinary urgency
the sudden, compelling urge to urinate; may be associated with many disorders and also tends to increase with age
urination
the passing of urine; also known as micturition and voiding
urine
the substance formed by the kidneys, which can be stored and then expelled from the body
urologist
a physician who specializes in diseases of the urinary system and the male’s reproductive tract
vesicovaginal fistula
an abnormal opening between the bladder and vagina, often resulting from tissue damage; characterized by urinary or fecal incontinence
voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG)
X-ray visualization of the bladder and urethra using a contrast medium
Wilms tumor
a malignant tumor of the kidney that occurs in childhood
X-rays with contrast media (dyes)
an imaging method in which a patient is given contrast media to contrast different structures and fluids in the body
