Medical Terminology: Urinary System (Albuminuria to Retrograde pyelogram)

Nephrolith

A kidney stone; also called a renal calculus

Ketonuria

Presence of excessive amounts of ketone bodies in the urine. A result of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, starvation, or any other metabolic condition in which fats are rapidly broken down (ketoaciduria)

Albuminuria

The presence in the urine of abnormally large quantities of protein, usually albumin (Proteinuria is the same thing) Healthy adults excrete less than 250 mg of protein per day. Excessive proteinuria is usually a sign of renal disease, or renal complications being caused by other disises such as hypertension ( High Blood Pressure) or heart failure.

Bacteriuria

The presence of bacteria in the urine Presence of more than 100,000 pathogenic bacteria per milliliter of urine is usually considered a significant and a diagnostic of a urinary tract infection (UTI)

Uremia

The presence of excessive amounts of urea and other nitrogenous waste products in the blood; also called azotemia

Pyuria

The presence of pus in the urine, usually a sign of an infection of the urinary tract

Voiding Cystourethrogram

X-ray visualization of the bladder and urethra during the voiding process after the bladder has been filled with a contrast material. Radiopaque dye is instilled into the bladder via a catheter and the patient is asked to void, pictures are taken as the patient is expelling the urine. Helpful in diagnosing urethral lesions, bladder and urethral obstructions, and vesicoureteral reflux

Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD)

CAPD uses the peritoneal membrane that lines the abdominal cavity witch is richly supplied with tiny blood vessels. An access tube, or catheter is surgically placed in the lower abdomen, a dialysate solution of water and electrolytes is placed in the abdominal cavity that will draw the excess fluid and toxins from the blood across the peritoneal membrane into the abdominal cavity and then drained out via the catheter. CAPD can be performed by the patient and does not require a machine. This process is repeated three to five times every day and takes approximately 4 hours each time.

Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis (CCPD)

CCPD uses a machine that warms the solution and cycles it in and out of the peritoneal cavity at evenly spaced intervals at night while the patient sleeps. This process takes 8-10 hours.

Turbid

Cloudy

Glomerulus

A ball-shaped collection of very tiny, coiled, and intertwined capillaries, located in the cortex of the kidney

Urgency

A feeling of the need to void urine immediately

Erythropoietin

A hormone synthesized mainly in the kidneys and released into the bloodstream in response to anoxia (lack of oxygen) which acts to stimulate and regulate the production of erythrocytes (red blood cell that carries oxygen to the body)

Dialysis

A mechanical filtering process used to cleanse the blood or waste products, draw off excess fluids and regulate body chemistry when the kidneys fail to function properly.

Antiseptic

A substance that tends to inhibit the growth and reproduction of microorganisms

Pus

A thick yellowish or greenish opaque liquid produced infected tissue, consisting of dead white blood cells and bacteria with tissue debris and serum

Vesicoureteral Reflux

Abnormal backflow or urine from the bladder to the ureter resulting from a congenital defect, a UTI, or obstruction of the outlet of the bladder.

Hematuria

Abnormal presence of blood in the urine

Glycosuria

Abnormal presence of sugar, and glucose in the urine

Cystometrography

An examination performed to evaluate bladder tone; measuring bladder pressure during filling and voiding. The bladder is drained using a catheter./ Saline solution or water is then inserted into the bladder, at a constant rate, the patient is asked to report when the urge to urinate is first felt, when the bladder feels full. When it is impossible to hold any more fluid without voiding the bladder pressure is measured with a cystometer that is attached to the catheter.

KUB (kidneys, ureters, bladder)

An x-ray of the lower abdomen that defines the size, shape, and location of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. A contrast medium is not used with this x-ray. Useful in identifying malformations of the kidney, soft tissue masses, and stones

Pyelonephritis

Bacterial infection of the renal pelvis of the kidney. One of the more common diseases of the kidney and usually occurs because of an ascending urinary tract infection

Hydronephrosis

Distension of the pelvis and calyces of the kidney caused by urine that cannot flow past an obstruction in a ureter. Urine is trapped at the point of obstruction the primary cause in adults is kidney stones

Polydipsia

Excessive thirst; characteristic of diabetes mellitus

Polyuria

Excretion of abnormally large amounts of urine

Hemodialysis

Hemodialysis involves passing the blood through an artificial kidney for filtering out impurities.

Polycystic Kidney

Hereditary disorder of the kidneys in which grapelike, fluid -filled sacs or cysts, replace normal kidney tissue. Kidneys are larger than normal and the pressure from the expanding cysts slowly destroys the health kidney tissue. Symptom-free until midlife, and is a slowly progressive disease that ultimately leads to kidney failure

Urinary Incontinence

Inability to control urination; the inability to retain urine in the bladder

Glomerulonephritis

Inflammation of the glomerulus of the kidneys characterized by proteinuria, hematuria, and decreased urine production. Caused by a beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection elsewhere in the body.

Peritonitis

Inflammation of the peritoneum

Cystitis

Inflammation of the urinary bladder characterized by the urgency and frequency of urination, and hematuria. May be cause by a bacterial infection, kidney stone or tumor

Ureter

One of a pair of tubes that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder

Dysuria

Painful urination Usually the result of a bacterial infection or obstructive condition in the urinary tract

Mid-stream specimen

Patient cleanses the external genitalia with an antiseptic wipe, after expelling a small amount of urine the patient collects a specimen in a sterile container. Collection is used to avoid contamination of the urine specimen from the microorganisms normally present on the external genitalia. Also known as a midstream specimen.

Oliguria

Secretion of a diminished amount of urine in relation to the fluid intake; scanty urine output

Peritoneum

Serous membrane that covers the entire abdominal wall of the body and reflected over the contained viscera; the inner lining of the abdominal cavity

Dialysate

Solution that contains water and electrolytes that passes through the artificial kidney to remove excess fluids and wastes from the blood

Anuria

Stopping of urine production, or a urinary output of less than 100 mL per day. This may be caused by kidney failure, low blood pressure, or an obstruction in the urinary passages.

Glomerular Filtration

Substance that filter out of the blood through a thin wall of glomeruli. Water, sugar, salts, nitrogenous waist products ie; urea, creatinine and uric acid

Micturition

The act of eliminating urine from the bladder; also called voiding or urination

Renal Pelvis

The central collecting part of the kidney that narrows into the large upper end of the ureter; it receives urine through the calyces and drains into the ureters

Hilum

The depression, or pit, of an organ where the vessels and nerves enter

First-voided specimen

The first voided specimen of the morning

Dwell time

The length of time the dialysis solution stays in the peritoneal cavity during peritoneal dialysis

Medulla

The most internal part of a structure or organ

Cortex

The outer layer of a body organ or structure

Cystoscope

The process of viewing the interior of the bladder using scope. It is useful in detecting tumors, inflammation, renal calculi, and structural irregularities. Can also be used for obtaining biopsy specimens

pH

The relative acidity or alkalinity of a solution in which a value of 7.0 is neutral, below 7.0 is acid, and above is alkaline (base)

Arteriole

The smallest branch of an artery

Bowman's capsule

The sup-shaped end of a renal tubule containing a glomerular capsule

Urinary Tract Infection

UTI (See Cystitis)

Nocturia

Urination, especially excessive, at night; also called nycturia

Residual Urine

Urine that remains in the bladder after urination

Retrograde Pyelogram (RP)

Radiographic procedure in which small-caliber catheters are passed through a cystoscope into the ureters to visualize the ureters and the renal pelvis

Intravenous Pyelogram

Radiographic procedure providing visualization of the entire urinary tract: kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Also known as excretory urogram