Health Sciences 1101

Medical Terminology

Module 7The Urinary System

Anatomy and Physiology of the Urinary System

Principle Functions:

Remove waste products from the blood and excrete them in the urine

Regulate the body’s tissue fluid

Maintain a balance of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium)

Maintain an acid-base balance in the blood

Anatomy and Physiology of the Urinary System

Anatomy and Physiology of the Urinary System

Anatomy and Physiology of the Urinary System

Anatomy and Physiology of the Urinary System

Excellent UA Video

General Urinary System Terms

Nephr/o or Ren/o: Pertaining to the kidney

Ur/o or urin/o: Pertaining to urine or the urinary tract

Urology: Study of the urinary system

Urologist: Expert in the study of the urinary system as well as some reproductive issues

Nephrology: Study of the kidneys

Nephrologist: Expert in the study of the kidneys and kidney disease.

Urinary System Anatomy Terms

Cyst/o or vesic/o: Bladder

Glomerul/o: Glomerulus

Pyel/o: Renal Pelvis

Ureter/o: Ureter

Urethr/o: Urethra

Aden/o: gland

Other Important Urinary System Terms

Meat/o: opening or tunnel through a body part

-uria: In the urine or pertaining to the urine

-ptsosis: prolapse, or downward placement of

-pexy: To fix in place, fixation

Lith or calculus: stone

Diurese: Increase the rate of urination

Supra: Above

Other Important Urinary System Terms

Olig/o: Decreased or diminished

Poly: Increased or multiple

Micturition: Urination, or voiding urine

Malignant: cancerous

Benign: Non-cancerous

Inflammation: pathologic response that includes, pain, heat, swelling and redness.

Retro-: to go back, backward

Urinary System Pathology

Infections and inflammation of the various parts of the urinary tract. (remember the terms –itis, -cele, -pathy, -oma, algia, etc.)

Upper urinary tract: Kidneys and ureters

Lower urinary tract: Bladder and urethra

Incontinence: Uncontrolled loss of urine from the bladder

Enuresis: Sometimes called bedwetting. Inability to control urination after the age where such control is usually gained.

Nocturia: Excessive voiding or urine at night

Urinary System Pathology

Hypospadias: An abnormal opening of the male urethra on the undersurface of the penis. Typically congenital.

Azoturia: An abnormal increase in nitrogenous compounds in the urine.

Uremia: Elevated level of urea or other protein waste products in the blood.

Wilms tumor: Rapidly developing tumor most often seen in children.

Urinary System Pathology

Interstitial nephritis: inflammation and/or damage to the tubules due to a toxic agent or lack of blood flow

Glomerulonephritis: Disruption of normal glomerular filtration. Often a hypersensitive reaction.

Renal failure: The kidneys can no longer adequately filter the blood.

Acute renal failure: Can result from lack of blood flow to the kidneys

Renal hypertension: High blood pressure that results from kidney disease

Diagnosis and Treatment Urinalysis (UA): Physical, chemical and

microscopic examination of urine.

Blood Urea Nitrogen: Laboratory test that measures the amount of urea excreted by the kidneys into the blood

Kidney-ureter-bladder (KUB): Radiographic technique used to determine the location, size, shape and any malformation of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder

Intravenous pyelogram: Radiographic procedure in which a contrast medium is injected intravenously and serialx-ray films are taken to provide visualization of the entire urinary tract.

Diagnosis and Treatment Renal scan: Technique that determines

renal function and shape through measurement of a radioactive substance that is injected intravenously and concentrates in the kidney.

Voiding cystourography: Radiography of the bladder and urethra during the process of voiding urine after the introduction of a contrast medium.

Retrograde pyelography: Radiographic procedure in which a contrast medium is introduced through a cystoscope directlyinto the bladder and ureters, using small-caliber catheters.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Catheterization: Insertion of a hollow flexible tube into a body cavity or organ to instill a substance or remove fluid.

Dialysis: The patient’s blood is cleansed by circulation through a dialysis machine which acts as an artificial kidney

Renal transplant: Surgical transfer of a complete kidney from a donor to a recipient.