Question | Answer |
medulla | inner region of an organ |
medullary | pertaining to the medulla or an organ |
micturition | urination; voiding |
nephrolithiasis | abnormal condition of kidney stones |
nephrolithotomy | incision of the kidney to remove a stone |
nephron | functional unit of the kidney; consists of a glomerulus, renal tubule and collecting tubule |
nephropathy | disease or abnormality of the kidney |
nephroptosis | prolapse of a kidney; floating or wandering kidney |
nephrosclerosis | hardening of arteries and arterioles in the kidney |
nephrostomy | opening of kidney to the outside of the body |
nephrotic syndrome | group of symptoms that occur due to loss of protein in the urine; symptoms include edema, hypoalbuminemia, proteinuria, & susceptibility to infection; also known as nephrosis |
nitrogenous waste | substance containing nitrogen and excreted in urine; urea, creatinine & uric acid |
nocturia | urinary frequency at night |
oliguria | scanty urine |
paranephric | pertaining to beside or near a kidney |
peritoneal dialysis | separation of nitrogenous wastes from bloodstream by introducing fluid into the peritoneal cavity; wastes leave the bloodstream which is drained through an abdominal catheter |
perivesical | pertaining to surrounding the urinary bladder |
phenylketonuria | excess of phenylketones in the urine; diagnosed by a PKU test at birth |
polycystic kidney disease | kidneys are filled with cysts that prevent normal kidney function |
polydypsia | excessive thirst |
polyuria | excessive urination |
potassium | chemical element that forms salts with other minerals such as calcium and is vital for bodily processes; when dissolved in water, it is an electrolyte whose balance is regulated by the kidney |
pyleogram | x-ray record of the kidney after injection of contrast material |
pyelolithotomy | incision to remove a stone from the renal pelvis of the kidney |
pyelonephritis | inflammation of the renal pelvis and kidney; caused by bacterial infection |
pyuria | pus in the urine; sign of urinary tract infection (UTI) |
reabsorption | process in the kidney by which the renal tubules return materials necessary to the body back into the bloodstream |
renal angiography | x-ray record of blood vessels of the kidney after injecting contrast material |
renal angioplasty | surgical repair of blood vessels in the kidney; narrowed areas of renal arteries are dilated using an inflatable balloon attached to a catheter |
renal artery | blood vessel that carries blood to the kidney |
renal calculi | kidney stones |
renal cell carcinoma | malignant tumor of the kidney in an adult |
renal colic | severe pain resulting from stone in a ureter or in the kidney |
renal failure | failure of the kidneys to produce and excrete urine |
renal hypertension | high blood pressure resulting from kidney disease |
renal ischemia | condition in which blood is held back from the kidney, often by blockage of renal arteries and arterioles |
renal pelvis | central collecting chamber of the kidney |
renal transplantation | surgical transfer of a kidney from a donor to a recipient |
renal tubule | microscopic tube in the kidney where urine is formed after filtration |
renal vein | blood vessel that carries blood away from the kidney and back toward the heart |
renin | substance (enzyme) synthesized, stored, and secreted by the kidney to raise blood pressure; causes narrowing of blood vessels |
retrograde pyleogram | x-ray record of kidney, ureters and urinary bladder after injection of contrast material through a urinary catheter into the ureters |
secondary hypertension | high blood pressure caused by kidney disease or by other disorders |
sodium | chemical element necessary for cellular functioning; as an electrolyte, its blood and urine levels are regulated by the kidney |
stricture | narrowing of a tubular structure in the body |
trigone | triangular area in the urinary bladder where the ureters enter and urethra exits |
trigonitis | inflammation of the trigone of the urinary bladder |
urea | major nitrogenous waste material in urine |
uremia | excessive amount of urea and other nitrogenous wastes in the blood |
ureter | tube leading from each kidney to the urinary bladder |
uteroileostomy | new opening of the ureters to an isolated portion of the ileum that has been removed from its normal location and connected to the outside of the body; serves as passageway for urine to leave body when urinary bladder isn't functioning |
ureterolithotomy | incision of a ureter for removal of a stone |
ureteroneocystostomy | surgical transplantation of a ureter to a new site in the urinary bladder; occurs with a kidney transplant |
urethra | tube leading from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body |
urethral stricture | narrowing of urethra |
urethritis | inflammation of urethra |
urethroplasty | surgical repair of the urethra |
uric acid | nitrogenous waste formed when proteins are used in cells; excreted by the kidneys in urine |
urinalysis | series of test to evaluate the composition of urine; includes tests to determine color, appearance, sugar, bacteria and protein in blood |
urinary bladder | hollow container with muscular walls that holds and store urine until it is discharged from the body |
urinary catherization | passage of a catheter into the urinary bladder for temporary or permanent drainage of urine |
urinary incontinence | involuntary passage of urine |
urinary retention | inability to pass urine, which is held back in the urinary bladder |
urination | process of expelling urine; micturition; voiding |
vesicoureteral reflux | backflow of urine from the urinary bladder to the ureters |
voiding | urination |
voiding cystourethrogram | x-ray record of urinary bladder and urethra taken while a patient is urinating and after contract material is injected retrograde through the urethra |
Wilms tumor | malignant neoplasm of kidney that occurs in childhood |
interstitial cystitis | chronic inflammation of the bladder wall; not caused by bacterial infection and not responsive to conventional antibiotic therapy |
vasopressin | a peptide hormone; has 3 effects which contributes to increased urine concentration, & decreased urine excretion; causes the kidneys to conserve water, concentrating the urine, and reducing urine volume |
Bright's disease (nephrotic syndrome) | inflammation of the kidney glomerulus; exposure to toxins, or other conditions chronic health conditions; generalized edema & rapid weight gain are characteristic features. |
abortion | premature ending of pregnancy before embryo or fetus is able to exist on its own |
abruptio plancentae | premature detachment of the placenta from its place in the uterine wall |
adnexa uteri | accessory part of the uterus; fallopian tubes or ovaries |
amenorrhea | absence of menstrual flow |
amniocentesis | surgical puncture with a needle to withdraw fluid from within the amniotic sac |
amnion | innermost membranous sac surrounding the developing fetus |
amniotic fluid | fluid contained within the amniotic sac surrounding fetus |
anovulatory | not accompanied by ovulation |
Apgar score | system of scoring an infant’s physical condition at 1 and 5 minutes after birth |
areola | dark, pigmented area surrounding the breast nipple |
aspiration | withdrawal of fluid from a cavity or sac with an instrument using suction |
Bartholin glands | 2 small mucus-secreting glands near the opening of the vagina to the outside of the body |
bilateral oophorectomy | excision or removal of both ovaries |
carcinoma in situ | cancerous tumor that is localized & has not spread either to nearby tissue or through the lymphatic system |
carcinoma of the breast | malignant tumor of breast tissue; breast cancer |
carcinoma of the cervix | malignant cells within the cervix |
carcinoma of the endometrium | malignant tumor of the uterus |