Urinary System

Combining FormsAzot/o: nitrogenous compoundsCorpor/o: bodyGlomerlu/o: glomerulusGon/o: genitalsMeat/o: opening, meatusNoct/i, nyct/o: nightOlig/o: fewPyel/o: renal pelvisUr/o, urin/o: urine, urinary tractUreter/o: ureterUrethr/o: urethraVesic/o: bladder

Suffixes -grade: to go-spadias: split, fissure-tripsy: -uria: urine

Overview

• Urologist: a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the female and male urinary systems and the male reproductive system • Nephrologist: a specialist in diseases affecting the

kidneys

Overview

• Parts: kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra• Functions: to remove waster products from the

blood and excrete them as urine• Regulating blood pH• Maintaining water and electrolyte balance

Diseases and Conditions• Azoturia: an increase of nitrogenous substances in

the urine• Cystocele: bulging of the bladder through the

vaginal wall “prolapsed bladder”• Diuresis: increased formation and secretion of

urine• Dysuria: painful or difficult urination • Edema: abnormal accumulation of fluids in tissues

that may signal kidney failure

Diseases and Conditions• End-stage renal disease: (ESRD) kidney disease that

has advanced so much that the kidneys can no longer filter blood• Transplantation or dialysis needed • “chronic renal failure”

• Enuresis: involuntary discharge of urine after the age in which bladder control should be established• “nigh-time bed-wetting” or “nocturnal enuresis”

Diseases and Conditions• Hypospadias: congenital opening of the male

urethra on the undersurface of the penis• Interstitial nephritis: nephritis with destruction of

nephrons and impairment of renal function• Nephrolithiasis: formation of kidney stones• Renal hypertension: high blood pressure that is a

result of kidney disease

Diseases and Conditions• Uremia: elevated urea levels in the blood

“azotemia”• Urinary tract infection: (UTI) infection of the

kidneys, ureter or bladder • Wilms tumor: A malignant tumor of the kidney that

occurs in young children before age 5

Diagnostic Procedures• Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): a test that measures

the amount of urea in the blood • Culture & sensitivity (C&S): a test that isolates and

grows microorganisms to identify a pathogen• Kidneys, ureters, bladder (KUB): a radiographic

examination to determine location, size, shape and malformation of kidneys, bladder and ureters

Diagnostic Procedures• Pyelography: a radiographic study of the kidneys,

ureters and bladder after injection of a contrast medium• Intravenous pyelography (IVP): radiographic

imaging where contrast medium is injected intravenously to visualize the urinary tract• Retrograde pyelography (RP) radiographic imaging

where contrast medium is introduced through a cystoscope into the bladder and ureters

Diagnostic Procedures• Renal scan: nuclear imaging that determines renal

function and shape through the measurement of a radioactive substance injected into the kidneys• Urinalysis (UA): physical, chemical and microscopic

analysis of urine• Voiding cystourethrography: radiography of the

bladder and urethra during the process of urination after filling the bladder with a contrast medium

Medical and Surgical Procedures• Catheterization: insertion of a hollow, flexible tube

into a body cavity or organ • Cystoscopy: insertion of a rigid or flexible

cystoscope through the urethra to examine the bladder or obtain a sample for biopsy• Dialysis: the process of filtering blood when the

kidneys cannot• Lithotripsy: removing stones by crushing them so

they can be expelled with urine• Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy: using

powerful vibrations to break up stones

Medical and Surgical Procedures• Nephrolithotomy: a surgical procedure that

involves a small incision into the skin and insertion of an endoscope into the kidney to remove a stone• Renal transplantation: organ transplant in a

patient with end-stage renal disease• Ureteral stent: insertion of a thin tube into the

ureter to prevent obstruction of urine flow

Pharmacology • Antibiotics: treats bacterial infections • Antispasmodics: decreases spasms in the urethra

and bladder by relaxing smooth muscle• Diuretics: block reabsorption of sodium by the

kidneys increasing the amount of salt and water excreted in the urine

Abbreviations • BUN: blood urea nitrogen• C&S: culture and sensitivity• CKD: chronic kidney disease• CRF: chronic renal failure• cysto: cystoscopy • ESRD: end-stage renal disease• ESWL: extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy• IVP: intravenous pyelography• KUB: kidneys, ureters, bladder

Abbreviations • PKD: polycystic kidney disease• RP: retrograde pyelography• pH: degree of acidity or alkalinity• TURP: transurethral resection of the prostate• UA: urinalysis • US: ultrasound• UTI: urinary tract infection• VCUG: voiding cystourethrography• WBC: white blood cell