Medical Terminology Urinary System

azot/o

Nitrogen (CF)

cali/o, calic/o

calix; calyx (CF)

cyst/o

urinary bladder, sac of fluid, cyst (CF)

glomerul/o

glomerulus (CF)

hydr/o

water, fluid (CF)

lith/o

stone, calculus (CF)

meat/o

meatus (opening) (CF)

nephr/o, ren/o

kidneys (CF)

noct/i, nyct/o

night (CF)

Olig/o

scanty, few (CF)

prostat/o

prostate (CF)

pyel/o

renal pelvis, bowl of kidney (CF)

ur/o

urine, urinary tract (CF)

ureter/o

ureters (CF)

urethr/o

urethra (CF)

urin/o

urine, urinary organs (CF)

vesic/o

bladder (CF)

-alysis

a study of the parts (suffix)

-ectasis

stretching, dilation, enlargement (suffix)

-iasis

formation, presence of (suffix)

-lysis

breakdown, separation, setting free, destruction, loosening (suffix)

-ptosis

prolapse, sag, droop, falling downward (suffix)

-pexy

surgical fixation (suffix)

-tripsy

to crush (suffix)

-uresis

urination (suffix)

-uria

urination, urine (suffix)

ablation

the removal of a body part or the destruction of its function

acute renal failure

kidney failure with sudden onset and is characterized by uremia

anuria,
an-/-uria

the absence of urine formation by the kidneys

azotemia

elevation of the blood urea nitrogen caused by a lack of blood flow to each kidney

benign prostatic hyperplasia

enlargement of the prostate gland

chronic kidney disease

the progressive loss of renal function over months or years

cystalgia,
cyst/-algia

pain in the urinary bladder

cystectomy,
cyst/-ectomy

the surgical removal of all or part of the urinary bladder

cystitis,
cyst/-itis

inflammation of the bladder

cystocele,
cyst/o/-cele

a hernia of the bladder through the vaginal wall; also called a prolapsed bladder

cystography,
cyst/o/-graphy

a radiographic, or x-ray, examination of the bladder after a contrast medium is instilled via a urethral catheter

cystolith,
cyst/o/-lith

a stone located within the urinary bladder

cystopexy,
cyst/o/-pexy

the surgical fixation of the bladder to the abdominal wall

cystorrhaphy,
cyst/o/-rrhaphy

surgical suturing of a wound or defect in the bladder

cystoscopy,
cyst/o/-scopy

the visual examination of the urinary bladder using a cystoscope

cystostomy,
cyst/-ostomy

the creation of an artificial opening between the urinary bladder and the exterior of the body

dialysis,
dia-/-lysis

a procedure to remove waste products from the blood of patients whose kidneys no longer function

diuresis,
di-/-uresis,
through/urination

increased output of urine

diuretics

medications administered to increase urine secretion in order to rid the body of excess water and salt

dysuria,
dys-/-uria,
painful/urination

difficult or painful urination

edema

excessive fluid accumulation in body tissues

end-stage renal disease

The final stage of chronic kidney disease that is fatal unless the functions of the failed kidneys are successfully replaced by dialysis or with a successful kidney transplant.

enuresis,
en-/-uresis,
into/urination

involuntary discharge of urine

epispadias

A congenital abnormality affecting the opening of the urethral opening. Male, the opening is located on the upper surface of the penis. Female, the urethral opening is located in the region of the clitoris.

extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL),
(Extracorporeal means situated or occurring outside the body)
lith/o/-tripsy,
stone/to crush

The use of high-energy ultrasonic waves traveling through water or gel to break up kidney stones into fragments, which are then excreted in the urine.

glomerulus

the portion of a nephron that is active in filtering urine. consists of a cluster of capillaries surrounded by a cup-shaped membrane called the Bowman's capsule

glomerulonephritis,
glomerul/o/nephr/-itis

A form of nephritis caused by inflammation of the glomeruli that causes red blood cells and proteins to leak into the urine.

hemodialysis,
hem/o/dia/-lysis,
blood/complete or through/separation

A procedure that filters waste products directly from the patient's blood to replace the function of damaged kidneys.

hydronephrosis,
hydr/o/nephr/-osis

the dilation (swelling) of one or both kidneys that is the result of an obstruction of the flow of urine

hydroureter,
hydr/o/-ureter,
water/ureter

the distention of the ureter with urine that cannot flow because the ureter is blocked

hyperproteinuria,
hyper-/protein/-uria

the presence of abnormally high concentrations of protein in the urine

hypoproteinemia,
hypo-/protein/-emia

the presence of abnormally low concentrations of protein in the blood

hypospadias

A congenital abnormality in the placement of the urethral opening. Male, the urethral opening is on the under surface of the penis. Female, the urethral opening is into the vagina.

ileal conduit,
ile/-al

use of a small piece of intestine to convey urine to the ureters and to a stoma in the abdomen

incontinence

inability to control the excretion of urine and/or feces

interstitial cystitis

a chronic inflammation within the walls of the bladder

intravenous pyelography,
pyel/o/-graphy

A radiographic study of the kidneys and ureters using a contrast medium to diagnose changes in the urinary tract.

Kegal exercises

a series of pelvic muscle exercises used to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor

KUB (kidneys, ureter, bladder)

a radiographic study of the kidneys, ureter & bladder without the use of a contrast medium; used to detect bowel obstructions and nephroliths

lithotomy,
lith/-otomy,
stone/surgical incision

a surgical incision for the removal of a stone from the bladder

meatotomy,
meat/-otomy,
meatus/surgical incision

a surgical incision made in the urethral meatus to enlarge the opening

nephritis,
nephr/-itis

an inflammation of the kidney or kidneys

nephrolith,
nephr/o/-lith,
kidney/stone

a stone located in the kidney; aka renal calculus or a kidney stone

nephrolithiasis,
nephr/o/-lithiasis

presence of a stone or stones in the kidney

nephrologist,
nephr/-ologist

a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the kidneys

nephrolysis,
nephr/o/-lysis,
kidney/setting free

the freeing of a kidney from adhesions

nephrons

The microscopic functional units of each kidney where urine is produced through the processes of filtration, reabsorption, and secretion.

nephropathy,
nephr/o/-pathy

Any kidney disease including degenerative and inflammatory conditions.

nephropexy,
nephr/o/-pexy

surgical fixation of a nephroptosis (floating kidney). aka nephrorrhaphy

nephroptosis,
nephr/o/-ptosis,
kidney/drooping down

prolapse, or dropping down, of a kidney into the pelvic area when the patient stands; also known as a floating kidney

nephropyosis,
nephr/o/py/-osis

suppuration of the kidney

nephrosclerosis,
nephr/o/-sclerosis

abnormal hardening of the kidney

nephrotomy,
nephr/-otomy

surgical incision into the kidney

nephrostomy,
nephr/-ostomy

the placement of a catheter to maintain an opening from the pelvis of one or both kidneys to the exterior of the body

nephrotic syndrome,
nephr/o/-tic

A groups of conditions in which excessive amounts of protein are lost in the urine, resulting in abnormally low levels of protein in the blood.

neurogenic bladder,
neur/o/-genic

a urinary problem caused by interference with the normal nerve pathways associated with urination

nocturia,
noct/-uria

frequent and excessive urination during the night

nocturnal enuresis

urinary incontinence during sleep; bedwetting

oliguria,
olig/-uria,
scanty/urination

scanty urination

overactive bladder

occurs when the muscles of the bladder contract involuntarily even though the bladder is not actually full enough to indicate the need to urinate

percutaneous nephrolithotomy,
nephr/o/lith/-otomy,
kidney/stone/surgical incision

the surgical removal of a nephrolith through a small incision in the back

peritoneal dialysis

dialysis in which the lining of the peritoneal cavity acts as the filter to remove waste from the blood

polycystic kidney disease,
poly-/cyst/-ic

An inherited kidney disorder characterized by the growth of numerous fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys leading eventually to kidney failure.

prostate cancer

malignancy of the prostate gland

polyuria,
poly-/-uria

excessive urination

prostate gland

lies under the bladder and surrounds the end of the urethra in the region where the vas deferens enters the urethra

prostate-specific antigen blood test (PSA)

test used to screen for prostate cancer; measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen that is present in a blood specimen

prostatectomy,
prostat/-ectomy

surgical removal of part or all of the prostate gland

prostatism,
prostat/-ism

a disorder resulting from the compression or obstruction of the urethra due to benign prostatic hyperplasia

prostatitis,
prostat/-itis

a group of disorders characterized by the inflammation of the prostate gland

pyelonephritis,
pyel/o/nephr/-itis

inflammation of both the renal pelvis and the kidney

pyelotomy,
pyel/-otomy,
renal pelvis/surgical incision

a surgical incision into the renal pelvis

renal cortex

outer region of the kidney

renal colic

an acute pain in the kidney area that is caused by blockage during the passing of a kidney stone

renal,
ren/-al

pertaining to the kidneys

renal pelvis

funnel-shaped reservoir that collects the urine and passes it to the ureter

retrograde urography,
ur/o/-graphy

radiograph of the urinary system taken after a contrast medium has been placed in the urethra through a sterile catheter and caused to flow upward through the urinary tract

stress incontinence

the inability to control the voiding of urine under physical stress such as running, sneezing, laughing, or coughing

transurethral prostatectomy (TURP)

the removal of excess tissue from an enlarged prostate gland with the use of a resectoscope

suprapubic catheterization

the placement of a catheter into the bladder through a small incision made through the abdominal wall just above the pubic bone

urea

the major waste product of protein metabolism

uremia,
ur/-emia

a toxic condition resulting from renal failure in which urea and other waste products are retained in the blood; also known as uremic poisoning.

ureterectasis,
ureter/-ectasis,
ureter/enlargement

the distention of a ureter

ureterectomy,
ureter/-ectomy

the surgical removal of a ureter

ureterolith,
ureter/o/-lith

a stone located anywhere along the ureter

ureterorrhagia,
ureter/o/-rrhagia,
ureter/bleeding

the discharge of blood from the ureter

ureterorrhaphy,
ureter/o/-rrhaphy

the surgical suturing of a ureter

ureteroscopy,
ureter/o/-scopy

treatment for a nephrolith lodged in the ureter using a ureteroscope; inserted through the urethra and bladder into the ureter.

ureters

The tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.

urethra

tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body; carries both urine and semen in the male

urethral meatus

the opening through which urine leaves the body

urethritis,
urethr/-itis

inflammation of the urethra

urethroplasty,
urethr/o/-plasty

the surgical repair of damage or a defect in the walls of the urethra

urethrorrhagia,
urethr/o/-rrhagia

bleeding from the urethra

urethrorrhea
urethr/o/-rrhea

abnormal discharge from the urethra

urethrostenosis,
urethr/o/-stenosis

narrowing of the urethra

urethrotomy,
urethr/-otomy

a surgical incision into the urethra for relief of a stricture

urinalysis,
urin/-alysis

the examination of urine to determine the presence of abnormal elements

urinary catheterization

insertion of a tube into the bladder to procure a sterile specimen for diagnostic purposes, to drain urine from the bladder when the patient is unable to urinate, or to place medication into the bladder.

urologist,
ur/-ologist

a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the urinary system of females and the genitourinary system of males

vesicovaginal fistula,
vesic/o/vagin/-al,
bladder/vagina/pertaining to

abnormal opening between the bladder and the vagina

vesicoureteral reflux,
vesic/o/ureter/-al,
bladder/ureter/pertaining to

backward flow of urine into the ureters from the bladder

voiding cystourethrography,
cyst/o/urethr/o/-graphy,
bladder/urethra/the process of producing a picture or record

a diagnostic procedure in which a fluoroscope is used to examine the flow of urine from the bladder and through the urethra

Wilms tumor

a rare type of malignant tumor of the kidney that occurs in young children