The Urinary System : Key Terms

Question 1

angiotensin

Answer 1

a substance that increases blood pressure; activated in the blood by renin, an enzyme produced by the kidneys

Question 2

calyx

Answer 2

a cup-like cavity in the pelvis of the kidney; also calix

Question 3

diuresis

Answer 3

excretion of urine; usually meaning increased urinary excretion

Question 4

diuretic

Answer 4

a substance that increases the excretion of urine, pertaining to diuresis

Question 5

erythropoietin (EPO)

Answer 5

a hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates red blood cell production in the bone marrow

Question 6

glomerular capsule

Answer 6

the cup-shaped structure at the beginning of the nephron that surrounds the glomerulus and receives material filtered out of the blood; Bowman capsule

Question 7

glomerular filtrate

Answer 7

the fluid dissolved materials that filter out the blood and enter the nephron through the glomerular capsule

Question 8

glomerulus

Answer 8

the cluster of capillaries within the glomerular capsule

Question 9

kidney

Answer 9

an organ of excretion; the two kidneys filter the blood and form urine, which contains metabolic waste products and other substances as needed to regulate the water, electrolyte and pH balance of body fluids

Question 10

micturition

Answer 10

the voiding of urine; urination

Question 11

nephron

Answer 11

a microscopic functional unit of the kidney; working with the blood vessels, the nephron filters the blood and balances the composition of urine

Question 12

renal cortex

Answer 12

the kidney’s outer portion; contains portions of the nephrons

Question 13

renal medulla

Answer 13

the kidney’s inner portion; contains portions of the nephrons and ducts that transport urine toward the renal pelvis

Question 14

renal pyramid

Answer 14

a triangular structure in the renal medulla; composed of the nephron’s loops and collecting ducts

Question 15

renin

Answer 15

an enzyme produced by the kidneys that activates angiotensin in the blood

Question 16

trigone

Answer 16

a triangle at the base of the bladder formed by the openings of the two ureters and the urethra

Question 17

tubular reabsorption

Answer 17

the return of substances from the glomerular filtrate to the blood through the peritubular capillaries

Question 18

urea

Answer 18

the main nitrogenous (nitrogen - containing) waste product in the urine

Question 19

ureter

Answer 19

the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder

Question 20

urethra

Answer 20

the the that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body

Question 21

urinary bladder

Answer 21

the organ that that stores and eliminates urine excreted by the kidneys

Question 22

urination

Answer 22

voiding of urine; micturition

Question 23

urine

Answer 23

fluid excreted by the kidneys. It consists of water, electrolytes, urea, other metabolic wastes. Other substances may appear in cases of disease

Question 24

antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

Answer 24

a hormone released from the pituitary gland that causes water reabsorption in the kidneys, thus concentrating the urine

Question 25

acidosis

Answer 25

excessive acidity of body fluids

Question 26

bacteriuria

Answer 26

presence of bacteria in the urine

Question 27

cast

Answer 27

a solid mold of a renal tubule found in the urine

Question 28

cystitis

Answer 28

inflammation of the urinary bladder; usually as a result of infection

Question 29

dysuria

Answer 29

painful or difficult urination

Question 30

glomerulonephritis

Answer 30

inflammation of the kidney primarily involving the glomeruli. The acute form usually occurs after an infection elsewhere in the body; the chronic form varies in cause and usually leads to renal failure

Question 31

hematuria

Answer 31

presence of blood in the urine

Question 32

hydronephrosis

Answer 32

collection of urine in the renal pelvis caused by obstruction; results in distention and renal atrophy

Question 33

hypokalemia

Answer 33

deficiency of potassium in the blood

Question 34

hyponatremia

Answer 34

deficiency of sodium in the blood

Question 35

hypoproteinemia

Answer 35

decreased amount of protein in the blood; may be caused by kidney damage resulting in protein loss

Question 36

hyperkalemia

Answer 36

excess amount of potassium in the blood

Question 37

hypernatremia

Answer 37

excess amount of sodium in the blood

Question 38

nephrotic syndrome

Answer 38

condition that results from glomerular damage leadings to loss of protein in the urine. There is low plasma protein, edema, and increased blood lipids as the liver releases lipoproteins. Also called nephrosis.

Question 39

oliguria

Answer 39

elimination of small amounts of urine

Question 40

proteinuria

Answer 40

presence of protein, mainly albumin, in the urine

Question 41

pyelonephritis

Answer 41

inflammation of the renal pelvis and kidney, usually caused by infection

Question 42

pyuria

Answer 42

presence of pus in the urine

Question 43

renal colic

Answer 43

radiating pain in the region of the kidney associated with the passage of a stone

Question 44

uremia

Answer 44

presence of toxic levels of urea and other nitrogenous substances in the blood as a result of renal insufficiency

Question 45

urethritis

Answer 45

inflammation of the urethra, usually due to infection

Question 46

urinary stasis

Answer 46

stoppage of urine; urinary stagnation

Question 47

catheterization

Answer 47

introduction of a tube into a passage, such as through the urethra into the bladder for a withdrawal of urine

Question 48

cystoscope

Answer 48

an instrument for examining the interior of the urinary bladder. Also used for removing foreign objects, for surgery, and for other forms of treatment

Question 49

dialysis

Answer 49

separation of substances by passage through a semipermeable membrane. Dialysis is used to rid the body of unwanted substances when the kidneys are impaired or missing. The two forms are hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Question 50

hemodialysis

Answer 50

removal of unwanted substances from the blood by passage through a semipermeable membrane

Question 51

intravenous pyelography (IVP)

Answer 51

intravenous urogrpahy

Question 52

intravenous urography (IVU)

Answer 52

radiographic visualization of the urinary tract after intravenous administration of a contrast medium that is excreted in the urine; also called excretory urography or intravenous pyelography, although the latter is less accurate because the procedure shows more than on renal pelvis

Question 53

lithotripsy

Answer 53

crushing of a stone

Question 54

peritoneal dialysis

Answer 54

removal of unwanted substances from the body by introduction of a dialyzing fluid into the peritoneal cavity followed by the removal of fluid

Question 55

retrograde pyelography

Answer 55

pyelography in which the contrast medium is injected into the kidneys from below, by the way of the ureters

Question 56

specific gravity (SG)

Answer 56

the weight of a substance compared with the weight of an equal volume of water. The SG of normal urine ranges from 1.015 to 1.025. This value may increase or decrease in disease

Question 57

urinalysis (UA)

Answer 57

lab study of the urine. Physical and chemical properties and microscopic appearance are included

Question 58

cystectomy

Answer 58

surgical removal of all or part of the urinary bladder

Question 59

ileal conduit

Answer 59

diversion of urine by connection of the ureters to an isolated segment of the ileum. One end of the segment is sealed, and the other drains through an opening in the abdominal wall. A procedure used when the bladder is removed or nonfunctional. AKA ileal bladder.

Question 60

lithotomy

Answer 60

incision of an organ to remove a stone (calculus)

Question 61

renal transplantation

Answer 61

surgical implantation of a donor kidney into a patient