Filters blood to remove wastes, maintain electrolyte, and water balance.
Renal Pelvispyel/o
Collects urine produced by the kidneys.
Urine
ur/o, urin/o
Liquid waste products to be excreted.
Ureters
ureter/o
Transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
Urinary Bladder
cyst/o
Stores urine until it is excreted.
Urethra
urethr/o
Transports urine from the bladder through the urethral meatus, where it is excreted.
Prostate
prostat/o
A gland of the male reproductive system that surrounds the male urethra. Disorders of this gland can disrupt the flow of urine.
Medical Specialties of the Urinary System
Nephrologist
A physician who diagnoses and treats diseases and disorders of the kidneys.
Urologist
A physician who diagnoses and treats diseases and disorders of the urinary system of females and the genitourinary system of males.
Pathology of the Urinary System
Nephropathy
Any disease of the kidney.
Includes both degenerative and inflammatory conditions.
Renal Failure
Inability of one or both of the kidneys to perform their functions.
The body cannot replace damaged nephrons thus when too many nephrons have been destroyed, the result is kidney failure.
Uremia
Results from renal failure.
Kidney function is compromised; Urea and waste products normally secreted in the urine are retained in the blood.
Acute Renal Failure
Sudden onset, characterized by uremia.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Progressive loss of renal function over months or years.
Buildup of waste in the blood can be a contributing factor in heart attacks and stroke.
End-Stage Renal Disease
Also known as kidney failure and is fatal without dialysis or kidney transplant.
Nephrotic Syndrome (Nephrosis)
Group of conditions characterized by excessive amounts of protein lost through the urine, usually caused by damage to the glomeruli.
Edema
Excessive fluid accumulation in body tissues.
Hyperproteinuria
Abnormally high concentrations of protein in urine.
Hypoproteinemia
Abnormally low concentrations of protein in the blood.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
Genetic disorder in which numerous fluid-filled cysts occur in the kidneys.
Nephritis
Inflammation of the kidney or kidneys.
Glomerulonephritis
Inflammation of the glomeruli.
Nephrolithiasis
Presence of stones (calculi) in the kidney; Form when waste products in urine separate and crystallize (note stones can occur elsewhere and would be named accordingly).
Ureterorrhagia
Discharge of blood from the ureter.
Cystalgia and Systodynia
Pain in the bladder.
Interstitial Cystitis
Chronic inflammation within the walls of the bladder.
Vesicovaginal Fistula
Abnormal opening between the bladder and vagina which allows constant involuntary flow of urine from the bladder into the vagina.
Neurogenic Bladder
Interference with the normal nerve pathways associated with urination which may result in incontinence and may prevent the bladder from emptying at all or from emptying completely.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Enlargement of the prostate gland.
Urinary Tract Infections
Commonly caused by bacteria and occur more frequently in women.
Diuresis
Increased output of urine.
Dysuria
Difficult or painful urination.
Polyuria
Excessive urination.
Incontinence
Inability to control the excretion of urine, feces, or both.
Nervous System
Parts of the Brain
Cerebrum
The outer portion of the brain which performs higher mental functions, plans and initiates movements and interprets sensory stimuli.
Diencephalon
Processes and relays information, regulates biological rhythms and maintains homeostasis. Includes the thalamus, hypothalamus and epithalamus.
Brainstem
Maintains homeostasis, reflexes and monitors movement.
Contains the midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata and is continuous with the brainstem.
Cerebellum
Monitors and coordinates movements.
Medical Specialties Related to the Nervous System and Mental Health
Anesthesiologist
Physician specializing in administering anesthesia.
Anesthetist
Non-physician specializing in administering anesthesia.
Neurologist
Physician specializing in the nervous system.
Neurosurgeon
Physician specializing in surgery of the nervous system.
Psychiatrist
Physician who specializes in chemical dependencies, emotional problems, and mental illness.
Psychologist
Has doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) and treats emotional problems and mental illness (not a medical doctor).
Social Worker
Trained therapist, usually with a master’s degree (MSW).
Pathology of the Nervous System
Migraine Headache
Throbbing pain on one side of the head.
Sometimes accompanied by nausea, aura, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound.
Hydrocephalus
Excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the ventricles of the brain.
Meningitis (Infectious Meningitis)
Inflammation of meninges of the brain and spinal cord.
Can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection.
Encephalitis
Inflammation of the brain.
Reye’s Syndrome (RS)
Disorder in children.
Sometimes follows a viral illness in which the child was treated with aspirin.
Tetanus (lockjaw)
Central nervous system infection caused by a toxin produced by the tetanus bacteria.
Tourette Syndrome (TS)
Neurological disorder.
Involuntary tics, grunts, and utterances.
Dementia
Slowly progressive decline in mental abilities.
Vascular Dementia
Form of dementia.
Caused by a stroke or other restriction of blood flow to the brain.
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
Group of disorders.
Leading form of dementia.
A degenerative nerve disease.
Parkinson’s Disease (PD)
Chronic, degenerative central nervous disorder.
Amnesia
Total or partial inability to recall past experience.
Cerebral Contusion
Bruising of brain tissue from bouncing against the skull.
Cranial Hematoma
Collection of blood trapped in the tissues of the brain.
Insomnia
Prolonged or abnormal inability to sleep.
Narcolepsy
Sudden and uncontrollable brief episodes of falling asleep during the day.
Polio (Poliomyelitis)
Viral infection of the brainstem and spinal cord.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Autoimmune disorder.
Inflammation causes demyelination.
Epilepsy
Chronic neurological condition with recurrent episodes of seizures of varying severity.
Neuropathy
Any disease or damage to a nerve.
Mental Health Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Excessive, irrational dread.
Fear that is out of proportion to real danger which include panic attacks, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Phobias
Persistent, irrational fear of a specific thing or situation.
Such as acrophobia (fear of heights), agoraphobia (fear of certain environments), claustrophobia (fear of small or enclosed spaces).
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulty with social relationships/communication skills.
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by short attention span/impulsive behavior.
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
Formerly multiple personality disorder.
Presence of two or more distinct personalities, which appear to exist within the same individual.
Bipolar Disorder
Cycles of severe mood changes shifting between highs and lows.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Depression associated with the decrease in hours of daylight during winter months.
Schizophrenia
Psychotic disorder usually characterized by withdrawal from reality.
Bulimia Nervosa
Frequent episodes of binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting; excessive exercising; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other medications.
The removal of a body part, or the destruction of its function, by surgery, hormones, drugs, heat, chemical destruction, electro-cartery, or other methods.
acrophobiaack-roh-FOH-bee-ah
An excessive fear of being in high places
acute renal failure
Also known as acute kidney injury.
Occurs when kidneys suddenly lose their ability to filter waste from the blood, developing within hours or days.
Alzheimer’s diseaseALTZ-high-merz
A group of disorders associated with degenerative brain changes, that lead to symptoms including progressive memory loss, impaired cognition, and personality changes.
A degenerative disease of the motor nerve cells, of the brain, and spinal cord, in which patients become progressively weaker until they are completely paralyzed.
anesthetic
an-es-THET-ick
The medication used to induce anesthesia, which is the absence normal sensation, especially sensitivity to pain.
anesthetistah-NES-theh-tist
A medical professional who specializes in administering anesthesia, but is not a physician.
For example, a nurse anesthetist.
anorexia nervosaan-oh-RECK-see-ah ner-VOH-sah
An eating disorder characterized by weight loss (or lack of appropriate weight gain in growing children); difficulties maintaining an appropriate body weight for height, age, and stature; and, in many individuals, distorted body image.
anuriaah-NEW-ree-ah
The absence of urine formation by the kidneys.
anxiety disorders
Mental conditions characterized by anxiety or fear that is out of proportion to the real danger in the situation.
autism spectrum disorder
AW-tizm
A group of conditions in which a young child cannot develop normal social relationships, compulsively follows repetitive routines, and frequently has poor communication skills.
Bell’s palsyPAWL-zee
A condition that causes sudden weakness in the muscles on one side of the face.
benign prostatic hyperplasia
An abnormal enlargement of the prostrate gland that occurs most often in men over 50.
causalgiakaw-ZAL-jee-ah
Persistent severe burning pain that usually follows injury to a sensory nerve.
cerebral contusion
SER-eh-bral kon-TOO-zhun
The bruising of brain tissue as the result of a head injury.
cerebral palsyseh-REE-bral PAWL-zee
A condition characterized by poor muscle control, spasticity, speech defects, and other neurologic deficiencies.
cerebrovascular accidentser-eh-broh-VAS-kyou-lar
Also known as a stroke.
Damage to the brain that occurs when the bloodflow to the brain is disrupted by a blockage of the blood supply.
chronic kidney disease
Progressive loss of renal function over months or years.
Buildup of waste in the blood can be a contributing factor in heart attacks and stroke.
claustrophobia
klaws-troh-FOH-bee-ah
An abnormal fear of being in narrow or enclosed spaces.
coma
KOH-mah
A deep state of unconsciousness, marked by the absence of spontaneous eye movements, no response to painful stimuli, and a lack of speech.
concussion
kon-KUSH-un
A violent shaking up, or jarring of the brain.
cranial hematomahee-mah-TOH-mah
A collection of blood, trapped in the tissues of the brain.
cystitissis-TYE-tis
An inflammation of the bladder.
cystoceleSIS-toh-seel
Also called a fallen bladder.
A hernia of the bladder through the vaginal wall.
cystolithSIS-toh-lith
A stone in the urinary bladder.
cystoscopysis-TOS-koh-pee
An visual examination of the urinary bladder using a cystoscope.
deliriumdeh-LEER-ee-um
An acute and potentially reversible condition that comes on suddenly and is often associated with high fever, intoxication, or shock.
delusiondih-LOO-zhun
A false personal belief that is maintained despite obvious proof, or evidence, to the contrary.
dementiadih-MEN-shah
A slowly progressive decline in the mental abilities that is often accompanied by personality changes.
dialysisdye-AL-ih-sis
A procedure to remove waste products from the blood of patients whose kidneys no longer function.
diuresisdye-you-REE-sis
The increased output of urine.
dura materDOO-rah MAH-ter
The thick, tough, outermost membrane of the meningies.
dyslexiadis-LECK-see-ah
A learning disability characterized by substandard reading achievement due to the inability of the brain to process symbols.
dysuriadis-YOU-ree-ah
The sensation of pain, discomfort, or burning when urinating.
A procedure to break up stones inside the urinary tract, bile ducts or pancreatic duct with a series of shock waves generated by a machine called a lithotripter.
factitious disorderfack-TISH-us
A condition in which individuals act as if they have a physical or mental illness when they are not really sick.
glomerulonephritisgloh-mer-you-loh-neh-FRY-tis
A type of nephritis that involves primarily the glomeruloneuli.
hemodialysishee-moh-dye-AL-ih-sis
Replaces kidney function by filtering waste products directly from the patient's blood.
hemorrhagic strokehem-oh-RAJ-ick
Also known as a bleed.
Is damage that occurs when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or ruptures.
hydrocephalushigh-droh-SEF-ah-lus
A condition in which there is an abnormally increased amount of cerebral spinal fluid within the ventricles of the brain.
hydronephrosishigh-droh-neh-FROH-sis
The swelling of one or both kidneys as a result of an obstruction of the flow of urine.
hydroureterhigh-droh-YOUR-eh-ter
A stretching out of the ureter with urine, is caused by a blockage within the ureter that does not allow the urine to flow normally.
hyperesthesiahigh-per-es-THEE-zee-ah
A condition of excessive sensitivity to stimuli.
hyperproteinuriahigh-per-proh-tee-in-YOU-ree-ah
The presence of abnormally high concentrations of protein in the urine.
Is a characteristic of kidney malfunction diseases.
hypoproteinemiahigh-per-proh-tee-in-EEE-mia
Which the presence of abnormally low concentrations of protein in the blood.
Is a characteristic of kidney malfunction diseases.
hypospadiashigh-poh-SPAY-dee-as
A congenital abnormality of the urethral opening.
In the male with epispadias, the urethral opening is on the under surface of the penis.
In the female with epispadias, the urethral opening is into the vagina.
incontinence
in-KON-tih-nents
The inability to control excretory functions.
interstitial cystitisin-ter-STISH-al sis-TYE-tis
A chronic inflammation within the wall of the bladder.
intravenous pyelogramPYE-eh-loh-gram
A diagnostic radiographic study of the kidneys and ureters, with the use of a contrast medium, that is administered intravenously.
ischemic strokeiss-KEE-mick
Occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked.
This type of stroke can be caused by narrowing of the carotid artery, or by cerebral thrombosis.
lethargyLETH-ar-jee
A lowered level of conciousness marked by listnessness, drowsiness, and apathy.
meningitismen-in-JIGH-tis
An inflammation of the meningies of the brain and spinal cord.
meningocelemeh-NING-goh-seel
The congenital herniation of the meningies through a defect in the skull or spinal column.
migraine headache
MY-grayn
Characterized by throbbing main on one side of the head.
multiple sclerosisskleh-ROH-sis
A progressive autoimmune disorder characterized by scattered patches of demyelenation of nerve fibers of the brain and spinal cord.
myelitismy-eh-LYE-tis
An inflammation of the spinal cord.
This term also means inflammation of bone marrow.
myelographymy-eh-LOG-rah-fee
A radiographic study of the spinal cord after injection by a constrast medium.
narcolepsyNAR-koh-lep-see
A sleep disorder consisting of recurring episodes of falling asleep during the day.
nephronsNEF-ronz
The nephron is the minute or microscopic structural and functional unit of the kidney.
nephropathyneh-FROP-ah-thee
Describes any kidney disease including degenerative and inflammatory conditions.
neurogenic bladdernew-roh-JEN-ick
A urinary problem caused by intereference with the normal nerve pathways associated with inflammation.
neurotransmitters
new-roh-trans-MIT-erz
A neurotransmitter is a signaling molecule secreted by a neuron to affect another cell across a synapse.
nocturianock-TOO-ree-ah
Excessive urination during the night.
obsessive compulsive disorder
An anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts or impulses, and/or recurrent unwanted impulses to act.
oliguriaol-ih-GOO-ree-ah
A severe reduction in urine production.
panic attack
Characterized by a group of intense emotional feelings that include apprehension, fearfulness, and terror.
parasomniapair-ah-SOM-nee-ah
A category of sleep disorders that involve abnormal movements, behaviors, emotions, perceptions, and dreams that occur while falling asleep, sleeping, between sleep stages, or during arousal from sleep.
paresthesiapair-es-THEE-zee-ah
A burning or prickling sensation that is usually felt in the hands, arms, legs, or feet, but can also occur in other parts of the body.
Parkinson's disease
A chronic degenerative central nervous system disorder in which there is a gradually progressive loss of control over movement.
peripheral neuropathy
new-ROP-ah-thee
A painful condition of the nerves of the hands and the feet, that is caused by damage to the peripheral nerves.
A conditon chjaracterized by sudden, intense, severe lightning like pain, due to an inflammation of the fifth cranial nerve.
uremiayou-REE-mee-ah
A toxic condition caused by excessive amounts of urea and other waste products in the bloodstream.
ureterolithyou-REE-ter-oh-lith
A stone located in the ureter.
ureterorrhagiayou-ree-ter-oh-RAY-jee-ah
The discharge of blood from the ureter.
urethritis
you-reh-THRIGH-tis
An inflammation of the urethra.
urethroplasty
you-REE-throh-plas-tee
Surgery to repair or reconstruct the urethra.
urethrorrhagiayou-ree-throh-RAY-jee-ah
Bleeding from the urethra.
urethrostenosisyou-ree-throh-steh-NOH-sis
The narrowing of the urethra.
urethrotomyyou-reh-THROT-oh-mee
urinary catheterization
The insertion of a latex, polyurethane, or silicone tube known as a urinary catheter into the bladder through the urethra to allow urine to drain from the bladder for collection.