Medical Terminology Chapter 9: Urinary System

Key Terms of the Urinary System

• nephr/o, ren/o: Refers to the kidneys, which filter blood, remove waste, manage electrolyte levels, and regulate fluid volume; located in the retroperitoneal space.

• pyel/o: Denotes the renal pelvis, the collection area for urine produced by the kidneys.

• urin/o, ur/o: Related to urine or the urinary tract; refers to liquid waste products excreted from the body.

• urethr/o: Pertains to the urethra, the passage through which urine exits the bladder.

• ureter/o: Refers to ureters, the tubes transporting urine from kidneys to the bladder.

• cyst/o: Describes the urinary bladder, a sac that stores urine until excretion.

• prostat/o: Represents the prostate gland, which surrounds the male urethra and can affect urine flow if disorders arise.

Medical Terminology Suffixes

• -cele: Indicates hernia, tumor, or swelling.

• dia-: Refers to "through," "between," "apart," or "complete."

• -ectasis: Signifies stretching, dilation, or enlargement.

• glomerul/o: Relates to the glomerulus, a network of capillaries in the kidney.

• lith/o: Means stone or calculus, typically in a medical context refers to kidney stones.

• -lysis: Indicates breakdown or separation of materials.

• -pexy: Refers to surgical fixation of a body part.

• -tripsy: Denotes crushing, often used in reference to stones in the urinary system.

Urinary System Functionality

• urine production: Involves converting waste products and excess fluids into urine, facilitated by the kidneys and stored in the bladder.

• urinary tract: Consists of two kidneys, two ureters, one bladder, and one urethra, functioning to maintain homeostasis and manage fluid levels.

• genitourinary tract: Reflects the relationship between urinary and reproductive systems due to their proximity.

Kidney Structure and Function

• kidneys: Constantly filter blood, remove waste and excess water (5% urea, 95% water), and produce hormones regulating blood pressure and vitamin D production.

• renal cortex: The outer region of the kidney housing nephrons, responsible for filtering and urine production.

• medulla: The inner region of the kidney that contains urine-collecting tubules.

• nephrons: Microscopic units responsible for urine production via filtration, reabsorption, and secretion.

• reabsorption: The process whereby substances removed during filtration are returned to the bloodstream.

Blood Flow in the Kidneys

• renal artery: The vessel through which blood enters the kidney, supplying it for filtration.

• renal vein: The vessel where filtered blood containing proteins and cells exits the kidney, returning to the bloodstream.

Urinary Pathways

• renal pelvis: The central area in each kidney where urine collects before moving into the ureters.

• ureters: Narrow tubes (10-12 inches long) carrying urine from the kidneys to the bladder.

Other Terminology

• urea: Major waste product formed from protein metabolism.

• creatinine: A waste product of muscle metabolism indicating kidney function.

• urinary system functions: Critical for maintaining water, salt, and acid balance through blood filtration.