Urinary System –
Medical Terminology
Vivienne N Syamuleya
Anatomy Faculty
TAU
Objectives
On completion of this session, you should be able to:
1. Identify and describe the major functions and
structures of the urinary system.
2. Identify the medical specialists who treat disorders of
the urinary system.
3. Recognize, define, spell, and pronounce the primary
terms related to the pathology and the diagnostic and
treatment procedures of the urinary system.
• The urinary system performs many functions that
are important in maintaining homeostasis.
• Homeostasis is the process through which the body
maintains
a
constant
internal
environment
(home/o means constant, and -stasis means
control).
• Urea (you-REE-ah) is the major waste product of
protein metabolism.
• Creatinine
metabolism.
is
a
waste
product
of
muscle
STRUCTURES OF THE URINARY SYSTEM
• The urinary system, also referred to as the urinary
tract,
• consists of two kidneys, two ureters, one bladder,
and a urethra
• The adrenal glands, which are part of the endocrine
system, are located on the top of the kidneys.
• genitourinary tract. The urinary tract is located in
close proximity to the reproductive organs
The Kidneys
• The term renal (REE-nal) means pertaining to the
• kidneys (ren means kidney or kidneys, and -al means
pertaining to).
• Retroperitoneal means behind the peritoneum, which
is the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity.
• The renal cortex (REE-nal KOR-tecks) is the outer
region of the kidney
• The term cortex means the outer portion of an organ.
• The medulla (meh-DULL-ah) is the inner region of
the kidney, and it contains most of the urinecollecting tubules.
• A tubule is a small tube.
Nephrons
• The nephrons (NEF-ronz)
• Reabsorption is the return to the blood of some of
the substances that were removed during filtration.
• Each
nephron
contains
a
glomerulus
(gloh-
MERyou-lus), which is a cluster of capillaries
(plural, glomeruli), surrounded by a cup-shaped
membrane called the Bowman’s capsule, and a
renal tubule.
References
• Prescribed Books:
1. Comprehensive medical Terminology Betty Davis Jones – Published by
Thomson –Third Edition
2. Medical Terminology for Health Professional. Ann Ehrlich & Carol L
Schroeder– Published by Delmar Cengage Learning – Edition 6.
3. Medical terminology: language for healthcare. Nina Thierer, Deborah
Nelson, Judy K. Ward, LaTanya Young Third edition.