Claire Millonig
Renal Terms
Renal-Root words & Combining Forms
Calyx-cuplike division of the kidney
Cortex-outer layer of the kidney
Glomerul/o-glomurla
Medulla-inner or central portion of the kidney
Nephr/o-kidney pyel/o-kidney py/o-pus ur/o-urine ren/p-kidney
Renal-Anatomical Terms
Afferent arteriole: enters the glomerulus at the vascular pole and divides into capillaries, which subsequently merge to form efferent arterioles.
Bowman’s capsule: a double walled, cup shaped structure around the glomerulus of each nephron of the vertebrate kidney. It serves as a filter to remove organic wastes, excess inorganic salts and water.
Collecting tubule: straight tubules of the kidney that funnel urine into papillary ducts in the renal pelvis.
Distal convoluted tubule: the part of the renal tubular system between the loop of henle and the collecting duct system.
Efferent arteriole: carries blood away from the glomerulus
Glomerular capsule: a double walled, cup shaped structure around the glomerulus of each nephron of the vertebrate kidney. It serves as a filter to remove organic wastes, excess inorganic salts and water.
Glomerulus: The filtering unit of the kidney
Kidneys: two bean shaped organs, located just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine, that filter blood to produce urine.
Loop of Henle: portion of the nephron that leads from the proximal convoluted tubule to the distal convoluted tubule.
Nephron (renal tube): the basic structural and functional unit of the kidney; key function is to regulate the concentration of water and soluble substances like sodium salts by filtering the blood, reabsorbing what is needed and excreting the rest as urine.
Proximal convoluted tubule: portion of the duct system of the nephron of the kidney wich leads from Bowman’s capsule to the loop of Henle.
Renal cortex: the outer portion of the kidney between the renal capsule and the renal medulla.
Renal medulla: innermost part of the kidney. Split up into renal pyramids. Aids in reabsorption of water.
Renal papilla: each projection of one or more pyramid apexes into the sinus
Renal pelvis: the funnel-like dilated proximal part of the ureter in the kidney.

Renal-Physiological terms
Aldosterone: a steroid hormone produced by the outer section of the adrenal cortex in the adrenal gland. It plays a central role in the regulation of blood pressure mainly by acting on the distal tubules and collecting ducts of the nephron, increasing reabsorption of ions and water in the kidney.
Angiotensin: a peptide hormone that causes vasoconstriction and a subsequent increase in blood pressure.
Antidiuretic hormone: a relatively small molecule that is released by the pituitary gland at the base of the brain after being made by the hypothalamus. Prevents the production of dilute urine.
Bicarbonate: an element secreted by the stomach and is present in all body fluids.
Carbonic acid: Solutions of carbon dioxide in water. A weak acid that forms two kinds of salts, the carbonates and the bicarbonates.
Diuretic: any substance that promotes the production of urine.
Erythropoietin: a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production.
Glomerular filtration rate (gfr): a test used to check how well the kidneys are working.
Renin: an enzyme that participates in the body’s renin-angiotensin system that mediates extracellular volume and arterial vasoconstriction. It regulates the body’s mean arterial blood pressure.
Renal-Symptomatic Terms
Acetonuria: the excretion in the urine of excessive amounts of acetone, an indication of incomplete oxidation of large amounts of fat, and common in diabetic acidosis.
Academia: the academic community
Albuminuria: having too much protein in the urine.
Anuria: non-passage of urine
Azotemia: abnormally high levels of nitrogen0containing compounds in the blood.
Dysuria: painful urination
Hematuria: blood in the urine
Hyperkalemia: high potassium levels in your blood
Micturition: urination, the act of urinating
Nocturia: waking up at night one or more times to urinate.
Oliguria: low output of urine
Proteinuria: the urine contains an abnormal amount of protein.
Pyuria: the presence of 6-10 or more neutrophils per high power field of unspun, voided mid-stream urine.
Renal insufficiency (renal shut-down, lower nephron nephrosis): poor function of the kidneys that may be due to a reduction in blood blow to the kidneys caused by renal artery disease. Can result in the kidneys to shut down.
Renal osteodystrophy: a bone disease that occurs when your kidneys fail to maintain proper levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood.
Renal-Diagnostic Terms
Acidosis: too much acid in the body fluids.

Arteriolar nephrosclerosis: scarring of the kidney due to arteriolar sclerosis resulting from chronic hypertension.
Glomerulonephritides: nephritis marked by inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidney
Hypertrophy of kidney: increase in size of the kidney tissues when called upon to do additional work or to perform the work of destroying tissue or of a paired organ.
Nephritic syndrome: a collection of signs associated with disorders affecting the kidneys, more specifically glomerular disorders.
Nephrolithiasis (renal calculi): the process of forming a kidney stone.
Nephromegaly: the process by which a kidney or both kidneys become enlarged.
Nephrosclerosis: a progressive disease of the kidneys that results from sclerosis of the small vessels in the kidneys.
Nephrotic syndrome: a group of symptoms that include protein in the urine, low blood protein levels, high cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels and swelling.
Pyelonephritis: inflammation of the kidney; kidney infection
Uremia: high concentrations of urea in the blood
Renal-Operative Terms
Nephrectomy: surgical procedure to remove all or part of a kidney.
Nephrolithotomy: keyhole surgery to remove a large kidney stone
Nephrostomy: an artificial opening created between the kidney and the skin which allows for the urinary diversion directly from the upper part of the urinary system.
Nephrotomy: incision in the kidney is made
Pyelolithotomy: surgical incision of the renal pelvis of a kidney for removal of a kidney stone
Pyeloplasty: surgical reconstruction of the renal pelvis to drain and decompress the kidney
Pyelotomy: surgical incision into the renal pelvis of a kidney
Renal biopsy: a medical procedure in which a small piece of kidney is removed from the body for examination, usually under a microscope.
Renal transplantation: the transplant of a kidney into a patient with end stage renal disease.
Renal-Special Procedures
Arterio-venous shunt: a connection between an artery and a vein that allows blood to flow between the two without first going through the capillaries.
Dialysis: a process for removing waste and excess water from the blood, and is used primarily as a n artificial replacement for lost kidney function in people with renal failure.
Hemodialysis: a dialysis machine and a special filter called an artificial kidney, or dialyzer, are used to clean your blood.
Peritoneal dialysis: a soft plastic tube (catheter) is placed in your belly by surgery. A sterile cleansing fluid is put into your belly through this catheter. After the filtering process is finished, the fluid leaves your body through this catheter.
Renal-Special Diagnostic Procedures
Intravenous pyelography: a special x-ray examination of the kidneys, bladder and ureters

Nephrogram: radiographic examination of the kidney after the intravenous injection of a water-soluble iodinated contrast material
Nephrosonography: the process of recording the kidney using sound, such as an ultrasound test
Pyelogram: a special x-ray examination of the kidneys, bladder and ureters
Ultrasonic laminograms of kidney: renal ultra sound
Urogram: x-ray of the urinary tract
Urography: process of taking x-ray images of the urinary tract after injecting contrast
Renal-Abbreviations
ADH: antidiuretic hormone
A/G: albumin/globulin ratio
Alb: albumin
BUN: blood urea nitrogen
CAPD: continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
Cath: catheter
Chr: chronic
CRF: chronic renal failure
ERPF: effective renal plasma flow
ESRD: end-stage renal disease
Fld: fluid
GBM: glomerular basement membrane
GFR: glomerular filtration rate
HDU: high dependency unit
IVP: intravenous pyelogram
KUB: kidney, ureter, bladder
LSK: liver, spleen, kidneys
NPN: non-protein nitrogen
PDU: protocol data unit
PSP: phosphate
PTH: parathyroid hormone
RER: rough endoplasmic reticulum
RPF: Renal plasma flow
RTA: renal tubular acidosis
SUN: serum urea nitrogen
UA: urine analysis
UTI: urinary tract infection