Human
Urinary System
Vocabulary
©Richard L. Goldman
March 6, 2003
from:
Delmar’s Comprehensive Medical Terminology
2
Antiseptic
©
Richard L. Goldman
an-tih-SEP-tik
anti- = against
sept/o = infection
-ic = pertaining to
Delmar's
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A substance that tends to inhibit the growth and
reproduction of microorganisms.
3
arteriole
©
Richard L. Goldman
ar-TEE-ree-ohl
-arteri/o = artery
ole = small or little
The smallest branch of an artery.
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4
aseptic technique
©
Richard L. Goldman
ay-SEP-tic tek-NEEK
a- = without
sept/o = infection
-ic = pertaining to
Any health care procedure in which precautions
are taken to prevent contamination of a
person, object, or area by microorganisms.
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Asymptomatic
©
Richard L. Goldman
ay-sim-toh--MAT-ic
Without symptoms
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Azotemia
©
Richard L. Goldman
azz-oh-TEE-mee-ah
azot/o = nitrogen
-emia = blood condition
The presence of excessive amounts of waste
products of metabolism (nitrogenous
compounds) in the blood caused by failure of
the kidneys to remove urea from the blood.
Axotemia is characteristic of uremia.
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Bowman's capsule
©
Richard L. Goldman
BOW-manz CAP-sool
The cup-shaped end of a renal tubule containing
a glomerulus; also called glomerular capsule.
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calculus
©
Richard L. Goldman
KAL-kew-lus
An abnormal stone formed in the body tissues by
an accumulation of mineral salts; usually
formed in the gallbladder and kidney. See
renal calculus.
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calyx
©
Richard L. Goldman
KAY-liks
The cup-shapted division of the renal pelvis
through which urine passes from the renal
tubules.
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catheter
©
Richard L. Goldman
CATH-eh-ter
A hollow, flexible tube that can be inserted
into a body cavity or vessel for the
purpose of instilling or withdrawing fluid.
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cortex
©
Richard L. Goldman
KOR-teks
The outer layer of a body organ or structure
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cystometer
©
Richard L. Goldman
siss-TOM-er-ter
cyst/o = bladder
An instrument that measures bladder capacity in
relation to changing pressure.
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Terminology
13
cystoscope
©
Richard L. Goldman
SISS-toh-skohp
cyst/o =bladder
-scope = instrument for viewing
An instrument used to view the interior of the
bladder, ureter, or kidney. It consists of an
outer sheath with a lighting system, a scope for
viewing, and a passage for catheters and
devices used in surgical procedures.
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14
radiopaque
©
Richard L. Goldman
ray-dee-oh-PAYK
Not permiting the passage of x-rays or other
radiant energy; radiopaque areas appear white
on an exposed x-ray film.
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renal artery
©
Richard L. Goldman
REE-nal AR-teh-ree
ren/o=kidney
-al=pertaining to
arter/o=artery
y=noun ending
One of a pair of large arteries branching from
the abdominal aorta that supplies blood to the
kidneys, adrenal glands, and the ureters.
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16
renal calculas
©
Richard L. Goldman
A stone formation in the kidney (plural:renal
calculi); also called a nephrolith
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renal pelvis
©
Richard L. Goldman
REE-nal PELL-viss
ren/o=kidney
-al=pertaining to
pelv/i=pelvis
-is= noun ending
The central collecting part of the kidney that
narrows into the large upper end of the ureter;
it receives urine through the calyces and drains
it into the ureters.
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Terminology
18
renal tubule
©
Richard L. Goldman
REE-nal TOOB-yool
ren/o=kidney
-al=pertaining to
A long, twisted tube that leads away from the glomerulus
of the kidney to the collecting tubules. As the
glomerular filtrate passes through the renal tubules,
the water, sugar, and salts are reabsorbed into the
bloodstream through the network of capillaries that
surround them.
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19
renal vein
©
Richard L. Goldman
REE-nal VAYN
ren/o-kidney
-al=pertaining to
One of two vessels that carries blood away from
the kidney.
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20
residual urine
©
Richard L. Goldman
rih-ZIH-yoo-al YOO-rin
Urine that remains in the bladder after
urination.
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21
solute
©
Richard L. Goldman
SOL-yoot
A substance dissolved in a solution, as in the
waste products filtered out of the kidney into
the urine.
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Medical
Terminology
22
specific gravity
©
Richard L. Goldman
speh-SIH-fik GRAV-ih-tee
The weight of a substance compared with an
equal volume of water, which is considered to
be the standard.
Water is considered to have a specific gravity of
1,000 (one); therefore, a substance with a
specific gravity of 2,000 would be twice as
dense as water.
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23
Toxic
©
Richard L. Goldman
TOKS-ik
tox/o=poison
-ic=pertaining to poisonous.
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Turbid
©
Richard L. Goldman
TER-bid
Cloudy.
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25
Uremia
©
Richard L. Goldman
yoo-REE-mee-ah
ur/o=urine
-emia=blood condition
The presence of excessive amounts of urea and
other nitrogenous waste products in the blood;
also called azotemia.
Delmar's
Comprehensive
Medical
Terminology
26
ureter
©
Richard L. Goldman
YOO-reh-ter
ureter/o=ureter
One of a pair of tubes that carries urine from the
kidney to the bladder.
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27
urethra
©
Richard L. Goldman
yoo-REE-thrah
urethr/o=urethra
-a=noun ending
A small tubular structure that drains urine from
the bladder to the outside of the body.
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urethritis
©
Richard L. Goldman
yoo-ree-THRIGH-tis
urethr/o=urethra
-it is=inflammation
Inflammation of urethra. This inflammatory
condition of the urethra, characterized by
dysuria, is usually the result of an infection of
the bladder or kidneys.
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Medical
Terminology
29
urinary incontinence
©
Richard L. Goldman
YOO-rih-nair-ee in-CON-tin-ens
urin/o=urine
-ary=pretaining to
Inability to control urination; the inability to
retain urine in the bladder.
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Medical
Terminology
30
urinary retention
©
Richard L. Goldman
YOO-rih-nair-ee ree-TEN-shun
urin/o=urine
-ary=pertaining to
An abnormal, involuntary accumulation of urine
in the bladder; the inability to empty the
bladder.
Delmar's
Comprehensive
Medical
Terminology
31
urination
©
Richard L. Goldman
YOO-rih-NAY-shun
urin/o=urine
The act of eliminating urine from the body; also
called micturition; also called voiding.
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Comprehensive
Medical
Terminology
32
Urine
©
Richard L. Goldman
YOO-rin
The fluid released by the kidneys, transported by
the ureters, retained in the bladder, and
eliminated through the urethra. Normal urine
is clear, straw colored, and slightly acid.
Delmar's
Comprehensive
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Terminology
33
voiding
©
Richard L. Goldman
VOYD-ing
The act of elimating urine from the body: also
called micturition; also called urination.
Delmar's
Comprehensive
Medical
Terminology