Adventitial

The outermost layer of organs, blood vessels, and other structures in the body.

Albuminuria

Albumin in the urine.

Anuria

The absence of urine production.

Autonomic

Involuntary or unconscious.

Azotemia

Urea in the blood.

Cystectomy

Excision of all or part of the bladder to remove a cyst.

Cystitis

Inflammation of the lining of the bladder.

Cystocele

A condition in which weakened pelvic muscles cause the bladder to drop from its normal position.

Cystography

Radiographic imaging of the bladder.

Cystoscope

A thin, tube-like instrument used to look inside the bladder and urethra.

Cystoscopy

Examination of the bladder and urethra using a cystoscope, inserted into the urethra.

Cystostomy

Creation of an artificial opening into the bladder.

Cystotomy

Incision into the bladder.

Deamination

The removal of an amino group from a molecule.

Detrusor

A muscle which forms a layer of the wall of the bladder.

Diuresis

Excess production of urine.

Dysuria

Painful urination.

Enuresis

Involuntary urination.

Excretion

To get rid of waste material from the blood, tissues, or organs by a normal discharge (such as sweat, urine, or stool).

Glomerulonephritis

A condition in which the tissues in the kidney become inflamed and have problems filtering waste from the blood.

Glycosuria

Presence of glucose in the urine.

Hematuria

Blood in the urine.

Homeostasis

The state of steady internal conditions maintained by living things.

Hydronephrosis

Abnormal enlargement of a kidney, which may be caused by blockage of the ureter (such as by a kidney stone) or chronic kidney disease that prevents urine from draining into the bladder.

Hydrostatic

Relating to the equilibrium of liquids and the pressure exerted by liquid at rest.

Hypothalamus

A region of the forebrain below the thalamus; has function in both the autonomic and endocrine systems and regulates homeostasis.

Incontinence

Loss of ability to control micturition (urination).

Lethargy

A condition marked by drowsiness and an unusual lack of energy and mental alertness.

Micturition

Also called urination or voiding.

Lithotripsy

The destruction of a calculus (stone) of the kidney, ureter, bladder, or gallbladder by physical forces.

Mitochondria

A membranous, bean-shaped organelle that is the “energy transformer” of the cell.

Nephrectomy

Excision of all or part of the kidney.

Nephritis

A condition in which the tissues in the kidney become inflamed and have problems filtering waste from the blood.

Nephrolithiasis

Formation of stone(s) in the kidney.

Nephrolithotomy

Incision into the kidney to remove stone(s).

Nephrologist

A doctor who has special training in diagnosing and treating kidney disease.

Nephrology

A subspecialty of internal medicine concerned with the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the kidney.

Nephrostomy

Surgery to make an opening from the outside of the body to the renal pelvis.

Nocturia

Frequent urination at night that interrupts sleep.

Oliguria

Below normal urine production of 400–500 mL/day.

Osmosis

A process by which molecules of a solvent tend to pass through a membrane from a less concentrated solution into a more concentrated one.

pH

A measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is, as determined by the number of free hydrogen ions in the substance.

Polyuria

Excessive urine production.

Prostaglandins

Signaling molecules derived from unsaturated fatty acids with hormone-like effects.

Pseudostratified

Tissue with a single layer of irregularly shaped cells that give the appearance of more than one layer.

Pyelitis

Inflammation of the renal pelvis and kidney calices.

Pyelonephritis

Inflammation of the nephrons, renal pelvis, and kidney calices.

Pyuria

The presence of white blood cells in the urine.

Solutes

The minor component in a solution.

Stricture

Abnormal narrowing.

Ureterocele

A cystic dilatation of the end of a ureter.

Ureterolithiasis

Formation of stone(s) in the ureter.

Ureteroscopy

Examination of the inside of the kidney and ureter, using a ureteroscope.

Ureterostomy

Creation of an artificial opening into the ureter.

Urinal

Receptacle used for the collection of urine.

Urinary

Pertaining to urine or the organs of the body that produce and get rid of urine.

Urologist

A doctor who has special training in diagnosing and treating diseases of the urinary organs in females and the urinary and reproductive organs in males.

Urology

A surgical specialty concerned with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the urinary tract in both sexes, and the genital tract in the male.

Voiding

Also known as urination or micturition.