Medical terminology

1. Medical terminology Part 12 The urinary system

2. Constructed medical terms: Many medical terms are ‘constructed’ from a combination of word parts… prefixes, Greek or Roman root words, and suffixes. Determine the meaning of the whole word by first deciphering the meaning of the suffix, then the prefix, and finally the root word. Then combine the 3 parts. MICRO / SCOP / IC Prefix meaning ‘small’ / root word meaning ‘viewing instrument’ / suffix meaning ‘pertaining to’ When you start with a root word and add a suffix that starts with a consonant OR another root word, then you have to connect the two word parts with a vowel. This is called a ‘combining vowel’, and is usually an ‘o, i, or e’. HEM / O / PHILIA Root word meaning ‘blood’ / combining vowel / suffix meaning ‘love of’

3. Nonconstructed medical terms: If a medical term is not constructed from a combination of word parts, then it is called ‘nonconstructed’. These are words derived from other languages, words derived from names of people, from initials that form acronyms, or from abbreviations. To learn the meanings of nonconstructed terms, you must simply commit them to memory. The term ‘pasteurize’ refers to the process of heating milk to a temperature that kills harmful microorganisms. The term is derived from the name of its inventor… Louis Pasteur (1822-1895).

4. Medical root words of the urinary system…

5. Medical prefixes for the urinary system…

6. Medical suffixes for the urinary system…

7. Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the urinary system… Urology (yoo RAHL oh jee) The general field of medicine focusing on urinary tract disease. A physician specializing in urology is called a urologist. (yoo RAHL oh jist)

8. Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the urinary system… Anuresis (an yoo REE siss) The inability to pass urine (clinically less than 100 mL per day). This is usually a sign of urinary tract blockage or kidney failure.

9. Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the urinary system… Azotemia (az oh TEE mee ah) Abnormally high levels of urea and other nitrogen-containing compounds in the blood. High levels of nitrogen-containing compounds might be produced by high intake of protein supplements and may cause kidney damage.

10. Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the urinary system… Diuresis (DYE yoo REE siss) Excessive discharge of urine, and a common sign of endocrine system disorders such as diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus. The prefix ‘di’ is used instead of ‘dia’.

11. Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the urinary system… Dysuria (diss YOO ree ah) Difficulty or pain experienced during urination.

12. Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the urinary system… Glycosuria (glye kohs YOO ree ah) The abnormal presence of glucose or sugar in the urine. This is a sign of endocrine disease such as diabetes millitus or other kidney disorders.

13. Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the urinary system… Hematuria (HEE mah TOO ree ah) The abnormal presence of blood in the urine, often a sign of urinary disease.

14. Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the urinary system… Ketonuria (kee tohn YOO ree ah) The abnormal presence of ketone bodies in the urine. This is a common sign of a metabolic disorder, a high-protein or low-carbohydrate diet, starvation, or diabetes mellitus.

15. Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the urinary system… Nocturia (nok TOO ree ah) This is the need to urinate frequently at night. It may be due to aging of muscles around the bladder or drinking to many fluids before bedtime. It is a possible symptom of diabetes mellitus or a prostate condition called ‘benign prostate hyperplasia’ (BPH)

16. Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the urinary system… Oliguria (all ig YOO ree ah) Reduced urination, which becomes a clinical problem when the volume of urine is less than 500 mL within a 24 hour period. Oliguria is a possible sign of kidney disorder, congestive heart failure, dehydration, or a blockage in the urinary tract.

17. Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the urinary system… Pyuria (pye YOO ree ah) This is the appearance of pus in the urine, indicating a urinary tract infection. Pus is a mixture of cell waste, bacteria, and white blood cells that form during an infection.

18. Diseases and disorders of the urinary system… Cystocele (SISS toh seel) This is a herniation of the urinary bladder. In females, this herniation (protrusion or swelling) pushed into the adjacent vagina.

19. Diseases and disorders of the urinary system… Cystolith (SISS toh lith) A cystolith is a calcium deposit, commonly called a ‘stone’, found in the urinary bladder. If it is too large to pass through the urethra, it may require some sort of medical intervention to eliminate it. (bladder stone)

20. Diseases and disorders of the urinary system… Enuresis (ehn yoo REE siss) This term refers to an involuntary release of urine, usually occurring in children or the elderly due to a lack of bladder control. Nocturnal enuresis is commonly called ‘bedwetting’.

21. Diseases and disorders of the urinary system… Incontinence (in KOH tih nens) This is the inability to control urination or voiding (emptying). When it occurs during a cough, sneeze, exercise or any strained movement it is referred to as ‘stress incontinence’. It may become a problem for women just after childbirth, as pelvic muscles may be weakened. Aging muscles may also lose elasticity, and result in incontinence.

22. Diseases and disorders of the urinary system… Nephritis (neh FRYE tiss) Inflammation of a kidney, usually caused by a bacterial infection. Nephritis in a guinea pig shown here is characterized by smaller-than-normal, pitted, tan-colored kidneys.

23. Diseases and disorders of the urinary system… Nephrolithiasis (NEFF roh lith EYE ah siss) While a cystolith is a calcium deposit or ‘stone’ in the bladder, the nephrolithiasis is the ‘stone’ in the kidney. It may dislodge from this location and travel to the ureter, urinary bladder, or urethra.

24. Diseases and disorders of the urinary system… Pyelitis (PYE eh LYE tiss) This is an inflammation of the renal pelvis. The renal pelvis is a membrane enclosed area that collects urine on the interior of the kidney.

25. Treatments and Procedures of the urinary system… Cystogram (SISS toh gram) A cystogram is the X-ray image of the urinary bladder. It is accomplished by injecting a dye or similar contrast medium and undergoing an X-ray procedure. This is called a cystography.

26. Treatments and Procedures of the urinary system… Fulguration (full guh RAY shun) This is a nonconstructed term derived from the Latin word for ‘flash of lightening’. It is a surgical procedure that destroys living tissue with an electric current. It is a procedure commonly used to remove tumors and polyps from the interior wall of the urinary bladder.

27. Treatments and Procedures of the urinary system… Hemodialysis (HEE moh dye AL ih siss) It is a procedure that artificially replaces the function of the kidneys to filter the blood. It removes nitrogen wastes and excess ions that normally accumulate during metabolism. It pushes the patient’s blood through a permeable membrane in a machine to clean it.

28. Treatments and Procedures of the urinary system… Lithotripsy (LITH oh trip see) An invasive or non-invasive procedure of using ultrasound or shock waves to pulverize/crush/ dissolve calcium deposits or stones that are too large to pass through the urethra.

29. Treatments and Procedures of the urinary system… Renography (ree NOG rah fee) In nuclear medicine, this procedure introduces a radioactive material into the bloodstream and patient’s kidneys. The exam is called the renography; the recording of the image(s) is called the renogram.

30. Treatments and Procedures of the urinary system… Urinary Endoscopy (Yoo rih nair ee ehn DOSS oh pee) Specialized scopes are used to observe internal structures of the urinary system. Example… a urethrascope (yoo REE throh skope) is used for viewing the urethra.

31. Treatments and Procedures of the urinary system… Vesicourethral (vess ih koh yoo REE thral) This is a surgical procedure performed to stabilize the position of the urinary bladder and treat stress incontinence.

32. Abbreviations associated with the urinary system… UA Urinalysis A combination of diagnostic clinical lab tests performed on a urine specimen, including information on the quality and composition. It includes specific gravity, creatinine (kree ATT ih neen; a byproduct of muscle metabolism), glucose and protein levels, the presence of red and white blood cells, or pus.

33. Abbreviations associated with the urinary system… UTI Urinary Tract Infection A complete blood count is a common laboratory test that evaluates a sample of blood and provides diagnostic information about a patient’s general health. It always includes a RBC, or count of red blood cells, and a WBC, the count of white blood cells.

34. Abbreviations associated with the urinary system… Cath Catheterization (KATH eh ter ih ZAY shun) A urinary catherterization is the process of inserting a plastic tubing into the urethra and urinary bladder to drain the urine from the bladder and collect it in a plastic bag.

35. Abbreviations associated with the urinary system… SG Specific Gravity The measurement of the density of substances in a liquid, compared to water. This is done using an instrument called a urinometer. (yoo rih NOM eh ter)

36. Abbreviations associated with the urinary system… RP Retrograde Pyelogram or IVP Intravenous Pyelogram A pyelogram is an X-ray image of the renal pelvis, highlighting the internal features of the kidney. The contrast medium, such as iodine, is introduced intravenously.

37. Medical terminology The End Part 12 The Urinary system