• Recognize and use terms related to the anatomy and physiology of the urinary system. • Recognize and use terms related to the pathology of the urinary system. • Recognize and use terms related to the diagnostic procedures for the urinary system. • Recognize and use terms related to the therapeutic interventions for the urinary system. The urinary system is composed of two kidneys, two ureters, a urinary bladder, and a urethra (Figs. 6-1 and 6-2). The work of the urinary system is done by a specialized tissue in the kidneys called parenchymal (pair EN kuh mul) tissue. The kidneys function to filter the blood and eliminate waste through the passage of urine. The ureters (YOOR eh turs) are thin, muscular tubes that move urine in peristaltic waves from the kidneys to the bladder. The urinary bladder is the sac that stores the urine until it is excreted. The bladder is lined with an epithelial mucous membrane of transitional cells. Underneath, a layer termed the lamina propria is composed of connective tissue that holds the blood vessels and nerves. The detrusor muscle is the final coat; it normally contracts to expel urine. The urethra (yoo REE thrah) is the tube that conducts the urine out of the bladder. The opening of the urethra is called the urinary meatus (YOOR in nair ee mee ATE us). The triangular area in the bladder between the ureters’ entrance and the urethral outlet is called the trigone (TRY gohn). The ureters, bladder, and urethra are all stromal (STROH mul) tissue, which is a supportive tissue. Because the kidneys are primarily responsible for the functioning of the urinary system, it is helpful to look at them in greater detail. Each of the two kidneys is located high in the abdominal cavity, tucked under the ribs in the back and behind the lining of the abdominal cavity (retroperitoneal). The normal human kidney is about the size of a fist. If a kidney were sliced open, the outer portion, the cortex (KORE tecks) (pl. cortices), and the inner portion, called the medulla (muh DOO lah) (pl. medullae), would be visible (Fig. 6-3). The renal pelvis and calyces (KAL ih seez) (sing. calyx) are an extension of the ureter inside of the kidney. The term renal means pertaining to the kidneys. The hilum (HYE lum) (pl. hila) is the location on the kidney where the ureter and renal vein leave the kidney and the renal artery enters. The cortex contains tissue with millions of microscopic units called nephrons (NEFF rons) (Fig. 6-4). Here in the tiny nephrons, blood passes through a continuous system of urinary filtration, reabsorption, and secretion that measures, monitors, and adjusts the levels of substances in the extracellular fluid. Match the combining form with its term. _____ 1. opening of the urethra _____ 2. tubes connecting kidneys and bladder _____ 3. tube conducting urine out of the bladder _____ 5. sac that stores urine _____ 6. area between ureters coming in and urethra going out in the sac that stores urine _____ 7. urine, urinary system _____ 9. outer portion of the kidney _____ 10. inner portion of the kidney _____ 13. location where ureter and renal vein leave kidney and renal artery enters 14. transurethral ________________________________________________ 15. paranephric ________________________________________________ 16. retroperitoneal ________________________________________________ 17. suprarenal ________________________________________________ 18. perivesical ________________________________________________ Combining and Adjective Forms for the Anatomy of the Urinary System Prefixes for the Anatomy of the Urinary System Suffixes for the Anatomy of the Urinary System Terms Related to Urinary Signs Terms Related to Urinary Symptoms 1. Urinary ______________________ is the inability to release urine. 2. If a patient complains of an accumulation of fluid around her ankles, she may be exhibiting ______________________. 3. A patient with a renal ______________________ has a cavity containing pus and surrounded by inflamed tissue in the kidneys. 4. A sign of kidney failure may be excessive urea in the blood, called ______________________. 5. A concerned parent calls in to discuss her 4-year-old son’s inability to remain dry during the night. This bed-wetting may be diagnosed as ______________________. 6. Caffeine and alcohol are substances that cause an increase in the volume of fluids excreted from the body, causing ______________________. 7. A feeling of a need to urinate immediately is called ______________________. 8. The elderly gentleman was seen by his physician because he was unable to control his urination. He was suffering from urinary ______________________. 9. urinary condition of pus ________________________________________________ 10. condition of excessive thirst ________________________________________________ 11. condition of painful urination ________________________________________________ 12. glycosuria ________________________________________________ 13. hematuria ________________________________________________ Terms Related to Urinary System Disorders, Stones, and Diabetes
Urinary System
Anatomy and Physiology
The Kidney
Exercise 1 The Urinary System
Meaning
Combining Form
Adjective Form
artery
arteri/o
arterial
bladder
cyst/o, vesic/o
cystic, vesical
calyx
calic/o, cali/o, calyc/o
caliceal, calyceal
cell
cellul/o
cellular
cortex
cortic/o
cortical
glomerulus
glomerul/o
glomerular
hilum
hil/o
hilar
kidney
nephr/o, ren/o
nephric, renal
medulla
medull/o
medullary
parenchyma
parenchym/o
parenchymal
peritoneum
peritone/o
peritoneal
renal pelvis
pyel/o
stroma
strom/o
stromal
trigone
trigon/o
trigonal
ureter
ureter/o
ureteral
urethra
urethr/o
urethral
urinary meatus
meat/o
meatal
urine, urinary system
urin/o, ur/o
urinary
Prefix
Meaning
extra-
outside
en-
in
par-
beside, near
retro-
backward
Suffix
Meaning
-al, -ar, -ic
pertaining to
-ation, -ion
process of
Pathology
Term
Word Origin
Definition
abscess, urinary
Cavity containing pus and surrounded by inflamed tissue in the urinary system.
AB ses
albuminuria
albumin/o protein
-uria urinary condition
Albumin (a protein) in the urine. Also called proteinuria (pro teen NOOR ee ah).
al byoo mih NOOR ee ah
azotemia
azot/o nitrogen
-emia blood condition
Condition of excessive urea in the blood indicating nonfunctioning kidneys; also called uremia.
a zoh TEE mee ah
azoturia
azot/o nitrogen
-uria urinary condition
Excessive nitrogenous compounds, including urea, in the urine.
a zoh TOOR ee ah
bacteriuria
bacteri/o bacteria
-uria urinary condition
Bacteria in the urine.
back tur ee YOOR ee ah
edema
Accumulation of fluid in the tissues; can result from kidney failure.
eh DEE mah
glycosuria
glycos/o sugar, glucose
-uria urinary condition
Sugar in the urine.
gly kohs YOOR ee ah
hematuria
hemat/o blood
-uria urinary condition
Blood in the urine.
hee mah TOOR ee ah
hypertension
hyper- excessive
tens/o stretching
-ion process of
Condition of high blood pressure.
hye pur TEN shun
pyuria
py/o pus
-uria urinary condition
Pus in the urine.
pye YOOR ee ah
Term
Word Origin
Definition
anuria
an- without
-uria urinary condition
Condition of no urine.
a NOOR ee ah
diuresis
di- through, complete
ur/o urine
-esis state of
Condition of increased formation and excretion of urine, of large volumes of urine. Caffeine and alcohol are diuretics (dye yoor RET icks)—that is, they increase the amount of urine produced.
dye yoor EE sis
dysuria
dys- painful, abnormal
-uria urinary condition
Condition of painful urination.
dis YOOR ee ah
enuresis
en- in
ur/o urine
-esis state of
Also commonly known as “bed-wetting,” enuresis can be nocturnal (at night) or diurnal (during the day).
en yoor EE sis
incontinence, urinary
Inability to hold urine.
in KON tih nense
nocturia
noct/i night
-uria urinary condition
Condition of excessive urination at night.
nock TOOR ee ah
oliguria
olig/o scanty, few
-uria urinary condition
Condition of scanty urination.
ah lig GYOOR ee ah
polydipsia
poly- excessive, frequent
-dipsia condition of thirst
Condition of excessive thirst (usually accompanied by polyuria).
pah lee DIP see ah
polyuria
poly- excessive, frequent
-uria urinary condition
Condition of excessive urination.
pah lee YOOR ee ah
retention, urinary
Inability to release urine.
urgency
Intense sensation of the need to urinate immediately.
Exercise 3 Urinary Signs and Symptoms
Term
Word Origin
Definition
diabetes insipidus (DI)
Deficiency of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which causes the patient to excrete large quantities of urine (polyuria) and exhibit excessive thirst (polydipsia).
dye ah BEE teez
in SIP ih dus
diabetes mellitus (DM)
A group of metabolic disorders characterized by high glucose levels that result from inadequate amounts of insulin, resistance to insulin, or a combination of both. (See Chapter 14).
dye ah BEE teez
meh LYE tus
nephrolithiasis
nephr/o kidney
lith/o stone
-iasis condition, presence of
Stones in the kidney.
neff roh lih THIGH uh sis
polycystic kidney disease
poly- excessive, many
cyst/o sac
-ic pertaining to
Inherited disorder characterized by an enlargement of the kidneys caused by many renal cysts bilaterally that reduce functioning of renal tissue (Fig. 6-5).
pah lee SIS tick
renal colic
ren/o kidney
-al pertaining to
Severe pain associated with kidney stones lodged in the ureter. The term “colic” means pain.
REE null
KAH lick
urinary tract infection (UTI)
urin/o urine, urinary system
Infection anywhere in the urinary system, caused most commonly by bacteria, but also by parasites, yeast, and protozoa (sing. protozoon). Most frequently occurring disorder in the urinary system.
urolithiasis
ur/o urine, urinary system
lith/o stone
-iasis condition, presence of
Stones anywhere in the urinary tract, but usually in the renal pelvis or urinary bladder. Usually formed in patients with an excess of the mineral calcium. Also called urinary calculi (KAL kyoo lye) (Fig. 6-6).
yoo roo lih THIGH uh sis 
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Urinary System
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You can review the anatomy of the urinary system by clicking on Body Spectrum Electronic Anatomy Coloring Book → Urinary Tract. Click on Hear It, Spell It to practice spelling the anatomy and physiology terms you have learned in this chapter. Practice pronouncing anatomy and physiology terms by clicking on Hear It, Say It.
Exercise 2
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