26.6: Key Terms

acute kidney injury (AKI)

a sudden and often reversible loss of kidney function

aldosterone

a hormone that promotes the reabsorption of sodium and water in the kidneys, contributing to an increase in blood volume and blood pressure

angiotensin I

a peptide hormone

angiotensin II

a potent vasoconstrictor

angiotensinogen

a protein produced by the liver that is cleaved by renin to form angiotensin I

anuria

a condition marked by the absence of urine output, presenting as less than 50 mL of urine within a twenty-four-hour period

bladder

the storage reservoir for urine prior to its regulated expulsion from the body

bladder perforation

a rupture or tear in the wall of the urinary bladder

bladder training

a structured program aiming to improve bladder control and reduce urinary frequency or urgency

catheter-associated urinary tract infection

urinary tract infection that occurs in patients who have indwelling urinary catheters

chronic kidney disease (CKD)

a condition characterized by gradual and irreversible loss of kidney function over time

continence

the ability to control and maintain bladder functions

creatinine

a waste product that results from the breakdown of creatine phosphate in muscles

detrusor muscle

the layer of smooth muscle within the bladder wall

dialysis

a medical procedure that mechanically filters and purifies the blood in individuals with kidney failure

dysuria

painful or difficult urination

enuresis

urination during sleep

erythropoiesis

the production of red blood cells

erythropoietin (EPO)

a glycoprotein hormone that plays a crucial role in the regulation of red blood cell production

external urethral sphincter

a ringlike muscle that aids in the regulation of urine flow

functional incontinence

occurs in older adults who have normal bladder control but struggle to get to the toilet in time to void

glomerular filtrate

fluid that results from the filtration process in the glomerulus, containing essential substances needed by the body, such as water and electrolytes, as well as waste materials that need to be eliminated through urine

glomerular filtration

the initial step in the process of urine formation

glomerular filtration rate (GFR)

a measure of the rate at which glomerular filtration occurs; quantifies the volume of filtrate formed by the kidneys per unit of time

glomerulus

the network of tiny blood vessels in the kidneys

gout

a form of arthritis characterized by sudden and severe pain, swelling, and redness in the joints, primarily the big toe, due to the deposition of urate crystals

hematuria

visible or microscopic blood in urine

kidney

a bean-shaped organ located on either side of the spine, just below the ribcage

kidney calculus

solid, crystalline structures formed in the kidneys that can obstruct the normal flow of urine

kidney transplantation

a surgical procedure in which a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor is transplanted into a recipient with end-stage kidney disease to restore kidney function

micturition reflex

an involuntary physiological response that initiates the contraction of the bladder’s detrusor muscle and relaxation of the internal urethral sphincter, facilitating the expulsion of urine from the body

mixed urinary incontinence

a combination of urinary frequency, urgency, and stress incontinence

moisture-related dermatitis

a skin condition characterized by inflammation and irritation resulting from prolonged exposure to moisture

nephron

a microscopic unit within the kidneys; a functional unit responsible for blood filtration and urine formation

nephrotic syndrome

a kidney disorder characterized by excessive protein loss in the urine

nocturia

regular nighttime urination

oliguria

reduced urine output

overflow incontinence

the leakage of small amounts of urine from a bladder that is always full

polycystic kidney disease (PKD)

an inherited disease characterized by the formation of fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys

polyuria

excessive urine output, surpassing 2.5 L over twenty-four hours

postvoid residual urine volume

a measurement of urine left in the bladder after a patient has voided; obtained using ultrasound, a bladder scanner, or straight catheterization

proteinuria

a medical condition characterized by the presence of abnormal amounts of protein in the urine

purine

organic compound present in various foods that produces uric acid when it is broken down

pyelonephritis

a bacterial infection affecting the kidneys

pyuria

the presence of at least ten white blood cells per cubic millimeter in a urine sample

renal capsule

the protective layer encapsulating the kidneys

renal cortex

the outer layer of the kidneys

renal medulla

the inner region of the kidneys

renal pelvis

a funnel-shaped structure that directs urine into the ureter

renin

an enzyme synthesized and discharged by specialized cells in the kidneys

renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)

a complex hormonal cascade that plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure, electrolyte balance, and fluid volume within the body

stress urinary incontinence

involuntary loss of urine with intra-abdominal pressure

trigone

the triangular area in the bladder that acts as a physiological valve, preventing reflux of urine into the ureters

tubular reabsorption

the physiological process in the kidneys by which essential substances, including water, glucose, ions, and other necessary molecules, are selectively reclaimed from the filtrate in the renal tubules and returned to the bloodstream

tubular secretion

the active transport process in the kidneys by which certain substances, including excess ions, drugs, and metabolic by-products, are selectively moved from the peritubular capillaries into the renal tubules during urine formation

urate crystal

solid structure formed when elevated uric acid levels in the blood lead to the accumulation of crystals in joints

urea

liquid waste produced by the kidneys during the breakdown of protein-containing foods

ureter

one of two muscular tubes that serve as conduits for transporting urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder

urethra

a tubular structure that serves as the conduit for the expulsion of urine from the body

urge urinary incontinence

urine leakage accompanied by the sensation of a strong desire to void (urgency)

uric acid

a chemical compound formed during the breakdown of purines and excreted by the kidneys

urinalysis

a diagnostic examination of a urine sample to assess various aspects of a person’s health

urinary catheterization

a nursing procedure to promote urinary elimination in situations when a patient is unable to void voluntarily or when continuous drainage of urine is necessary

urinary frequency

the urge to urinate multiple times throughout the day or night, often accompanied by a compelling sense of urgency

urinary incontinence

the involuntary loss of bladder control, leading to the unintentional release of urine

urinary irrigation

a procedure that involves introducing a solution into the urinary tract to cleanse, flush, or treat the bladder and associated structures

urinary retention

the inability to fully empty the bladder

urinary system

a sophisticated network of organs responsible for producing, storing, and eliminating urine from the body

urinary tract infection (UTI)

a bacterial infection affecting any part of the urinary system

urinary urgency

the sensation of an urgent need to void

urination

the physiological process of eliminating urine from the bladder through the urethra

voiding stage

the final phase of the urinary process in which urine is expelled from the bladder through the urethra and out of the body