- 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