Adrenal gland
One of a pair of small glands, each of which sits on top of one of the kidneys. These glands produce hormones that help control heart rate, blood pressure, the way the body uses food and other vital functions.
Anatomy
The physical structure of an internal structure of an organism or any of its parts.
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Benign
Not malignant; not cancerous.
Biofeedback
A procedure that uses electrodes to help an individual gain awareness and control of their pelvic muscles.
Biopsy
A procedure in which a tiny piece of a body part (tissue sample), such as the kidney or bladder, is removed (with a needle or during surgery) for examination under a microscope; to determine if cancer or other abnormal cells are present.
Bladder
The balloon-shaped pouch of thin, flexible muscle in which urine is temporarily stored before being discharged through the urethra.
Bladder Augmentation
Operation that uses a piece of the intestine (bowel) to enlarge the bladder.
Bladder Control
The ability to control the timing of urination. Also referred to as continence.
Bladder infection
Also known as cystitis. Urinary tract infection involving the bladder. Typical symptoms include burning with urination, frequency, urgency and wetting.
Bladder Neck
Area of thickened muscle fiber where the bladder joins the urethra. Acting on signals from the brain, bladder neck muscles can either tighten to hold urine in the bladder or relax to allow urine out and into the urethra. These muscles also tighten during ejaculation to prevent backflow of semen into the bladder.
BPH
Also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia. An enlarged prostate not caused by cancer. BPH can cause problems with urination because the prostate squeezes the urethra at the opening of the bladder.
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Cancer
An abnormal growth that can invade nearby structures and spread to other parts of the body and may be a threat to life.
Catheter
A thin tube that is inserted through the urethra into the bladder to allow urine to drain or for performance of a procedure or test, such as insertion of a substance during a bladder X-ray.
Catheterization
Insertion of a narrow tube through the urethra or through the front of the abdominal wall into the bladder to allow urine drainage.
Chronic
Lasting a long time. Chronic diseases develop slowly. Chronic renal (kidney) failure may develop over many years and lead to end-stage renal (kidney) disease.
CIC
Also known as clean intermittent catheterization. Periodic insertion of a clean catheter into the urethra after washing your hands to drain the urine from the bladder.
Congenital
Present at birth.
Continence
The ability to control the timing of urination or a bowel movement.
Contract
To shrink or become smaller.
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Diagnosis
The process by which a doctor determines what disease or condition a patient has by studying the patient's symptoms and medical history, and analyzing any tests performed (e.g., blood tets, urine tests, brain scans, etc.).
Dysuria
Painful or difficult urination, most frequently caused by infection or inflammation but it can also be caused by certain drugs.
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EEG
Also known as electroencephalogram. A procedure that records the brain's continuous electrical activity by means of electrodes attached to the scalp.
Ejaculation
Release of semen from the penis during sexual climax (orgasm).
Electroencephalogram
Also known as EEG. A procedure that records the brain's continuous electrical activity by means of electrodes attached to the scalp.
Endoscope
A lighted medical instrument consisting of a long tube inserted into the body, usually through a small incision. It is used for diagnostic examination and surgical procedures.
External beam radiation
Radiation focused from a source outside the body on the affected area within the body.
External urethral sphincter muscle
Muscle surrounding the external opening of the urethra, the tube that carries urine outside the body from the bladder.
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Fluoroscopy
Imaging technique that takes a real time "movie" of the body.
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Gland
A mass of cells or an organ that removes substances from the bloodstream and excretes them or secretes them back into the blood with a specific physiological purpose.
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Hormone
A natural chemical produced in one part of the body and released into the blood to trigger or regulate particular functions of the body. Antidiuretic hormone tells the kidneys to slow down urine production.
Hormone therapy
Treatment that adds, blocks or removes hormones.
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Incontinence
Loss of bladder or bowel control; the accidental loss of urine or feces.
Infection
A condition resulting from the presence of bacteria or other microorganisms.
Intermittent catheterization
Periodic insertion of a narrow tube through the urethra or through the front of the abdominal wall into the bladder to allow urine drainage.
Ions
Electrically charged atoms.
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Kegel exercises
Tightening and relaxing the muscles that hold urine in the bladder and hold the bladder in its proper position, to improve a woman's ability to hold in her urine.
Kidney
One of two bean-shaped organs that filter wastes from the blood and discharge these waste products in urine. The kidneys are located near the middle of the back. The kidneys send urine to the bladder through tubes called ureters.
Kidney Infection
Also called pyelonephritis. Urinary tract infection involving the kidney. Typical symptoms include abdominal or back pain, fever, malaise and nausea or vomiting.
Kidney stone
A stone that develops from crystals that form in urine and build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney, in the renal pelvis or in the ureters. (Also see nephrolithiasis.)
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Laparoscopic
Using an instrument in the shape of a tube that is inserted through the abdominal wall to give an examining doctor a view of the internal organs.
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Metastasized
Cancerous tumor that has spread to another part of the body.
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Nephritis
Inflammation of the kidneys.
Neurogenic Bladder
Also called neuropathic bladder. Loss of bladder control caused by damage to the nerves controlling the bladder.
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Oncologist
A doctor who specializes in the treatment of cancer.
Overactive Bladder
A condition in which the patient experiences two or all three of the following conditions: urinary urgency, urge incontinence or urinary frequency--defined for this condition as urination more than seven times a day or more than twice at night.
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Paralytic Agent
Drug used to temporarily paralyze an individual.
Pelvis
The bowl-shaped bone that supports the spine and holds up the digestive, urinary, and reproductive organs. The legs connect to the body at the pelvis.
Peripheral
Near the surface of an organ.
Prostate
In men, a walnut-shaped gland that surrounds the urethra at the neck of the bladder. The prostate supplies fluid that goes into semen.
Prostatectomy
Surgical procedure for the partial or complete removal of the prostate.
PSA
Also referred to as prostate-specific antigen. A protein made only by the prostate gland. High levels of PSA in the blood may be a sign of prostate cancer.
Pyelonephritis
Also referred to as kidney infection usually caused by a germ that has traveled up through the urethra, bladder and ureters from outside the body. Typical symptoms include abdominal or back pain, fever, malaise and nausea or vomiting.
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Radiation
Also referred to as radiotherapy. X-rays or radioactive substances used in treatment of cancer.
Radiation therapy
Also referred to as radiotherapy or radiation. X-rays or radioactive substances used in treatment of cancer.
Radical
Completeremoval.
Reflux
Backward flow of urine. Also referred to as vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). An abnormal condition in which urine backs up from the bladder into the ureters and occasionally into the kidneys, raising the risk of infection.
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Sphincter
A round muscle that opens and closes to let fluid or other matter pass into or out of an organ. Sphincter muscles keep the bladder closed until it is time to urinate.
Sphincter muscle
Circular muscle that helps keep urine from leaking by closing tightly like a rubber band around the opening of the bladder.
Spina Bifida
A condition at birth in which part of the spinal cord protrudes through a small indentation in the spinal column resulting in partial to total loss of voluntary movement in the lower body.
Stent
With regard to treating ureteral stones, a tube inserted through the urethra and bladder and into the ureter. Stents are used to aid treatment in various ways, such as preventing stone fragments from blocking the flow of urine.
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Tissue
Group of cells in an organism that are similar in form and function.
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Ultrasound
Also referred to as a sonogram. A technique that bounces painless sound waves off organs to create an image of their structure to detect abnormalities.
Ureter
One of two tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
Ureteral
Pertaining to the ureter. Also referred to as ureteric.
Ureters
Tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
Urethra
In males, this narrow tube carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body and also serves as the channel through which semen is ejaculated. Extends from the bladder to the tip of the penis. In females, this short, narrow tube carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.
Urethral
Relating to the urethra, the tube tha carries urine from the bladder to outside the body.
Urethral sphincter
Muscle fibers around the outside of the urethra that tighten to close off the flow of urine or relax to open the urethra to allow the passage of urine.
Urinary frequency
Urination eight or more times a day.
Urinary incontinence
Involuntary loss of urine associated with a sudden strong urge to urinate.
Urinary incontinence
Inability to control urination.
Urinary tract
The system that takes wastes from the blood and carries them out of the body in the form of urine. Passageway from the kidneys to the ureters, bladder and urethra.
Urinary tract infection
Also referred to as UTI. An illness caused by harmful bacteria, viruses or yeast growing in the urinary tract.
Urinate
To release urine from the bladder to the outside. Also referred to as void.
Urine
Liquid waste product filtered from the blood by the kidneys, stored in the bladder and expelled from the body through the urethra by the act of urinating (voiding). About 96 percent of which is water and the rest waste products.
UTI
Also referred to as urinary tract infection. An illness caused by harmful bacteria growing in the urinary tract.
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Vas
Also referred to as vas deferens. The cordlike structure that carries sperm from the testicle to the urethra.
Vesicoureteral reflux
Also referred to as VUR. An abnormal condition in which urine backs up from the bladder into the ureters and occasionally into the kidneys, raising the risk of infection.
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Watchful waiting
An approach to handling localized, slow-growing prostate cancer by having regular checkups instead of immediate treatment.
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