4.5 Disorders of Urinary Tract

The urinary tract can be affected by various disorders, including urinary tract infections, kidney stones, kidney failure, and conditions requiring dialysis or kidney transplant. The normal aging process in humans affects kidney function in various ways.

Definition

Disorders of Urinary Tract: Disorders of the urinary tract are conditions that affect the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. These include urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney stones, kidney failure, and conditions requiring dialysis or kidney transplant.

Urology: Urology is the branch of medicine which deals with diseases and abnormalities of the urinary tract and their treatment.

Main Idea

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) — infections of the urinary tract
• Kidney stones — hard deposits in the kidney
• Kidney failure — decline in kidney function
• Dialysis — artificial filtering of blood
• Kidney transplant — surgical replacement of a kidney

Core Concept

• UTI = urinary tract infection
• Urethritis = infection of urethra
• Cystitis = infection of bladder
• Pyelonephritis = infection of kidneys
• Kidney stones = hard deposits in kidney
• Nephrolithiasis = condition of having stones
• Kidney failure = decline in kidney function
• Chronic renal failure = irreversible deterioration
• Acute renal failure = sudden decline
• Dialysis = artificial filtering
• Haemodialysis = blood filtered outside body
• Peritoneal dialysis = uses peritoneum
• Kidney transplant = surgical replacement