Dictionary

urinary calculus A stone in the urinary tract. A urinary calculus may be a kidney stone or it may be lower down in the ureter, bladder, or urethra. See also kidney stones.

urinary incontinence The unintentional loss of urine due to loss of voluntary control over the urinary sphincters. One cause of urinary incontinence is overactive bladder, in which a sudden involuntary contraction of the muscular wall of the bladder results in urinary urgency, an immediate unstoppable need to urinate. See also bedwetting; enuresis; urethral sphincter.

urinary sphincter See urethral sphincter.

urinary tract The organs of the body that produce, store, and discharge urine. These organs include the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

urinary tract infection An infection of the kidney, ureter, bladder, or urethra. Abbreviated UTI. Not everyone with a UTI has symptoms, but common symptoms include a frequent urge to urinate and pain or burning when urinating. More females than males have UTIs. Underlying conditions that physically obstruct and impair the normal urinary flow, such as…

urine Liquid waste produced by the kidneys.

Urine is a clear, transparent fluid that normally has an amber color. The average amount of urine excreted in 24 hours is between 5 to 8 cups or 40 and 60 ounces. Chemically, urine is mainly a watery solution of salt and substances called urea and uric acid. Normally, it contains about 960 parts water…

urine, blood in the See hematuria.

urine pH A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of urine. Checking urine pH is part of the routine urinalysis. Factors that affect urine pH include vomiting, diarrhea, lung disease, hormones, kidney function, and urinary tract infection. urine test See urinalysis.

urogenital Relating to both the urinary system and the genital system (the interior and exterior genitalia).

urography A method for examining the structure and functionality of the urinary system. A special dye is injected, and an X-ray machine records the dye’s progress through the urinary tract. Urography is particularly useful for discovering cysts or other internal blockages.

urolithiasis The process of forming stones in the kidney, bladder, and/or urethra. See also kidney stone.