About Us | Privacy | Site Map
May 24, 2013


Acute Kidney Failure Glossary of Terms

The following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Acute Kidney Failure article.

Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of ...

See the entire definition of Abdominal

Abdominal cavity: The cavity within the abdomen, the space between the abdominal wall and...

See the entire definition of Abdominal cavity

Abdominal pain: Pain in the belly. Abdominal pain can be acute or chronic. It may reflect ...

See the entire definition of Abdominal pain

Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.

Acute: Of abrupt onset, in reference to a disease. Acute often also connotes an illness th...

See the entire definition of Acute

Acute kidney failure: See: Acute renal failure.

Acute renal failure: Sudden and often temporary loss of kidney function. Also called acute...

See the entire definition of Acute renal failure

Acute tubular necrosis: A severe form of acute renal failure that develops in people with ...

See the entire definition of Acute tubular necrosis

Anemia: The condition of having a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells or quantity ...

See the entire definition of Anemia

Artery: A vessel that carries blood high in oxygen content away from the heart to the far...

See the entire definition of Artery

Aspirin: Once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid, now the common name for this a...

See the entire definition of Aspirin

Azotemia: A higher-than-normal blood level of urea or other nitrogen-containing compounds....

See the entire definition of Azotemia

Back pain: Pain felt in the low or upper back. Causes of pain in the low and upper back in...

See the entire definition of Back pain

Bacterial: Of or pertaining to bacteria, as in a bacterial lung infection.

Bicarbonate: In medicine, bicarbonate usually refers to bicarbonate of soda (sodium bicarb...

See the entire definition of Bicarbonate back to top

Biopsy: The removal of a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope to check for ...

See the entire definition of Biopsy

Bladder: A hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine. The kidneys filter waste f...

See the entire definition of Bladder

Bladder cancer: A common form of cancer that begins in the lining of the bladder. The most...

See the entire definition of Bladder cancer

Blood clot: A mass of coagulated blood. A blood clot can block a major blood vessel, causi...

See the entire definition of Blood clot

Blood in the urine: Blood that appears in the urine. Also known as hematuria. Gross hematu...

See the entire definition of Blood in the urine

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is...

See the entire definition of Blood pressure

Blood urea nitrogen: A measure of the urea level in blood. Abbreviated BUN. Diseases that ...

See the entire definition of Blood urea nitrogen

Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ...

See the entire definition of Breathing

Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ...

See the entire definition of Cancer

Catheter: A thin, flexible tube.

Cell: The basic structural and functional unit of any living thing. Each cell is a small c...

See the entire definition of Cell

Chemotherapy: 1. In the original sense, a chemical that binds to and specifically k...

See the entire definition of Chemotherapy

Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

See the entire definition of Chest

Chest pain: Pain in the chest that can be a result of many things, including angina, heart...

See the entire definition of Chest pain

Cholesterol: The most common type of steroid in the body. Cholesterol has a reputation for...

See the entire definition of Cholesterol back to top

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

See the entire definition of Chronic

Chronic kidney failure: See: Chronic renal failure.

Chronic renal failure: Now more commonly classified as chronic kidney disease and is liste...

See the entire definition of Chronic renal failure

Coma: A state of deep, unarousable unconsciousness. A coma may occur as a result of head t...

See the entire definition of Coma

Complication: In medicine, an unanticipated problem that arises following, and is a result...

See the entire definition of Complication

Creatinine: A chemical waste molecule that is generated from muscle metabolism. Creatinine...

See the entire definition of Creatinine

Cysts: Cysts are abnormal, closed sac-like structures within a tissue that contain a liqui...

See the entire definition of Cysts

Dehydration: Excessive loss of body water. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that ca...

See the entire definition of Dehydration

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

See the entire definition of Diabetes

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

See the entire definition of Diagnosis

Dialysis: The process of cleansing the blood by passing it through a special machine. Dial...

See the entire definition of Dialysis

Dialysis machine: A machine used in dialysis that filters a patient's blood to remove exce...

See the entire definition of Dialysis machine

Diarrhea: A common condition that involves unusually frequent and liquid bowel movements. ...

See the entire definition of Diarrhea

Diuretic: Something that promotes the formation of urine by the kidney. All diuretics caus...

See the entire definition of Diuretic

Dysfunction: Difficult function or abnormal function.

back to top

Electrolyte: A substance that dissociates into ions in solution and acquires the capacity ...

See the entire definition of Electrolyte

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

See the entire definition of Emergency department

End-stage renal disease: ESRD. Chronic irreversible renal failure. Also known as Chronic...

See the entire definition of End-stage renal disease

ESRD: End-stage renal disease.

Fatigue: A condition characterized by a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency ...

See the entire definition of Fatigue

Genetic: Having to do with genes and genetic
information.

Glomerular: Pertaining to the glomerulus, a tiny structure in the kidney that filters the ...

See the entire definition of Glomerular

Glomeruli: The plural of glomerulus.

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

See the entire definition of Heart

Heart failure: Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it and, specifically...

See the entire definition of Heart failure

Hemodialysis: A medical procedure that uses a special machine (a dialysis machine) to fil...

See the entire definition of Hemodialysis

High blood pressure: A repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg. Chro...

See the entire definition of High blood pressure

Hypertension: High blood pressure, defined as a repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceedi...

See the entire definition of Hypertension

Ibuprofen: A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commonly used to treat pa...

See the entire definition of Ibuprofen

ICU: Intensive care unit. The intensive care unit is a designated area of a hospital facil...

See the entire definition of ICU back to top

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

See the entire definition of Infection

Inflammation: A localized reaction that produces redness, warmth, swelling, and pain as a ...

See the entire definition of Inflammation

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

See the entire definition of Injury

Intensive care: See critical care.

Interstitial: Pertaining to being between things, especially between things that are norma...

See the entire definition of Interstitial

Itching: An uncomfortable sensation in the skin that feels as if something is crawling on ...

See the entire definition of Itching

Kidney: One of a pair of organs located in the right and left side of the abdomen. The kid...

See the entire definition of Kidney

Kidney cancer: Malignancy of the kidney, the organ that is primarily responsible for the r...

See the entire definition of Kidney cancer

Kidney stone: A stone in the kidney or a stone that originates in the kidney but has passe...

See the entire definition of Kidney stone

Laboratory: A place for doing tests and research procedures, and for preparing chemicals a...

See the entire definition of Laboratory

Lethargy: Abnormal drowsiness, stupor.

Leukemia: Cancer of the blood cells. Strictly speaking, leukemia should refer only to canc...

See the entire definition of Leukemia

Lightheadedness: A feeling you are "going to faint." Lightheadedness is medically distinc...

See the entire definition of Lightheadedness

Liver: The largest solid organ in the body, situated in the upper part of the abdomen on t...

See the entire definition of Liver

Lupus: A chronic inflammatory disease that is caused by autoimmunity. Patients with lupus ...

See the entire definition of Lupus back to top

Lymphoma: A tumor of the lymphoid tissue. The major types of lymphoma are Hodgkin's diseas...

See the entire definition of Lymphoma

Microscope: An optical instrument that augments the power of the eye to see small objects....

See the entire definition of Microscope

Mortality: A fatal outcome or, in one word, death. The word "mortality" is derived from "m...

See the entire definition of Mortality

Mortality rate: A death rate. There are a number of different types of mortality rates as,...

See the entire definition of Mortality rate

Mouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and con...

See the entire definition of Mouth

Nausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in...

See the entire definition of Nausea

Necrosis: The death of living cells or tissues. Necrosis can be due, for example, to ische...

See the entire definition of Necrosis

Nephritis: Inflammation of the kidney, which causes impaired kidney function. Nephritis ca...

See the entire definition of Nephritis

Nephrologist: A physician specializing in treating diseases of the kidneys.

Nitrogen: Element number 7, a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is biologically impo...

See the entire definition of Nitrogen

Nurse: 1) A person trained, licensed, or skilled in nursing. 2) To feed an infant at the ...

See the entire definition of Nurse

Obstruction: Blockage of a passageway. See, for example: Airway obstruction; Intestinal o...

See the entire definition of Obstruction

Onset: In medicine, the first appearance of the signs or symptoms of an illness as, for ex...

See the entire definition of Onset

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

See the entire definition of Pain

Peritoneal: Having to do with the peritoneum.

back to top

Peritoneal dialysis: A dialysis technique that uses the patient's own body tissues inside ...

See the entire definition of Peritoneal dialysis

Poison: Any substance that can cause severe organ damage or death if ingested, breathed in...

See the entire definition of Poison

Polycystic kidney disease: One of the genetic disorders characterized by the development ...

See the entire definition of Polycystic kidney disease

Potassium: The major positive ion (cation) found inside cells. The chemical notation for p...

See the entire definition of Potassium

Prognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan...

See the entire definition of Prognosis

Prostate: A gland within the male reproductive system that is located just below the blad...

See the entire definition of Prostate

Prostate enlargement: Most prostatic enlargement is due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (B...

See the entire definition of Prostate enlargement

Protein: One of the three nutrients used as energy sources (calories) by the body. Protein...

See the entire definition of Protein

Pus: A thick, whitish-yellow fluid that results from the accumulation of white blood cells...

See the entire definition of Pus

Rash: Breaking out (eruption) of the skin. A rash can be caused by an underlying medical c...

See the entire definition of Rash

Red blood cell: The blood cell that carries oxygen. Red cells contain hemoglobin and it is...

See the entire definition of Red blood cell

Renal: Having to do with the kidney. For example, renal cancer is cancer of the kidneys.

Residual: Something left behind. With residual disease, the disease has not been eradicate...

See the entire definition of Residual

Sarcoidosis: A disease of unknown origin that causes small lumps (granulomas) due to chron...

See the entire definition of Sarcoidosis

Sepsis: The presence of bacteria (bacteremia), other infectious organisms, or toxins creat...

See the entire definition of Sepsis back to top

Shock: In medicine, a critical condition that is brought on by a sudden drop in blood flow...

See the entire definition of Shock

Shortness of breath: Difficulty in breathing. Medically referred to as dyspnea. Shortness ...

See the entire definition of Shortness of breath

Sodium: The major positive ion (cation) in the fluid surrounding cells in the body. The ch...

See the entire definition of Sodium

Spine: 1) The column of bone known as the vertebral column, which surrounds and protects ...

See the entire definition of Spine

Stage: As regards cancer, the extent of a cancer, especially whether the disease has spre...

See the entire definition of Stage

Strep: Very commonly used shortened form of Streptococcus, a very common and import...

See the entire definition of Strep

Strep throat: Strep throat is an infection caused by a type of bacteria called streptococc...

See the entire definition of Strep throat

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

See the entire definition of Surgery

Taste: A perception that results from stimulation of a gustatory nerve. Taste belongs to t...

See the entire definition of Taste

Throat: The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of th...

See the entire definition of Throat

Tiredness: See: Tired.

Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue. Tumors are a classic sign of inflammation, and can be ...

See the entire definition of Tumor

Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves. Ultra-sound waves can be bounced off tissues by us...

See the entire definition of Ultrasound

Urea: A nitrogen-containing substance normally cleared from the blood by the kidney into t...

See the entire definition of Urea

Urethra: The tube that leads from the bladder and transports and discharges urine outside ...

See the entire definition of Urethra back to top

Urinalysis: A test that is done in order to analyze urine. Because toxins and excess fluid...

See the entire definition of Urinalysis

Urinary: Having to do with the function or anatomy of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or ur...

See the entire definition of Urinary

Urinary tract: The organs of the body that produce, store, and discharge urine. These orga...

See the entire definition of Urinary tract

Urine: Liquid waste produced by the kidneys. Urine is a clear, transparent fluid that norm...

See the entire definition of Urine

Vein: A blood vessel that carries blood that is low in oxygen content from the body back t...

See the entire definition of Vein

Vessel: A tube in the body that carries fluids. Examples of vessels are blood vessels and ...

See the entire definition of Vessel

Vitamins: The word "vitamin" was coined in 1911 by the Warsaw-born biochemist Casimir Funk...

See the entire definition of Vitamins

Water retention: A nonspecific term meaning the accumulation of excess fluids in body tiss...

See the entire definition of Water retention back to top


Women's Health

Find out what women really need.

Please acknowledge your agreement





Medical Dictionary


Use Pill Finder Find it Now

Pill Identifier on RxList

  • quick, easy,
    pill identification

Find a Local Pharmacy

  • including 24 hour, pharmacies