About Us | Privacy | Site Map
May 22, 2013


Kidney Disease Glossary of Terms

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

Abdomen: The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the...

See the entire definition of Abdomen

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

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

Absorption: Uptake. For example, intestinal absorption is the uptake of food (or other sub...

See the entire definition of Absorption

Acetaminophen: A nonaspirin pain reliever or analgesic. Acetaminophen may be given alone t...

See the entire definition of Acetaminophen

Acetate: A molecular ion derived from acetic acid. The formula of acetate is CH3COO-.

Acid-base balance: Acid-base balance refers to the mechanisms the body uses to keep its fl...

See the entire definition of Acid-base balance

Acidosis: Too much acid in the body, a distinctly abnormal condition resulting from the ac...

See the entire definition of Acidosis

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.

Aging: The process of becoming older, a process that is genetically determined and environ...

See the entire definition of Aging

Albumin: The main protein in human blood and the key to regulating the osmotic pressure of...

See the entire definition of Albumin

Aldosterone: A hormone produced by the outer portion (cortex) of the adrenal gland. Aldost...

See the entire definition of Aldosterone

Aluminum: A naturally occurring element that makes up about 8% of the surface of the earth...

See the entire definition of Aluminum back to top

Ambulatory: Able to walk about, not bedridden or immobile.

Amyloidosis: A group of diseases that result from the abnormal deposition of a protein, ca...

See the entire definition of Amyloidosis

Analgesic: A drug that relieves pain.

Analysis: In psychology, a term for conversation-based therapeutic processes used to gain ...

See the entire definition of Analysis

Anatomy: The study of human or animal form, by observation or examination of the living be...

See the entire definition of Anatomy

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

See the entire definition of Anemia

Anemic: Relating to anemia, the condition of having less than the normal number of red blo...

See the entire definition of Anemic

Anesthesia: Loss of feeling or awareness, as when an anesthetic is administered before sur...

See the entire definition of Anesthesia

Angioedema: Like hives but affects deeper skin layer.

Angiotensin: A family of peptides that constrict blood vessels. Narrowing the diameter of ...

See the entire definition of Angiotensin

Angiotensin converting enzyme: Usually abbreviated ACE.

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

Atherosclerosis: A process of progressive thickening and hardening of the walls of medium-...

See the entire definition of Atherosclerosis

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 back to top

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

See the entire definition of Bicarbonate

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

Blood clots: Blood that has been converted from a liquid to a solid state. Also called a t...

See the entire definition of Blood clots

Blood glucose: The main sugar that the body makes from the food in the diet. Glucose is ca...

See the entire definition of Blood glucose

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

Bone marrow: The soft blood-forming tissue that fills the cavities of bones and contains f...

See the entire definition of Bone marrow

Bowel: The small and large intestine.

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

See the entire definition of Breathing

Calcitriol: The active form of vitamin D. Calcitriol is formed in the kidneys or made in t...

See the entire definition of Calcitriol

Calcium: A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones, where it is stored. Calcium is ...

See the entire definition of Calcium

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

See the entire definition of Cancer

CAPD: Central auditory processing disorder.

Capillaries: Capillaries are the smallest of blood vessels. They serve to distribute oxyge...

See the entire definition of Capillaries back to top

Capillary: A tiny blood vessel that connects an arteriole (the smallest division of an art...

See the entire definition of Capillary

Capsule: Capsule has many meanings in medicine including the following:

  1. In medici...

See the entire definition of Capsule

Cardiovascular: Relating to the circulatory system, which comprises the heart and blood ve...

See the entire definition of Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular disease: Disease affecting the heart or blood vessels.

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

Central venous catheter: See: Catheter, central venous.

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

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

Circulation: In medicine, the movement of fluid through the body in a regular or circuitou...

See the entire definition of Circulation

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

See the entire definition of Complication back to top

Constipation: Infrequent and frequently incomplete bowel movements. Constipation is the op...

See the entire definition of Constipation

Cough: A rapid expulsion of air from the lungs, typically in order to clear the lung airwa...

See the entire definition of Cough

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

See the entire definition of Creatinine

Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health. 2. A time withou...

See the entire definition of Cure

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

Diabetes mellitus: Better known just as "diabetes" -- a chronic disease associated with ab...

See the entire definition of Diabetes mellitus

Diabetic nephropathy: Kidney disease from long-standing diabetes. Diabetes affects the tin...

See the entire definition of Diabetic nephropathy

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

Dizziness: Painless head discomfort with many possible causes including disturbances of ...

See the entire definition of Dizziness

Donor: The giver of a tissue or an organ, such as a blood donor or kidney donor.

back to top

Dysfunction: Difficult function or abnormal function.

Dyspepsia: Indigestion. A condition characterized by upper abdominal symptoms that may inc...

See the entire definition of Dyspepsia

Dysplasia: Abnormality in form or development. For example, retinal dysplasia is abnormal ...

See the entire definition of Dysplasia

Edema: The swelling of soft tissues as a result of excess fluid accumulation. Edema is oft...

See the entire definition of Edema

EGFR: Epidermal growth factor receptor. A protein found on the surface of cells to which e...

See the entire definition of EGFR

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

Encephalopathy: Disease, damage, or malfunction of the brain. In general, encephalopathy i...

See the entire definition of Encephalopathy

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

See the entire definition of End-stage renal disease

Enzyme: A protein (or protein-based molecule) that speeds up a chemical reaction in a livi...

See the entire definition of Enzyme

Erectile dysfunction: A consistent inability to sustain an erection sufficient for sexual ...

See the entire definition of Erectile dysfunction

Essential: In medicine, of unknown cause, as in essential hypertension (high blood pressur...

See the entire definition of Essential

Family history: The family structure and relationships within the family, including inform...

See the entire definition of Family history

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

See the entire definition of Fatigue

Fatty acids: Molecules that are long chains of lipid-carboxylic acid found in fats and oil...

See the entire definition of Fatty acids back to top

Fecal: Relating to the feces, the stool. The excrement discharged from the intestines.

Fiber: The parts of fruits and vegetables that cannot be digested. Fiber is of vital impor...

See the entire definition of Fiber

Fistula: An abnormal passageway in the body. The fistula may go from the body surface int...

See the entire definition of Fistula

Gastrointestinal: Adjective referring collectively to the stomach and small and large inte...

See the entire definition of Gastrointestinal

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.

Glomerulus: 1.In the kidney, a tiny ball-shaped structure composed of capillary blo...

See the entire definition of Glomerulus

Glucose: The simple sugar that is the chief source of energy. Glucose is found in the bloo...

See the entire definition of Glucose

Graft: Healthy skin, bone, kidney, liver, or other tissue that is taken from one part of t...

See the entire definition of Graft

Groin: The area where the thigh meets the hip.

Headache: A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the he...

See the entire definition of Headache

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

See the entire definition of Heart

Heart disease: Any disorder that affects the heart. Sometimes the term "heart disease" is ...

See the entire definition of Heart disease

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

See the entire definition of Hemodialysis

Hemoglobin: The oxygen-carrying pigment and predominant protein in the red blood cells. He...

See the entire definition of Hemoglobin back to top

Herbal: 1. An adjective, referring to herbs, as in an herbal tea.
2. A...

See the entire definition of Herbal

Heroin: Semisynthetic drug derived from morphine. Discovered in 1874, it was introduced co...

See the entire definition of Heroin

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

See the entire definition of High blood pressure

HIV: Acronym for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the cause of AIDS (acquired immunodefi...

See the entire definition of HIV

Hormone: A chemical substance produced in the body that controls and regulates the activit...

See the entire definition of Hormone

Hypercalcemia: A higher-than-normal level of calcium in the blood. Hypercalcemia can be a ...

See the entire definition of Hypercalcemia

Hyperkalemia: Elevated potassium in the blood. Hyperkalemia can be caused by taking excess...

See the entire definition of Hyperkalemia

Hyperparathyroidism: Too much parathyroid hormone resulting in abnormally high levels of ...

See the entire definition of Hyperparathyroidism

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

See the entire definition of Hypertension

Hypotension: Any blood pressure that is below the normal expected for an individual in a ...

See the entire definition of Hypotension

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

See the entire definition of Ibuprofen

Immune: Protected against infection, usually by the presence of antibodies.

Immune system: A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing a person from every...

See the entire definition of Immune system

Immunosuppressant: An agent that can suppress or prevent the immune response. Immunosuppre...

See the entire definition of Immunosuppressant

Implantation: The act of setting in firmly.

back to top

Incidence: The frequency with which something, such as a disease or trait, appears in a pa...

See the entire definition of Incidence

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

Insomnia: The perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep due to a number ...

See the entire definition of Insomnia

Iron: An essential mineral. Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen (via hemoglobin ...

See the entire definition of Iron

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

See the entire definition of Itching

Joint: The area where two bones are attached for the purpose of permitting body parts to m...

See the entire definition of Joint

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 transplant: Replacement of a diseased, damaged, or missing kidney with a donor ki...

See the entire definition of Kidney transplant

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

See the entire definition of Laboratory

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

Liver disease: Liver disease refers to any disorder of the liver. The liver is a large org...

See the entire definition of Liver disease

Low blood pressure: Any blood pressure that is below the normal expected for an individua...

See the entire definition of Low blood pressure back to top

Lungs: The lungs are a pair of breathing organs located with the chest which remove carbon...

See the entire definition of Lungs

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

See the entire definition of Lupus

Magnesia: Named after a town in present day Turkey where an ore containing magnesium carbo...

See the entire definition of Magnesia

Magnesium: A mineral involved in many processes in the body including nerve signaling, the...

See the entire definition of Magnesium

Marrow: The bone marrow.

Membrane: A very thin layer of tissue that covers a 'surface.

Metabolic: Relating to metabolism, the whole range of biochemical processes that occur wit...

See the entire definition of Metabolic

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

See the entire definition of Microscope

Microscopic: So small it cannot be seen without the aid of microscope. As opposed to macro...

See the entire definition of Microscopic

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

See the entire definition of Muscle

Myalgia: Pain in the muscles or within muscle 'tissue.

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

See the entire definition of Nausea

Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constric...

See the entire definition of Neck

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

See the entire definition of Nephritis

Nephron: A key unit of the kidney, a tiny funnel-like structure that filters wastes as the...

See the entire definition of Nephron back to top

Nephropathy: Any kidney disease.

Neuropathy: Any disease or malfunction of the nerves.

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

See the entire definition of Nitrogen

Nocturia: Excessive urinating at night. Nocturia can be normal and more common with aging....

See the entire definition of Nocturia

Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c...

See the entire definition of Nose

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

See the entire definition of Obstruction

Osteodystrophy: A bone disorder that adversely affects bone growth. See also renal osteod...

See the entire definition of Osteodystrophy

Outpatient: A patient who is not hospitalized, but instead comes to a physician?s office, ...

See the entire definition of Outpatient

Ovarian: Of or pertaining to the ovary.

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

See the entire definition of Pain

Parathyroid hormone: See Parathormone.

Paricalcitol: A man-made form of vitamin D. Brand name: Zemplar. In 1998 paricalcitol was ...

See the entire definition of Paricalcitol

Pericarditis: Inflammation of the lining around the heart (the pericardium) that causes ch...

See the entire definition of Pericarditis

Peripheral: Situated away from the center, as opposed to centrally located.

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

Peritoneum: The membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers most of the abdominal ...

See the entire definition of Peritoneum

Phosphate: A form of phosphoric acid. Calcium phosphate makes bones and teeth hard.

Phosphorus: An essential element in the diet and a major component of bone.

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

Pound: A measure of weight that is equal to 16 ounces or, metrically, 453.6 grams. Abbrevi...

See the entire definition of Pound

Pregnant: The state of carrying a developing fetus within the body.

Prevalence: The proportion of individuals in a population having a disease or characterist...

See the entire definition of Prevalence

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

See the entire definition of Prognosis

Progressive: Increasing in scope or severity, advancing, or going forward. For example, a ...

See the entire definition of Progressive

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

See the entire definition of Prostate

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

See the entire definition of Protein

Proteins: Large molecules composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific orde...

See the entire definition of Proteins

Quality of life: The patient's ability to enjoy normal life activities. Quality of life is...

See the entire definition of Quality of life back to top

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

See the entire definition of Rash

Receptor: 1. In cell biology, a structure on the surface of a cell (or inside a cel...

See the entire definition of Receptor

Recipient: In medicine, someone who is given something, such as a blood transfusion or an ...

See the entire definition of Recipient

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

See the entire definition of Red blood cell

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

See the entire definition of Red blood cells

Red cells: Short for red blood cells, the oxygen/carbon dioxide carrying cells in blood. A...

See the entire definition of Red cells

Reflux: The term used when liquid backs up into the esophagus from the stomach.

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

Renal osteodystrophy: A bone disorder that adversely affects bone growth and is caused by ...

See the entire definition of Renal osteodystrophy

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

See the entire definition of Residual

Restless legs: See: Restless leg syndrome.

Serum: The clear liquid that can be separated from clotted blood. Serum differs from plas...

See the entire definition of Serum

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

See the entire definition of Shortness of breath

Sickle cell disease: A genetic blood disorder caused by the presence of an abnormal form ...

See the entire definition of Sickle cell disease

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

See the entire definition of Sodium back to top

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

Subcutaneous: Under the skin. For example, a subcutaneous injection is an injection in whi...

See the entire definition of Subcutaneous

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

See the entire definition of Surgery

Symptomatic: 1 With symptoms, as a symptomatic infection. 2 Characteristic o...

See the entire definition of Symptomatic

Syndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process.

Systemic: Affecting the entire body. A systemic disease such as diabetes can affect the wh...

See the entire definition of Systemic

Systemic lupus erythematosus: A chronic inflammatory condition caused by an autoimmune di...

See the entire definition of Systemic lupus erythematosus

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

See the entire definition of Taste

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

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

See the entire definition of Throat

Tired: A feeling of a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency of accomplishment,...

See the entire definition of Tired

Tiredness: See: Tired.

Transplant: The grafting of a tissue from one place to another, just as in botany a bu...

See the entire definition of Transplant

Tubes: The "tubes" are medically known as the Fallopian tubes. There are two Fallopian tub...

See the entire definition of Tubes back to top

Tubule: A small tube.

Tylenol: See: Acetaminophen.

Type 2 diabetes: See Diabetes, type 2.

Ulcer: A lesion that is eroding away the skin or mucous membrane. Ulcers can have various ...

See the entire definition of Ulcer

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

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

Vascular: Relating to blood vessels. For example, the vascular system in the body includes...

See the entire definition of Vascular

Vasculitis: A general term for a group of uncommon diseases that feature inflammation of t...

See the entire definition of Vasculitis

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 back to top

Viral: Of or pertaining to a virus. For example, if a person has a viral rash, the rash wa...

See the entire definition of Viral

Vitamin D: A steroid vitamin which promotes the intestinal absorption and metabolism of ca...

See the entire definition of Vitamin D

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

Weight loss: Weight loss is a decrease in body weight resulting from either voluntary (die...

See the entire definition of Weight loss 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