Incontinence Glossary of Terms

1. Urinary Incontinence in Women Slideshow Pictures
2. Urinary Incontinence in Men Slideshow Pictures
3. Food & Drinks That Make You Gotta Go Slideshow Pictures

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

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

Abdominal muscles: A large group of muscles in the front of the abdomen that assists in th...

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

Abscess: A local accumulation of pus anywhere in the body. The following are some example...

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

Allergic reaction: The hypersensitive response of the immune system of an allergic indiv...

Alzheimer's disease: A progressive degenerative disease of the brain that leads to dementi...

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

Anterior: The front, as opposed to the posterior. The anterior surface of the heart is tow...

Anticholinergic: Opposing the actions of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Anticholinerg...

Antidepressant: Anything, and especially a drug, used to prevent or treat depression.

Antidepressants: Anything, and especially a drug, used to prevent or treat depression.

Antispasmodic: A medication that relieves, prevents, or lowers the incidence of muscle spa...

Arms: An appendage in anatomy and in clinical trials. See: Arm.

Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, w...

Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent (free-living) ...

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

Bedwetting: Involuntary urination in bed. Bedwetting is called "enuresis," from the Gree...

Belly: That part of the body that contains all of the structures between the chest and t...

Belly button: The navel or umbilicus; the former site of attachment of the umbilical cord....

Benign: Not malignant. A benign tumor is one that does not invade surrounding tissue or sp...

Benign prostatic hyperplasia: A common, noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. Th...

Biofeedback: A method of treatment that uses a monitor to measure patients' physiologic in...

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

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

Bladder infection: Infection of the urinary bladder. Some people are at more risk for blad...

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

Bowel: The small and large intestine.

BPH: Benign prostatic hyperplasia, benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func...

Caffeine: A stimulant compound found naturally in coffee, tea, cocoa (chocolate), and kola...

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

Carcinoma: Cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover body organs. Ex...

Carcinoma in situ: Cancer that has stayed in the place where it began and has not spread t...

Catheter: A thin, flexible tube.

Cellulitis: A spreading bacterial infection underneath the skin surface characterized by r...

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

Cognitive: Having to do with thought, judgment, or knowledge.

Colitis: Inflammation of the large intestine (the colon). There are many forms of coliti...

Collagen: The principal protein of the skin, tendons, cartilage, bone, and connective tiss...

Compress: Cloth or another material applied under pressure to an area of the skin and held...

Compression: 1. The act of pressing together. As in a compression fracture, nerve c...

Cone: A type of specialized light-sensitive cell (photoreceptor) in the retina of the eye ...

Congenital: A condition that is present at birth, whether or not it is inherited.

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

Contraction: The tightening and shortening of a muscle.

Contrast: Short for "contrast media." Contrast media are X-ray dyes used to provide contra...

Contrast media: X-ray dye. Commonly spoken of as "contrast."

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

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

Cystocele: Bulging of the bladder into the vagina.

Cystoscope: An optical instrument (a scope) that is inserted through the urethra into the...

Cystoscopy: A procedure in which a lighted optical instrument called a cystoscope is inser...

Cytology: The medical and scientific study of cells. Cytology refers to a branch of pathol...

Dementia: Significant loss of intellectual abilities, such as memory capacity, that is sev...

Depression: An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and that affects the way...

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

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

Disc: Shortened terminology for an intervertebral disc, a disk-shaped piece of specialized...

Drain: A device for removing fluid from a cavity or wound. A drain is typically a tube or ...

Dysfunction: Difficult function or abnormal function.

Elavil: See: Amitriptyline.

Endoscope: A lighted optical instrument that is used to get a deep look inside the body. A...

Enuresis: Involuntary urination, which may be caused by a variety of factors. These incl...

Erosion: An erosion is an eating away of a surface. ("Erodere" in Latin means to eat out.)...

Estrogen: A female steroid hormone that is produced by the ovaries and, in lesser amounts,...

Estrogens: Female hormones produced by the ovaries. Estrogen deficiency can lead to osteop...

Feces: The excrement discharged from the 'intestines.

Feedback: Many biologic processes are controlled by feedback, just as the temperature in a...

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

Foley catheter: See: Catheter, Foley.

Genital: Pertaining to the external and/or internal organs of reproduction.

Genital herpes: An infection by human herpes virus that is transmitted through intimate co...

Gland: A group of cells that secrete a substance for use in the body. For example, the thy...

Glaucoma: A common eye condition in which the fluid pressure inside the eyes rises becaus...

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

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

Hematuria: Blood in the urine. Hematuria may or may not be accompanied by pain, but it is...

Herpes: A family of viruses. Herpes also refers to infection with one of the human herpesv...

Hyperplasia: An increase in the number of normal cells in a tissue or an organ. Hyperplasi...

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

Iatrogenic: Due to the activity of a physician or therapy. For example, an iatrogenic illn...

Idiopathic: Of unknown cause. Any disease that is of uncertain or unknown origin may be te...

In situ: In the normal location. An in situ tumor is one that is confined to its site of o...

Incision: A cut through skin or other tissue performed by a health care professional.

Incontinence: The inability to control excretions, to hold urine in the bladder, or to kee...

Incontinent: Unable to control excretions, to hold urine in the bladder, or to keep feces ...

Indicate: In medicine, to make a treatment or procedure advisable because of a particular ...

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

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

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

Intrinsic: 1. An essential or inherent part of a something such as a structure.
...

Involuntary: Done other than in accordance with the conscious will of the individual. The ...

Kegel exercises: Exercises designed to increase muscle strength and elasticity in the fema...

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

Labia: Lips, the fleshy folds that surround the opening of the mouth (oral labia) or the v...

Laparoscopic: 1. Pertaining to the procedure of laparoscopy.
2. Pert...

Lean body mass: The mass of the body minus the fat (storage lipid). There are a number of ...

Lumbar: Referring to the five lumbar vertebrae, the disks below them, and the correspondin...

Medical history: 1. In clinical medicine, the patient's past and present which may ...

Menopause: The time in a woman's life when menstrual periods permanently stop; it is also...

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

Micturition: Urination; the act of urinating.

Multiple sclerosis: A disease that is characterized by loss of myelin (demyelinization). A...

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

Myasthenia gravis: An autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that is characterized by fatigue a...

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

Nerve: A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory an...

Neurological: Having to do with the nerves or the nervous system as, for example, a neurol...

Neuropathy: Any disease or malfunction of the nerves.

Neurosyphilis: Neurological complications in the third (tertiary) and final phase of syp...

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

Nocturnal enuresis: Bedwetting at night. From the Greek "enourin" meaning "to urinate i...

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

Nursing: 1) Profession concerned with the provision of services essential to the maintena...

Nursing home: A residential facility for people with chronic illness or disability, partic...

Obesity: The state of being well above one's normal weight.

Objective: In a microscope, the objective (also called the objective lens) is the lens nea...

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

Organ: A relatively independent part of the body that carries out one or more special func...

Outlet: The exit or opening. The means by which something escapes.

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

Overactive bladder: A sudden involuntary contraction of the muscular wall of the bladder c...

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

Parkinson's disease: A slowly progressive neurologic disease that is characterized by a fi...

Pelvic: Having to do with the pelvis, the lower part of the abdomen, located between the h...

Pelvis: The lower part of the abdomen, located between the hip bones. Structures in the fe...

Penile: Of or pertaining to the penis.

Penis: The external male sex organ. The penis contains two chambers, the corpora cavernosa...

Perineal: Pertaining to the perineum.

Perineum: The area between the anus and the scrotum in the male and between the anus and t...

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

Physical therapy: A branch of rehabilitative health that uses specially designed exercises...

Postmenopausal: After menopause, the period of time after a woman has experienced 12 conse...

Pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Thi...

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

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

Prostate gland: A gland in the male reproductive system that is located just below the bla...

Radiograph: In medicine, an X-ray or a film produced through X-ray.

Radioisotope: A version of a chemical element that has an unstable nucleus and emits radia...

Rectum: The last 6 to 8 inches of the large intestine. The rectum stores solid waste until...

Reflex: An involuntary reaction. For example, the corneal reflex is the blink that occurs ...

Regimen: A plan or a regulated course, such as a diet, exercise, or treatment, that is des...

Rehabilitation: The process of helping a person who has suffered an illness or injury rest...

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...

Sclerosis: Localized hardening of skin. Sclerosis is generally caused by underlying diseas...

Scrotum: The pouch of skin that contains the testes, epididymides, and lower portions of t...

Sensation: In medicine and physiology, sensation refers to the registration of an incoming...

Sensory: Relating to sensation, to the perception of a stimulus, to the voyage made by inc...

Sleep: The body's rest cycle.

Sneeze: 1. As a verb, to suddenly expel air through the nose and mouth by an involu...

Spinal cord: The major column of nerve tissue that is connected to the brain and lies with...

Stool: The solid matter that is discharged in a bowel movement.

Stress: In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional fact...

Stricture: An abnormal narrowing of a body passage, especially a tube or a canal. The str...

Stroke: The sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen, caused by blockage of blood...

Substance: 1. Material with particular features.
2. The material that...

Surgeon: A physician who treats disease, injury, or deformity via operative or manual meth...

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

Symptom: Any subjective evidence of disease. In contrast, a sign is objective. Blood comin...

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

Thigh: The thick, muscular portion of the leg that extends from the hip to the knee. The t...

Tobacco: A South American herb (Nicotiana tabacum) whose leaves contain 2 to 8 percent nic...

Trauma: A physical or emotional injury.

Trigger: Something that either sets off a disease in people who are genetically predispose...

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

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

Ulcerative colitis: A bowel disease that is characterized by inflammation with ulcer forma...

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

Ureter: One of the two tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Each ureter...

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

Urethral sphincter: A muscular mechanism
that controls the retention and release of u...

Urethritis: Inflammation of the urethra, the tube that leads from the bladder to the outsi...

Urge incontinence: A sudden involuntary contraction of the muscular wall of the bladder ca...

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

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

Urinary incontinence: The unintentional loss of urine. Inability to hold urine in the blad...

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

Urinary tract infection: An infection of the kidney, ureter, bladder, or urethra. Abbrevia...

Urinary urgency: An immediate unstoppable urge to urinate, due to a sudden involuntary con...

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

Uterus: A hollow, pear-shaped organ that is located in a woman's lower abdomen, between th...

UTI: Urinary tract infection.

Vagina: The muscular canal that extends from the cervix to the outside of the body. It is ...

Valsalva: 1. The Valsalva maneuver in which a person tries to exhale forcibly with ...

Valsalva maneuver: A maneuver in which one tries with force to exhale with the windpipe cl...

Vesical: Refers to the urinary bladder. The word comes from the Latin vesica meaning a bag...

Withdrawal symptoms: Abnormal physical or psychological features that follow the abrupt di...

X-ray: High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light. X-ray is used...