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Areflexia:
Absence of reflexes |
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Atonic:
Lacking normal tone or strength |
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Bladder Neck:
Base of the bladder that leads into the urethra |
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Candidiasis:
Infection, usually superficial by the candida fungus occurs particularly in moist areas such as mouth and vagina skin folds. More commonly known as thrush. Frequently associated with itching. |
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Cystometry:
Method by which the pressure-volume relationship of the bladder is measured |
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Cystoscopy:
An instrument with a lighted scope is introduced into the bladder via the urethra under anaesthesia (local or general); to examine the interior of the bladder. |
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Detrusor:
Muscular wall of the bladder, which contracts to empty the bladder |
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Diarrhoea:
Frequent discharge of semi solid or liquid faecal matter from the bowel with a variety of cases |
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Dyssynergia:
Disturbance of muscular coordination (e.g., detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia = failure of coordinated action of the detrusor muscle and sphincter) |
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Dysuria:
Painful urination |
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Electromyography:
Utilizes electrodes to measure and record striated muscle activity in the lower urinary tract (pelvic floor and sphincter) |
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Enuresis:
Most often used to mean micturition occurring during sleep ("bedwetting") |
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Erosion/Denuding:
Removal of the top layer of the skin |
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Erythema:
A superficial redness of the skin surface |
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External Sphincter:
Striated muscle which is innervated through the pudendal nerve. Under voluntary control. |
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Faecal Incontinence:
Inability to control the passage of gas, liquid and/or solids |
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Flow Rate:
The volume of fluid expelled via the urethra per unit of time |
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GI:
Gastrointestinal tract |
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GU:
Genitourinary, referring to both the reproductive organs and the urinary tract |
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Haematuria:
The presence of blood in the urine, due to injury or disease of any of the urinary organs |
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Hydronephrosis:
Enlargement of one or both of the kidneys caused by an accumulation of urine in the pelvis of th kidney |
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Hyperreflexia:
Over activity of reflexes due to disturbance of the nervous control mechanism |
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Internal Sphincter:
A smooth muscle which is a continuation of the circular smooth muscle of the rectum. It begins at the most proximal portion of the anal canal and extends distally approximately 3 cm. Not under voluntary control. The male has an internal sphincter controlling the urethra. |
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Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP):
Serial x-rays taken after IV injection of radiopaque dye. Excretion of dye through kidneys allows visualisation of the kidneys for size, location and shape and to evaluate the filling of the kidney pelvis and ureters. (Rarely used.) |
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Intravesical Pressure:
Pressure within the bladder |
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Kegel Exercises:
Named for a 20th century U.S. gynecologist. These exercises consit of alternately contracting and relaxing the perineal muscles in order to gain more control over the movement. These exercises can be used to counteract urinary incontinence, decrease painful intercourse or gain active control of the perineum. |
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Lower Urinary Tract:
Composed of the bladder and urethra |
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Maceration:
Softening of the skin by soaking in fluids. Skin appears white and waterlogged. |
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Micturition:
The passage of urine; urination; voiding |
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Mucosa:
Innermost lining of the GI tract and bladder; mucous membrane |
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Nocturia:
Being woken from sleep each night by the need to urinate |
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Obstruction:
Blockage |
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Penile Implant:
A flexible and/or inflatable device surgically placed along the length of the penis in order to provide penile rigidity. Used for men who have problems either getting or maintaining an erection, to enable them to have sexual intercourse. |
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Penile Injection:
Process in which medication is injected into the penis to allow the production and maintenance of an erection. Used for men who have problems either getting or maintaining an erection, to enable them to have sexual intercourse. |
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Perineal Bridge or Body:
Space between the vaginal orifice and anus in females; space between base of scrotum and anus in males. |
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Perineum:
Pertaining to the region between the anus and the external genitalia. |
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Pessary:
A device inserted into the vagina |
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Prostate:
A gland which, in males, surrounds the neck of the bladder and urethra |
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Prostatectomy:
Surgical removal of the prostate or a part of it |
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Pudendal Nerve:
Nerve which innovates the external genitalia, especially of the female |
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Reflux:
Backward flow |
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Residual Urine:
Volume of fluid remaining in the bladder immediately following the completion of micturition; urine which remains in the bladder stagnates and may result in urinary tract infections |
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Retraction:
Drawing back |
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Skin Sealant:
Provides a clear copolymer protective layer to the skin that assists in removal of adhesives from the skin. |
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Stable:
Term used to describe normal detrusor function |
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Stenosis:
Abnormal narrowing or contraction of a channel or opening |
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Stricture:
A narrowing or local contraction of a canal |
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Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TUR, TURP):
Surgical procedure performed on men where all or part of an enlarged prostate is removed through the urethra |
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Trigone:
Triangular landmark at base of bladder; it is between the two openings of the ureters and the urethra |
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Ureter:
The tube leading from the kidney to the bladder |
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Urethral Incompetence:
An incompetent urethral closure mechanism allows for leakage of urine
Passive: Associated with genuine stress incontinence; includes low urethral closure pressure, shortened profile length, negative urethral closing pressure with increased intra abdominal pressures - less increase in urethral closure pressure with upright positions; can occur in both sexes.
Active: Inappropriate relaxation; also known as unstable urethra; commonly associated with an unstable detrusor contraction. |
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Urinalysis:
Chemical or microscopic analysis of urine |
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Urinary Meatus:
External opening of the urethra |
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Urinary Tract:
System which is comprised of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra |
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Urodynamics:
Encompasses the morphological, physiological, biomechanical and hydrodynamic aspects of urine transport |
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Urologist:
A physician who specialises in urinary or urogenital tract diseases and disorders |
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Video-Cystourethrogram (VCUG):
Consists of visualisation by the radiologist of one abnormally fast filling and one emptying of the bladder with a number of spot films at appropriate intervals. This can be the most valuable assessment of lower urinary tract structure as it changes during the micturition cycle. |
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Voiding:
The passage of urine from the urethra |
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