Medical Glossary
Clear definitions of medical terms related to bladder health. Click a letter to jump to terms starting with that letter.
A
Antimuscarinics
Also known as: Anticholinergics, Bladder relaxants
A class of medications that block the action of acetylcholine on muscarinic receptors in the bladder muscle. They are commonly prescribed for overactive bladder to reduce urgency, frequency, and urge incontinence.
B
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Also known as: BPH, Enlarged prostate, Prostate enlargement
A non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, common in older men. As the prostate grows, it can squeeze the urethra and cause difficulty urinating, weak stream, and increased frequency.
Bladder Spasms
Also known as: Detrusor spasms
Sudden, involuntary contractions of the bladder muscle (detrusor), causing an urgent need to urinate and sometimes pain. They can occur due to infection, nerve damage, or after bladder surgery.
Botox (Bladder)
Also known as: Botulinum toxin, OnabotulinumtoxinA
Botulinum toxin injected directly into the bladder wall muscle to treat overactive bladder or neurogenic bladder. It works by partially paralysing the detrusor muscle to reduce involuntary contractions.
C
Catheter
Also known as: Urinary catheter, Foley catheter, Indwelling catheter
A thin, flexible tube inserted into the bladder through the urethra (or abdomen) to drain urine. Catheters are used when a patient cannot urinate on their own, during surgery, or for diagnostic testing.
Cystitis
Also known as: Bladder inflammation
Inflammation of the bladder, most commonly caused by a bacterial infection (urinary tract infection). Symptoms include pain or burning during urination, frequent urination, and lower abdominal discomfort.
Cystoscopy
Also known as: Bladder scope, Flexible cystoscopy
A diagnostic procedure in which a thin camera (cystoscope) is inserted through the urethra to examine the inside of the bladder. It is used to investigate symptoms such as blood in the urine, recurrent infections, or bladder pain.
D
D-Mannose
Also known as: Mannose
A naturally occurring simple sugar related to glucose. It is used as a dietary supplement to help prevent urinary tract infections by stopping certain bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall.
Detrusor Muscle
Also known as: Detrusor, Bladder muscle
The smooth muscle in the wall of the bladder responsible for contracting during urination to push urine out. Dysfunction of this muscle can lead to overactive bladder or urinary retention.
Dysuria
Also known as: Painful urination, Burning urination
Pain or discomfort during urination, often described as a burning sensation. It is a common symptom of urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted infections, and bladder inflammation.
E
F
Frequency-Volume Chart
Also known as: Bladder diary, Voiding diary
A diary kept by the patient recording the times and volumes of fluid intake and urine output over 24 to 72 hours. It helps clinicians assess bladder capacity, drinking habits, and patterns of urinary frequency or nocturia.
G
Glomerulonephritis
Also known as: Nephritis, Glomerular disease
Inflammation of the glomeruli, the tiny filters in the kidneys that remove waste from the blood. It can cause blood in the urine, protein in the urine, and reduced kidney function. May be acute or chronic.
H
Hematuria
Also known as: Blood in urine
The presence of blood in the urine. Gross hematuria is visible to the eye, while microscopic hematuria is detected only through laboratory testing. Causes range from infections to bladder cancer.
Hydronephrosis
Also known as: Kidney swelling
Swelling of one or both kidneys caused by a build-up of urine. It occurs when urine cannot drain properly from the kidney to the bladder, often due to a blockage such as a kidney stone or enlarged prostate.
I
Interstitial Cystitis
Also known as: IC, Painful bladder syndrome, IC/BPS
A chronic bladder condition causing bladder pressure, bladder pain, and sometimes pelvic pain. The pain ranges from mild discomfort to severe. It is also known as painful bladder syndrome.
J
Juxtaglomerular Apparatus
Also known as: JGA
A specialised structure in the kidney located near each glomerulus that regulates blood pressure and filtration rate. It plays a key role in the renin-angiotensin system, which influences kidney function and fluid balance.
K
Kegel Exercises
Also known as: Pelvic floor exercises, PFE
Exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles by repeatedly contracting and relaxing them. They are a first-line treatment for stress urinary incontinence and can help with urgency and prolapse.
Kidney Stones
Also known as: Renal calculi, Nephrolithiasis, Urolithiasis
Hard mineral and salt deposits that form inside the kidneys. They can cause severe pain when passing through the urinary tract and may lead to urinary obstruction, infection, or blood in the urine.
L
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS)
Also known as: LUTS
A group of symptoms related to problems with the bladder, urethra, or (in men) the prostate. LUTS are categorised as storage symptoms (urgency, frequency), voiding symptoms (weak stream, hesitancy), or post-micturition symptoms (dribbling).
M
Micturition
Also known as: Urination, Voiding
The medical term for the act of urinating. The micturition reflex is the coordinated process by which the bladder contracts and the urethral sphincter relaxes to allow urine to pass.
N
Neurogenic Bladder
Also known as: Neuropathic bladder
Bladder dysfunction caused by damage to the nervous system. Conditions such as spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and stroke can disrupt the nerve signals that control bladder function.
Nocturia
Also known as: Night-time urination, Nighttime frequency
The need to wake up during the night to urinate. Waking more than once per night is generally considered abnormal and may indicate an underlying bladder condition or other medical issue.
O
Overactive Bladder (OAB)
Also known as: OAB, Detrusor overactivity
A condition characterised by a sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate, often accompanied by increased urinary frequency and nocturia. It may or may not involve urge incontinence.
P
Pelvic Floor
Also known as: Pelvic floor muscles, Pelvic diaphragm
A group of muscles and connective tissue that form a sling across the base of the pelvis. These muscles support the bladder, bowel, and uterus, and play a key role in urinary continence and bladder control.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Also known as: Prolapse, Cystocele, Bladder prolapse
A condition where one or more pelvic organs (bladder, uterus, or rectum) drop from their normal position and bulge into the vaginal wall. Bladder prolapse (cystocele) is the most common form.
Prostatitis
Also known as: Prostate inflammation
Inflammation of the prostate gland, which can cause painful urination, pelvic pain, and difficulty urinating. It can be acute (sudden bacterial infection) or chronic (long-term inflammation).
Q
Quality of Life (QoL) Questionnaires
Also known as: QoL assessment, ICIQ, OAB-q
Standardised tools used to measure how bladder conditions affect a patient's daily life, emotional well-being, and social activities. Common examples include the ICIQ and OAB-q, which help clinicians assess symptom severity and treatment outcomes.
R
Radiation Cystitis
Also known as: Post-radiation bladder damage
Bladder inflammation and damage caused by radiation therapy, typically for pelvic cancers. Symptoms include blood in the urine, frequent urination, and pain, and may appear months or years after treatment.
S
Sphincter (Urinary)
Also known as: Urethral sphincter, External urinary sphincter
A ring of muscle that controls the opening and closing of the urethra. The internal sphincter operates involuntarily, while the external sphincter is under voluntary control. Weakness or damage to either can cause urinary incontinence.
T
Trigone
Also known as: Vesical trigone
A smooth, triangular area on the inner floor of the bladder formed between the two ureteric openings and the internal urethral opening. It is a common site of inflammation (trigonitis) and is particularly sensitive to infection and irritation.
U
Urethral Stricture
Also known as: Urethral narrowing
A narrowing of the urethra caused by scar tissue, which can restrict urine flow. Causes include injury, infection, instrumentation, and inflammation. It is more common in men.
Urethritis
Also known as: Urethral inflammation
Inflammation of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. It is commonly caused by bacterial or viral infections and can cause painful urination and discharge.
Urinary Fistula
Also known as: Vesicovaginal fistula, Bladder fistula
An abnormal connection between the urinary tract and another organ, such as the vagina (vesicovaginal fistula) or bowel (vesicointestinal fistula). It causes continuous involuntary leakage of urine through the abnormal passage.
Urinary Frequency
Also known as: Frequent urination, Pollakiuria
The need to urinate more often than usual, typically more than eight times in 24 hours. It can be caused by infections, overactive bladder, excessive fluid intake, or bladder irritants.
Urinary Incontinence
Also known as: Bladder leakage, Loss of bladder control
The involuntary leakage of urine. Types include stress incontinence (leaking during physical activity), urge incontinence (sudden overwhelming need to urinate), and mixed incontinence (a combination of both).
Urinary Retention
Also known as: Bladder retention
The inability to completely empty the bladder. Acute retention is a sudden inability to urinate and is a medical emergency. Chronic retention develops gradually and may cause overflow incontinence.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Also known as: UTI, Bladder infection, Water infection
An infection in any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Most UTIs involve the lower urinary tract (bladder and urethra) and are caused by bacteria.
Urinary Urgency
Also known as: Urgency, Urge to urinate
A sudden, compelling desire to urinate that is difficult to defer. It is a hallmark symptom of overactive bladder and can lead to urge incontinence if the bladder contracts involuntarily.
Urodynamics
Also known as: Urodynamic testing, Urodynamic studies
A group of tests that measure how well the bladder, urethra, and sphincter muscles store and release urine. These tests help diagnose the cause of urinary incontinence, retention, or other lower urinary tract symptoms.
V
Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR)
Also known as: VUR, Urine reflux
A condition where urine flows backward from the bladder into the ureters and sometimes the kidneys. It is most common in infants and young children and increases the risk of kidney infections.
W
WOC Nurse
Also known as: Continence nurse, Continence adviser
A Wound, Ostomy, and Continence nurse — a specialist nurse trained in the management of patients with urinary or faecal incontinence, stomas, and complex wounds. They provide education, catheter care, and pelvic floor rehabilitation.
X
X-ray KUB
Also known as: KUB X-ray, Plain abdominal film
A plain abdominal X-ray focused on the Kidneys, Ureters, and Bladder. It is used to detect kidney stones, bladder stones, and other calcifications in the urinary tract. KUB stands for Kidneys-Ureters-Bladder.
Y
Young-Dees-Leadbetter Procedure
Also known as: Bladder neck reconstruction
A surgical technique used to reconstruct the bladder neck to improve urinary continence. It is most commonly performed in children with congenital bladder conditions such as bladder exstrophy.
Z
Zone of Transition (Prostate)
Also known as: Transitional zone, TZ
The inner region of the prostate gland surrounding the urethra. It is the zone where benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) develops, leading to prostate enlargement and urinary obstruction in older men.