Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

nephrolith
A kidney stone.
nephrolithiasis
The process of forming a stone
in the kidney or lower down in the urinary tract.
Also known as urolithiasis. See also 
kidney stones.
nephrolithotripsy, percutaneous
See 
percu-
taneous nephrolithotripsy.
nephrologist
A physician specializing in treating
diseases of the kidneys.
nephrology
The art and science of the care of
the kidneys.
nephron
A key unit of the kidney, a tiny funnel-
like structure that filters wastes as they enter and
progress through the kidney.
nephropathy
Any kidney disease.
nephropathy, diabetic
See 
diabetic nephropathy.
nephrosclerosis
A progressive disease of the kid-
neys that results from sclerosis (hardening) of the
small blood vessels in the kidneys. Nephrosclerosis is
most commonly associated with hypertension or dia-
betes and can lead to kidney failure.
nephrosis
Any degenerative disease of the kidney
tubules, the tiny canals that make up much of the
substance of the kidney. Nephrosis can be caused by
kidney disease, or it may be a complication of
another disorder, particularly diabetes. Diagnosis is
made via urine testing for the presence of protein,
blood testing for lower-than-normal levels of pro-
tein, and observation of edema. Treatment usually
involves use of cortisone-like drugs. Also known as
nephrotic syndrome.
nephrotic syndrome
See 
nephrosis.
nephrotomogram
A series of X-rays of the kid-
neys that are taken from different angles to clearly
show the kidneys, without the shadows of the organs
around them.
nephrotoxic
Poisonous to the kidney.
nerve
A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and
chemical signals to transmit sensory and motor infor-
mation from one body part to another. The fibrous
portions of a nerve are covered by a sheath called
myelin and/or a membrane called neurilemma.
(Note that entries for specific nerves can be found
under the names of the particular nerves. For exam-
ple, the optic nerve is not under “nerve, optic” but
rather under “optic nerve.”)