Glossary of Terms - u

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Unidirectional: Refers to one-way communication between an instrument and a computer.
Urea nitrogen: The nitrogen that is found in urea (an end product of protein metabolism) which is recognized as different from nitrogen found in blood proteins. About 50 percent of urea is nitrogen. Urea is normally present in blood and excreted in urine. Increased blood levels may be found in kidney disease, and decreased amounts are associated with liver disease.
Urethra: The canal that carries urine from the bladder and semen from the sex glands to the outside of the body.
Uric acid: A product of protein metabolism. Measurement of uric acid in the blood is most commonly performed to evaluate gout. Gout is a metabolic disease marked by an accumulation of uric acid in the blood and of its salts in joints. This causes pain and swelling in the joints, especially in the great toe.
Urinalysis: The physical, chemical, and microscopic analysis of urine to detect changes in important characteristics and values that may indicate diseases or disorders. These include protein, sugar, relative acidity or alkalinity, presence of blood and microorganisms, bilirubin, and an increased number of white cells. Special urine tests, such as tests for pregnancy, are not performed as part of a urinalysis.
Urologist: A physician and surgeon who is specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the male genital tract and urinary tract in patients of any age or sex.