Nephrology

Nephrology is the medical specialty devoted to kidney structure and function, kidney diseases, and their diagnosis and treatment.

Chronic kidney disease: A long-lasting abnormality of kidney structure or function that affects health. Nephrologists assess its causes, monitor progression, and manage complications.
Glomerular filtration rate: The volume of fluid filtered by the kidney glomeruli per unit time. Its estimated value is central to staging kidney disease and tracking function.
Nephron: The kidney's microscopic functional unit, consisting of a filtering corpuscle and a tubular system. Its segments perform the filtration and processing that nephrology evaluates.
Urology: The surgical specialty concerned with the urinary tract and male reproductive system. Urologists typically address structural and surgical problems, while nephrologists focus on kidney function and medical disease.
Acute kidney injury: A rapid decline in kidney function over hours or days. Its causes and severity guide urgent nephrology evaluation and treatment.
Renal tubular acidosis: A group of disorders in which renal tubules fail to maintain normal acid–base balance. It links tubular dysfunction to characteristic blood chemistry and treatment choices.
Renal cortex: The outer region of the kidney containing glomeruli and portions of renal tubules. Cortical structures are frequent targets of kidney biopsy and disease.
End-stage kidney disease: Advanced kidney failure in which kidney function cannot sustain the body's needs without replacement therapy. It marks a severe outcome that may require dialysis or transplantation.
Glomerulonephritis: A group of diseases involving inflammation of the kidney's glomeruli. Urine findings and kidney biopsy help nephrologists identify its specific forms.
Renin–angiotensin system: A hormone system that regulates blood pressure, fluid balance, and sodium retention. Its kidney effects explain why blocking it can protect against proteinuric kidney disease.

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