Pyelos

Pyelos is a term used in medical terminology, derived from the Greek pyelos meaning basin or pelvis. It functions as a combining form, most often rendered as pyelo-, to denote relation to the renal pelvis, the funnel-shaped upper part of the ureter within the kidney.

Anatomy and scope

In the kidney, the renal pelvis collects urine from the calyces and channels it into the ureter. Terms built with pyelo- describe structures, diseases, or procedures involving this region. The root is distinct from references to the pelvic bones or the broader pelvic region outside the urinary tract.

Medical usage and examples

Common terms include pyelitis, inflammation of the renal pelvis; pyelonephritis, inflammation of the kidney and renal pelvis typically due to infection; pyeloplasty, surgical reconstruction of the renal pelvis and the ureteropelvic junction; and pyelostomy, creation of a stoma from the renal pelvis. Imaging modalities such as pyelography visualize the renal pelvis to assess anatomy or obstruction.

Notes

The prefix pyelo- is widely used in nephrology and urology and appears in various terms describing anatomy, pathology, and procedures related to the renal pelvis. It is distinct from terms referring to the pelvic bones and is not generally used to describe non-urologic pelvic structures.