STEP 1 Content Outline

Renal/Urinary System


Normal processes

  • embryonic development, fetal maturation, and perinatal changes
  • organ structure and function
    • kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra
    • glomerular filtration and hemodynamics
    • tubular reabsorption and secretion, including transport processes and proteins
    • urinary concentration and dilution
    • renal mechanisms in acid-base balance
    • renal mechanisms in body fluid homeostasis
    • micturition
  • cell/tissue structure and function, including renal metabolism and oxygen consumption, hormones produced by or acting on the kidney
  • repair, regeneration, and changes associated with stage of life

Abnormal processes

  • infectious, inflammatory, and immunologic disorders
    • infectious disorders
      • upper urinary tract (eg, pyelonephritis, papillary necrosis)
      • lower urinary tract (eg, cystitis, urethritis)
    • inflammatory and immunologic disorders
      • glomerular disorders (eg, glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and IgA nephropathy)
      • tubular interstitial disease (eg, interstitial nephritis, transplant rejection)
  • traumatic and mechanical disorders (eg, obstructive uropathy)
  • neoplastic disorders, including primary (eg, renal, urinary bladder and collecting system) and metastases
  • metabolic and regulatory disorders
    • renal failure, acute and chronic (eg, acute tubular necrosis)
    • tubular and collecting duct disorders (eg, Fanconi syndrome, renal tubular acidosis, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, polycystic kidney disease)
    • renal calculi
  • vascular disorders (eg, renal artery stenosis)
  • systemic diseases affecting the renal system (eg, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis, amyloidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Wegener granulomatosis)

Principles of therapeutics

  • mechanisms of action, use, and adverse effects of drugs for treatment of disorders of the renal and urinary system
    • diuretics, antidiuretic drugs
    • drugs and fluids used to treat volume, electrolyte, and acid-base disorders
    • drugs used to enhance renal perfusion (eg, dopamine)
    • anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunosuppressive, and antineoplastic drugs
    • drugs used to treat lower urinary tract system (eg, incontinence, bladder function, benign prostatic hyperplasia)
  • other therapeutic modalities (eg, dialysis, renal transplantation)

Gender, ethnic, and behavioral considerations affecting disease treatment and prevention, including psychosocial, cultural, occupational, and environmental

  • emotional and behavioral factors (eg, drug-induced interstitial nephritis, diet)
  • influence on person, family, and society (eg, hemodialysis, living related kidney donation, transplants)
  • occupational and other environmental risk factors (eg, heavy metals)
  • gender and ethnic factors (eg, disease progression, urinary tract infections)