What does hematuria mean?
Hematuria is the medical term for blood in urine. It may be gross, meaning the blood is visible and can give the urine a red, brown, or pinkish appearance, or microscopic, meaning red blood cells are detectable only through laboratory examination. The finding is not itself a disease but may indicate a condition affecting the kidneys, bladder, urethra, prostate, or other parts of the urinary system. Some cases are temporary or have an identifiable minor cause, while persistent or unexplained hematuria may require further investigation. The word is especially useful because it distinguishes a specific clinical finding from general descriptions such as "blood in the urine," and it signals that the blood may be either obvious to a person or detectable only under a microscope. Hematuria is therefore important in medical history-taking, laboratory reporting, and public health discussions of urinary health.
nounThe presence of blood in urine, whether visible to the naked eye or detectable only under a microscope. It is a clinical finding rather than a disease in itself and may result from conditions affecting the kidneys, urinary tract, or surrounding structures.
- The presence of blood in urine, either visibly or at the microscopic level.
"The patient was referred for evaluation after microscopic hematuria was detected during a routine urine test."
"Visible hematuria prompted the clinician to investigate possible causes involving the kidneys and urinary tract."
"Microscopic hematuria is often identified incidentally during routine laboratory screening."
The plural is uncommon; hematuria is normally used as an uncountable noun, although plural forms may occur in specialist writing.
"The report classified the documented hematurias as visible or microscopic."
Hematuria may be visible or hidden under a microscope, making a routine urine test capable of revealing blood that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hematuria come from?
Hematuria was formed in New Latin from the Greek roots haima, meaning "blood," and ouron, meaning "urine." Its formation follows the established Greek combining form haemat- or hemato-, which also underlies cognates such as hemorrhage, hematology, and hemoglobin. The suffix -uria, likewise related to Greek ouron, refers to urine or the production of urine.
How hematuria is actually used
This is a formal medical noun, usually used in clinical or scientific contexts. It is commonly encountered in British spelling as "haematuria" and in American spelling as "hematuria"; the term is ordinarily treated as uncountable in general usage.
Easily confused with hematuria
Haematemesis is vomiting blood, whereas hematuria is the presence of blood in urine.