What is the general term for the act of expelling urine?

The term that describes the act of expelling urine is urination. This process involves the elimination of urine from the urinary tract, primarily through the bladder and urethra. Urination is a normal physiological function that allows the body to remove waste and maintain fluid balance.

In contrast, retention refers to the inability to fully empty the bladder, which is an opposite process to urination; filtration pertains to the process of filtering blood in the kidneys to produce urine; and incontinence describes the involuntary loss of urine, which can be a complication of urination rather than the act itself. Understanding the terminology surrounding these concepts is vital for coding and documenting clinical scenarios related to urinary function in inpatient settings.