Final answer:
Uremia or azotemia is the medical term for the accumulation of excess urea and other nitrogenous wastes in the bloodstream, often due to kidney dysfunction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The medical term for excess urea and other nitrogenous wastes in the bloodstream is uremia or azotemia. In the human body, proteins from the food we consume are broken down into amino acids, which are subsequently deaminated, leading to the production of ammonia, a highly toxic substance. The liver rapidly converts most of the ammonia into urea, a less toxic compound, which is then excreted by the kidneys. However, when the kidneys are unable to properly filter these wastes from the blood, urea can accumulate, resulting in a condition known as uremia or azotemia. This condition is serious and can lead to symptoms such as lethargy and even more severe complications like pericarditis and encephalopathy, indicative of a high level of urea and nitrogen wastes in the blood.