Chapter 13-Male Reproductive System

gamete

Reproductive cell (ovum or sperm) that contains one-half of the chromosomes required to produce an offspring of the species

libido

Psychological and physical drive for sexual activity

semen

Fluid containing sperm and secretions from the prostate and other structures of the male reproductive system

sphincter

Ringlike muscle that opens and closes a body opening to allow or restrict passage through the structure

Testosterone

Androgenic hormone responsible for the development of the male sex organs, including the penis, testicles, scrotum, and prostate

Testes

male reproductive glands

seminiferous tubules

produce sperm

Epididymis

stores sperm after it leaves the seminiferous tubules

coitus

sexual intercourse

prostate gland

a triple-lobed organ fused to the base of the bladder, secretes a thin, alkaline substance that accounts for about 30% of seminal fluid

penis

male organ of copulation

glans penis

enlarged tip of the penis

prepuce

foreskin

andr/o

male

balan/o

glans penis

crypt/o

hidden

epididym/o

epididymis

genit/o

genitalia

gonad/o

gonads, sex glands

gon/o

seed (ovum or spermatozoon)

olig/o

scanty

orch/o, orchi/o, orchid/o, test/o

testis (plural, testes)

perine/o

perineum (area between scrotum [or vulva in the female] and anus)

prostat/o

prostate gland

spermat/o, sperm/o

spermatozoa, sperm cells

varic/o

dilated vein

vas/o

vessel; vas deferens; duct

vesicul/o

seminal vesicle

-cide

killing

-genesis

forming, producing, origin

-ism

condition

-spadias

slit, fissure

epi-

above, upon

urology

the branch of medicine concerned with the male reproductive system and urinary disorders in males and females

urologist

physician who specializes in diagnosis and treatment of genitourinary disorders

sexually transmitted infections

any contagious disease acquired during sexual activity with an infected partner

Gonorrhea

caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrheae, involves the mucosal surface of the genitourinary tract and can also involve the rectum and pharynx

leukorrhea

white discharge

Chlamydia

caused by infection with the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, is the most prevalent and one of the most damaging STIs in the US, the "silent disease" because symptoms are commonly absent or mild, and the disease remains untreated until there is irreversible damage to the reproductive structures

Syphilis

caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum; if left untreated, syphilis may become a chronic, infectious, multisystemic disease

Chancre

a painless sore

Genital Herpes

causes red, blisterlike, painful lesions in the genital area that closely resemble fever blisters or cold sores that appear on the lips and around the mouth

Genital Warts

caused by one or more of the many different human papillomavirus (HPV) strains

Trichomoniasis

caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis, affects males and females but symptoms are more common in females

radical prostatectomy

surgery that removes the entire prostate, seminal vesicles, and surrounding lymph nodes

Androgen Deprivation Therapy

hormone therapy

bilateral orchiectomy (castration)

removal of both testes

combined hormonal therapy

Drug therapy that includes antiandrogenic agents and hormones that deplete the body of testicular hormones

benign prostatic hyperplasia

Enlargement of the prostate, usually as part of the aging process that constricts the urethra, causing urinary symptoms including frequency, hesitancy, nocturia, and urinary retention

balanitis

Inflammation of the skin covering the glans penis, caused by bacteria, fungi, or a virus

erectile dysfunction

Repeated inability to initiate or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse

Hypogonadism

Decrease or lack of hormones normally produced by the gonads

hypospadias

Congenital abnormality in which the opening of the male urethra is on the undersurface of the penis, instead of at its tip

phimosis

Stenosis or narrowing of foreskin so that it cannot be retracted over the glans penis

Priapism

Prolonged, commonly painful erection of the penis, which occurs without sexual stimulation

Prostatitis

Acute or chronic inflammation of the prostate

Sterility

Inability to produce offspring

testicular abnormalities

Any of the various disorders that affect the testes

anorchism

Absence of one or both testicles

Epididymitis

Inflammation of the epididymis

hydrocele

Swelling of the sac surrounding the testes that is typically harmless

orchitis

Painful swelling of one or both testes commonly associated with mumps that develop after puberty

spermatocele

Abnormal, fluid-filled sac that develops in the epididymis and may or may not contain sperm

testicular mass

New tissue growth that appears on one or both testes and may be malignant or benign

testicular torsion

Spontaneous twisting of a testicle within the scrotum, leading to a decrease in blood flow to the affected testicle

testicular cancer

Malignancy that develops in one or both testes, commonly presenting as a small lump or tenderness on the testicle, swelling in the scrotum and, occasionally, enlargement of breast tissue (gynecomastia)

varicocele

Swelling and distention of veins of the spermatic cord, somewhat resembling varicose veins of the legs

digital rectal examination

Screening test in males that evaluates the size and consistency of the prostate

prostate-specific antigen (PSA)

Blood test used to detect prostatic disorders, especially prostate cancer; also called tumor marker test

semen analysis

Test that analyzes a semen sample for volume, sperm count, motility, and morphology to evaluate fertility or verify sterilization after a vasectomy

scrotal ultrasound

Imaging procedure using sound waves to assess the contents of the scrotum, including the testicles, epididymis, and vas deferens

transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) biopsy of the prostate

Imaging procedure using soundwaves emitted by a probe inserted through the rectum to serve as a guide for biopsy of the prostate when PSA and DRE are abnormal

Circumcision

Removal of the foreskin, or fold of skin covering the tip (glans) of the penis

orchiopexy

Fixation of the testes in the scrotum

prostatectomy

Removal of all or part of the prostate

transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)

Excision of prostate tissue by inserting a special endoscope (resectoscope) through the urethra and into the bladder to remove small pieces of tissue from the prostate gland

urethroplasty

Reconstruction of the urethra to relieve stricture or narrowing

Vasectomy

Removal of all or a segment of the vas deferens for male sterilization

brachytherapy of the prostate

Radiation oncology procedure where radioactive "seeds" are placed directly within or near a tumor in the prostate to destroy malignant cells

cryotherapy of the prostate

Freezing of the prostate, causing cancer cells to die

external beam radiation therapy (EBRT)

Procedure in which the patient is positioned at a distance from the radiation source, which is then directed at the prostate