Chapter 15: Male Reproductive System

andr/o

male, masculine

balan/o

glans penis

-cele

hernia or swelling

epididym/o

epididymis

olig/o

few

orch/o, orchid/o, orchi/o

testicles

-pause

stopping

pen/i

penis

phall/i

penis

prostat/o

prostate gland.

semin/i

semen, sperm

sperm/o, spermat/o

spermatozoa

test/i

testicle, testis

varic/o

varicose veins

venere/o

venereal, sexual intercourse

androgen replacement therapy

(ART), also known as testosterone replacement therapy, is sometimes used to treat conditions related to testosterone loss such as male hypogonadism, especially in men over the age of 40.

andrologist

a doctor focusing on the treatment of conditions affecting male fertility and sexuality.

azoospermia

the absence of sperm in the semen.

balanitis

an inflammation of the glans penis that is usually caused by poor hygiene in men who have not had the foreskin removed by circumcision.

bilateral orchiectomy

also known as castration, is the surgical removal or destruction of both testicles.

bulbourethral glands

the two bulbourethral glands are located just below the prostate gland.

chancre

sore caused by syphilis.

chlamydia

caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, is the most commonly reported STD in the United States.

circumcision

the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis.

cryopreservation

Cryopreservation of sperm allows a man to freeze his sperm indefinitely to use later for in vitro fertilization, intrauterine insemination, or sperm donation.

cryptorchidism

also known as an undescended testicle, is a developmental defect seen in newborns in which one or both of the testicles have failed to descend into their normal position in the scrotum.

ejaculation

the act of discharging semen from the body.

ejaculatory duct

begins at the vas deferens, passes through the prostate gland and empties into the urethra.

epididymitis

a painful inflammation of the epididymis resulting from a bacterial infection.

erectile dysfunction

(ED), also known as impotence, is the inability of the male to achieve or maintain a penile erection.

foreskin

also known as the prepuce, is a retractable double-layered fold of skin and mucous membrane that covers and protects the glans penis.

gamete

a male or female reproductive cell, that is, a sperm or an ovum.

genital herpes

caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2).

genitourinary

relating to both the genital and urinary organs.

glans penis

also known as the head of the penis, is the sensitive region located at the tip of the penis.

gonorrhea

(GC) is a highly contagious condition caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

hematospermia

the presence of blood In the semen.

human immunodeficiency virus

(HIV) is transmitted through exposure to infected body fluids, particularly through sexual intercourse with an infected partner.

human papillomavirus

(HPV) causes genital warts.

hydrocele

a fluid-filled sac in the scrotum along the spermatic cord leading from the testicles.

inguinal hernia

also called a groin hernia, is a protrusion of tissue, often part of the small intestine, through the inguinal canal.

male hypogonadism

is also known as a testosterone deficiency. Deficient secretions from the gonads can cause symptoms that may include impaired sexual development or erectile dysfunction, depending on the age of onset.

orchiectomy

also known as an orchidectomy, is the surgical removal of one or both testicles.

oligospermia

a sperm count of below 15 million/mL.

orchiopexy

the repair of cryptorchidism, which is an undescended testicle.

penis

the male sex organ that transports the sperm out of the body.

perineum

the area between the scrotum and the anus.

Peyronie’s disease

(PD), also known as penile curvature, is a form of sexual dysfunction in which the penis is bent or curved during erection.

phimosis

a narrowing of the opening of the foreskin so it cannot be retracted (pulled ) to expose the glans penis.

priapism

a painful and persistent erection that lasts four hours or more, but is either not caused by sexual excitement or does not go away after sexual excitement has ended.

pubic lice

also known as crabs, are small parasites that can be transmitted during sexual contact or via bed linens.

scrotum

the sac-like structure that surrounds, protects, and supports the testicles.

semen

the whitish fluid containing sperm that is ejaculated through the urethra at the peak of male sexual excitement.

seminal vesicles

glands that secrete a thick, yellow substance to nourish the sperm cells.

seminiferous tubules

sperm are formed within the seminiferous tubules of each testicle.

sexually transmitted diseases

(STDs) are infections caused by either bacteria or viruses that affect both males and females.

sexually transmitted infections

Although all STDs are caused by infections, not all sexually transmitted infections (STIs) develop into a disease. Someone who has an STI can be a carrier for an STD without ever developing any disease.

sperm count

also known as a semen analysis, is the testing of freshly ejaculated semen to determine the volume plus the number, shape, size, and motility of the sperm.

spermatogenesis

the process of sperm formation.

spermatozoa

also known as sperm, are the male gametes necessary to fertilize a female gamete. The singular of spermatozoa is spermatozoon.

syphilis

caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, has many symptoms that are difficult to distinguish from other STDs.

testes

The testicles, also known as testes, are the two small, egg-shaped glands that produce the sperm. The singular of testes is testis.

testicular torsion

the twisting of the spermatic cord leading into the testicle, causing sharp pain in the scrotum.

testis

The testicles, also known as testes, are the two small, egg-shaped glands that produce the sperm. The singular of testes is testis.

testosterone

a steroid hormone secreted by the testicles and the adrenal cortex.

trichomoniasis

also known as trich, is an infection caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis.

urethral meatus

the external opening for the urethra at the tip of the glans penis.

urologist

a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the genitourinary system of males and the urinary system of females.

varicocele

a knot of widening varicose veins in one side of the scrotum.

vas deferens

also known as the ductus deferens, are the long, narrow continuations of each epididymis. Vas means vessel, and deferens is a Latin term meaning carrying down.

vasectomy

the male sterilization procedure in which a small portion of the vas deferens is surgically blocked or cut.

vasovasostomy

also known as a vasectomy reversal, is a procedure performed as an attempt to restore fertility to a vasectomized man.

varicocelectomy

the removal of a portion of an enlarged vein to relieve a varicocele inside the scrotum.

venereologist

a doctor who specializes in the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and infections.