Male Reproductive System

Chapter 11

Male reproductive medicine

The medical specialty that studies the anatomy and physiology of the male genitourinary (GU) system

Re-

Again and again, backward, unable to

Product/o-

Produce

-ive

Pertaining to

Function of male genitourinary system

Reproductive (testosterone secretion), secondary sexual characteristic development, sperm production, and semen release

Gynecomastia

Enlargement of the male breast due puberty, aging, surgical removal of the testes, or administration of female hormone drugs to treat prostate cancer

Gynec/o-

Female

Mast/o-

Breast

Scrotum

Soft pouch of skin behind the penis and in front of the legs

Structures of the scrotum

Testes, epididymides, and part of each vas deferens

Testes

Egg-shaped glands about 2 inches in length that produce reproductive cells and testosterone, considered the male gonads and endocrine glands

Seminiferous tubules

Small, tightly coiled tubes that produce spermatozoa

Spermatozoa

Immature sperm

Epididymides

Long, tightly coiled tubes attached to the outer wall of the testes that alter sperm structure and destroy defective sperm 

How do the epididymides alter sperm structure?

Add enzyme cap to sperm from the seminiferous tubules to aid in fertilization

Cryptorchidism

Failure of one or both testes to move down through the inguinal canal into the scrotum that results in low sperm count and infertility

Crypt/o-

Hidden

Orchid/o-

Testis

-ism

Disease from a specific cause

Epididymitis

Infection or inflammation of the epididymis due to UTI or STI

Infertility

Inability of a male to impregnate a female after 1 year of regular sexual intercourse

Causes of infertility

Hormone imbalance, undescended testes, testicular damage, infection, low sperm count, abnormal sperm, varicocele

Oligospermia

Condition in which fewer than the normal number of spermatozoa are produced by the testes, my be caused by hormone imbalance or undescended testes

Olig/o-

Few or scanty

Sperm/o- and semin/o-

Sperm

Orchitis

Infection or inflammation of the testes caused by bacteria/viral infection, mumps during childhood, or trauma to the testes

Testicular cancer

Cancerous tumor of one or both testes, also known as seminoma

Varicocele

Varicose vein in a testis, accumulation of blood causes the testis and scrotum to become distended and painful, possibly leading to low sperm count and infertility

Prostrate gland

Donut-shaped gland located at the base of the bladder, with the urethra passing through it

Prostatic fluid

A milky substance containing semen, an antibiotic substance that kills bacteria in the woman’s vagina, and acid phosphatase

Function of the enzyme phosphatase

To help release the sperm from the semen deposit in the woman’s vagina

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

Benign, gradual enlargement of the prostate gland

How does the growth of the prostate affect the urethra?

The urethra is compressed, resulting in hesitancy, dribbling, and narrowed urine stream

Hyper-

Above, more than normal

Plas/o-

Formation, growth

Cancer of the prostate gland 

Formation of adenocarcinoma that is the most common type of cancer in men

Prostatitis

Acute or chronic bacterial infection and inflammation of the prostate caused by UTI or STD

Urethral meatus

Opening of the glans penis, covered by foreskin/prepuce in uncircumcised males

Epispadias

Congenital condition in which the opening of the urethral meatus is on the top of the glans penis

Hypospadias

Congenital condition in which the opening of the urethral meatus is on the bottom of the glans

Balanitis

Infection and inflammation of the glans penis

Balanos

Acorn

Balan/o-

Glans penis

Dyspareunia

Painful or difficult sexual intercourse or postcoital pain

Pareun/o-

Sexual intercouse

Chordee

Downward curvature of the penis during an erection

Erectile dysfunction (ED)

Inability to achieve or sustain an erection of the penis caused by cardiovascular/neurologic disease, diabetes mellitus, low testosterone, smoking, drug side effects, or psychological factors, also known as impotence

Phimosis

Congenital condition in which the foreskin cannot be pulled back from the glans penis, trapping smegma (sebaceous secretions) and increasing the risk of the infection

Phim/o-

Closed tight

Premature ejaculation

Ejaculation that occurs with minimal stimulation and before the penis is fully erect, decreasing the chance of conception

Priapism

Abnormal continuing erection of the penis with pain and tenderness

Priap/o-

Persistent erection

How can a fetus be affected if the mother has an STD?

The STD can be passed to the fetus in the uterus or in the birth canal, causing serious illness, blindness, and even death

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDs)

Incurable syndrome caused by HIV, leading to fever, night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue, treated with antiretroviral drugs that can slow the progress of the disease

Chlamydia

oral antibiotic-treated STD caused by Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria, leading to painful ruination, burning, itching, and watery urethral discharge in men, and often no symptoms in women

genital herpes

topical and oral antiviral-treated STD caused by type 2 herpes simplex virus (HSV) that leads to genital and/or anus blisters and possibly flu-like symptoms

genital warts

STD caused by HPV that leads to itchy, flesh-colored, irregular lesions that are raised and cauliflower-like, treated with topical chemicals or procedures to remove the warts

gonorrhea

oral antibiotic-treated STD caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria that can lead to painful urination and thick, yellow discharge

syphilis

oral antibiotic-treated STD caused by Treponma pallidum bacteria that leads to painless chancre on the genitals that ulcerates, forms a crust, and heals

trichomoniasis

oral antiprotozoal-treated STD caused by Trichomonas vaginalis protozoan that leads to few symptoms in men and possible itching and greenish-yellow frothy discharge with a foul odor in women

acid phosphatase

test that detects the presence of an enzyme found in semen, used in rape investigations to prove intercourse has occurred

DNA analysis

test in which semen samples from a crime scene or rape victim are compared to samples of known DNA in a criminal database, can be used to prove paternity

herpes simplex virus (HSV) testing

test performed on blood or fluid from skin lesions that detects the presence of DNA from type 2 HSV, which causes genital herpes

hormone testing

test that determines

HIV testing

variety of tests that may be performed on blood, urine, or saliva (depending on test type) to test for HIV

prostate-specific antigen (PSA)

test that detects a glycoprotein present in the cells of the prostate gland, levels that may be increased in men with prostate cancer

prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP)

test that measures levels of acid phosphatase produced by the prostate gland only, increased levels may indicate prostate cancer that has metastasized elsewhere in the body

semen analysis

microscopic analysis of the spermatozoa in a semen sample, including their number, motility, and morphology, for infertility or to confirm a vasectomy was successful

brachytherapy

form of radiation therapy used to treat prostate cancer, involving implantation of radioactive pellets in the prostate gland

brachy-

short (distance away)

ultraosonography

radiologic procedure that uses ultra high-frequency sound waves to produce an image of the testes or prostate gland

ultra-

beyond or higher

son/o-

sound

-graphy

process of recording

digital rectal examination (DRE)

procedure to palpate (using digits/fingers) the prostate gland and check for signs of tenderness, nodules, hardness, or enlargement

testicular self-examination (TSE)

procedure in which the patient palpates his own testes and scrotum to look for early signs of cancer

newborn genital examination

procedure in which a baby’s external male genitalia are examined at birth to look for undescended testes, ambiguous genitalia, or abnormal positioning of the urethral meatus

androgen drugs

drugs that treat low testosterone levels due to various medical conditions, may also be used to treat delayed puberty or prostate cancer

antibiotics

drugs that treat bacterial infections, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis

antiviral drugs

drugs that treat the viral infections that cause genital herpes and genital warts

antiretroviral drugs

drugs that treat HIV and AIDS

benign prostatic hyperplasia drugs

drugs that inhibit the hormone that normally causes prostate enlargement, may also relax smooth muscle to allow urine to flow more freely

erectil dysfunction drugs

drugs that increase blood flow into the penis to create an erection

biopsy (Bx)

procedure to obtain samples of prostate or testicular tissue to test for cancer cells, may involve fine-needle aspiration or surgical removal

circumcision

procedure to remove the prepuce (foreskin) of the penis, may be performed for health-related, social, or religious reasons

circum-

around

cis/o-

cut

-ion

action

orchiectomy

surgical removal of a testis

orchiopexy

procedure to reposition an undescended testis and fix it within the scrotum

orchi/o-

testes

-pexy

to fix into place

penile implant

procedure to implant an inflatable penile prosthesis, used to treat ED

prostate urethral lift (PUL)

procedure that uses an endoscope inserted through the penis to place a stainless steel implant that pushes enlarged prostatic tissue away from the urethra, used in treatment of BPH

prostatectomy

removal of the entire prostate gland, along with the related lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, and vas deferens, used in the treatment of prostate cancer

vasectomy

surgical removal of part of the vas deferens to prevent spermatozoa from entering the semen, to prevent pregnancy in the female

vasovasostomy

reversal of a vasectomy

BPH

benign prostatic hyperplasia

DRE

digital rectal examination

PAP

prostatic acid phosphatase