CH 15 Key Terms

Vocabulary flashcards covering key medical terms, disorders, and surgical procedures related to the male reproductive system.

Androgen

Any hormone that produces male characteristics (root andr/o means "male")

Bulbourethral gland

A small gland beside the urethra below the prostate that secretes part of the seminal fluid; also called Cowper gland

Circumcision

Surgical removal of the end of the prepuce (foreskin)

Coitus

Sexual intercourse

Ductus deferens

The duct that conveys spermatozoa from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct; also called vas deferens

Ejaculation

Ejection of semen from the male urethra

Ejaculatory duct

The duct formed by union of the ductus deferens and the duct of the seminal vesicle; it carries spermatozoa and seminal fluid into the urethra

Epididymis

A coiled tube on the surface of the testis that stores sperm until ejaculation (root: epididym/o)

Erection

The stiffening or hardening of the penis or the clitoris, usually because of sexual excitement

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

A hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary that acts on the gonads; in males, FSH stimulates Sertoli cells and promotes sperm cell development; in females, it stimulates ripening of ova in the ovary

Gamete

A mature reproductive cell, the spermatozoon in the male and the ovum in the female

Glans penis

The bulbous end of the penis

Gonad

A sex gland; testis or ovary

Inguinal canal

The channel through which the testis descends into the scrotum in the male

Interstitial cells

Cells located between the seminiferous tubules of the testes that produce hormones, mainly testosterone; also called cells of Leydig (LI-dig)

Luteinizing hormone (LH)

A hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary that acts on the gonads; in males, it stimulates the interstitial cells to produce testosterone; in females, it stimulates ovulation and corpus luteum formation.

Meiosis

The type of cell division that forms the gametes; it results in cells with 23 chromosomes, half the number found in other body cells (from the Greek word meiosis meaning "diminution")

Penis

The male organ of copulation and urination (adjective: penile)

Pituitary gland

An endocrine gland at the base of the brain

Prepuce

The fold of skin over the glans penis; the foreskin

Prostate gland

A gland that surrounds the urethra below the bladder in males and contributes secretions to the semen (root: prostat/o)

Puberty

Period during which the ability for sexual reproduction is attained and secondary sex characteristics begin to develop

Scrotum

A double pouch that contains the testes (root: osche/o)

Semen

The thick secretion that transports spermatozoa (roots: semin, sperm/i, spermat/o)

Seminal vesicle

A sac-like gland behind the bladder that contributes secretions to the semen (root: vesicul/o)

Sertoli cell

Cell in a seminiferous tubule that aids in the development of spermatozoa; sustentacular (sus-ten-TAK-u-lar) cell

Spermatic cord

Cord attached to the testis that contains the ductus deferens, blood vessels, and nerves enclosed within a fibrous sheath

Spermatozoon

Mature male sex cell (plural: spermatozoa) (roots: sperm/i, spermat/o)

Testis

The male reproductive gland (roots: test/o, orchi/o, orchid/o); plural is testes (TES-teze); also called testicle

Testosterone

The main male sex hormone

Urethra

The duct that carries urine out of the body and also transports semen in the male

Vas deferens

The duct that conveys spermatozoa from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct; also called ductus deferens

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

Nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate; frequently develops with age

Cryptorchidism

Failure of the testis to descend into the scrotum

Epididymitis

Inflammation of the epididymis; common causes are UTIs and STIs

Erectile dysfunction (ED)

Inability of the male to perform intercourse because of failure to initiate or maintain an erection until ejaculation; impotence

Impotence

Erectile dysfunction

Infertility

Decreased capacity to produce offspring

Inguinal hernia

Protrusion of the intestine or other abdominal organ through the inguinal canal or through the wall of the abdomen into the scrotum

Orchitis

Inflammation of a testis; may be caused by injury, mumps virus, or other infections

Prostatitis

Inflammation of the prostate gland; often appears with UTI, STI, and a variety of other stresses

Sexually transmitted infection (STI)

Infection spread through sexual activity; also called sexually transmitted disease (STD) and formerly venereal (veh-NE-re-al) disease (VD) (from Venus, the goddess of love)

Sterility

Complete inability to produce offspring

Urethritis

Inflammation of the urethra; often caused by gonorrhea and chlamydia infections

Herniorrhaphy

Surgical repair of a hernia

Prostatectomy

Surgical removal of the prostate

Vasectomy

Excision of the vas deferens; usually done bilaterally to produce sterility; may be accomplished through the urethra (transurethral resection)