Med Term Chapter 16: The Male Reproductive System

spermatozoon

male sex cell

scrotum

sac outside the body that holds the testicles

spermatogenesis

development of sperm

testosterone

most important male hormone

epididymis

group of ducts for storing sperm

vas deferens

narrow tube where sperm travel after leaving the epididymis

semen

mixture of sperm and secretions from the seminal vesicles, Cowper’s glands and prostate

bulbourethral glands (Cowper’s glands)

secrete fluid that neutralizes the acidity of the male urethra prior to ejaculation

glans penis

tip of the penis

foreskin

prepuce

perineum

area between the penis and the anus

andr/o

men

balan/o

glans penis

epididym/o

epididymis

orch/o, orchi/o, orchid/o

testes

prostat/o

prostate

scrot/o

scrotum

semin/o

semen

sperm/o, spermat/o

sperm

vas/o

vessel, ductus deferens

prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test

blood test to screen for abnormal prostatic growth which can be associated with prostate cancer

semen analysis

used to determine the quality and quantity of the male partner’s sperm

urethrogram

x-ray of the urethra and prostate

gynecomastia

swelling of the breast tissue in males

cryptorchism (cryptorchidism)

undescended testicle

anorchism (anorchia)

lack of one or both testes

hydrocele

painless fluid-filled sac around one or both testicles that causes the scrotum to swell

hypospadias

abnormal opening of the urethra on the underside of the penis

epispadias

abnormal opening on the top side of the penis

phimosis

abnormal narrowing of the foreskin over the glans penis (in uncircumcised males)

aspermia

inability to produce sperm

azoospermia

semen without living sperm

oligospermia

scanty production of sperm

impotence (peile erectile dysfunction)

inability to maintain an erection for ejaculation

priapism

persistent, painful erection

varicocele

group of herniated veins near the testes

prostatitis

inflammation of the prostate

balanitis

inflammation of the glans penis

epididymitis

inflammation of the epididymis

Peyronie disease

disorder with curvature of the penis caused by some hardening in the interior structure of the penis

seminoma

common tumor of the testicle

chancroids

venereal sores caused by a bacterial infection on the penis, urethra or anus

circumcision

removal of the foreskin or prepuce

epididymectomy

removal of an epididymis

orchiectomy (orchidectomy)

removal of one or both testicles

prostatectomy

removal of the prostate gland

transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)

the removal of a portion of the prostate through the urethra

vasectomy

removal of part of the vas deferens as a method of birth control

vasovasectomy

reversing of a vasectomy

castration

surgical removal of both testicles

BPH

benign prostatic hyperplasia

ED

erectile dysfunction

FSH

follicle-stimulating hormone

HPV

human papillomavirus

LH

luteinizing hormone

STI

sexually transmitted infection

TUR

transurethral resection

TURP

transurethral resection of the prostate