Male Reproductive Medicine Flashcards

Flashcards for reviewing male reproductive medicine, covering anatomy, physiology, diseases, and procedures.

Male reproductive medicine

The medical specialty that studies the anatomy and physiology of the male genitourinary system.

Scrotum

Soft pouch of skin found behind the penis and in front of the legs, containing the testes, epididymides, and part of each vas deferens; maintains a cooler temperature for sperm development.

Testes

Egg-shaped glands that produce spermatozoa and secrete testosterone; male gonads.

Seminiferous tubules

Small, tightly coiled tubes within the testes that produce spermatozoa.

Epididymis

Long, tightly coiled tube attached to the outer wall of a testis where sperm receive an enzyme 'cap' and defective sperm are destroyed.

Vas deferens

Long, uncoiled duct that receives sperm from the epididymis and merges with a seminal vesicle behind the bladder.

Seminal vesicles

Pair of elongated glands on the posterior wall of the bladder that produce seminal fluid, providing sperm with energy.

Prostate gland

Doughnut-shaped gland located at the base of the bladder, producing prostatic fluid that contains an antibiotic substance and acid phosphatase.

Bulbourethral glands

Pair of pea-sized glands on either side of the urethra, just below the prostate, that produce thick mucus to neutralize acidity in the urethra and vagina.

Penis

Contains the urethra and three columns of erectile tissue (corpus spongiosum and corpora cavernosa) that fill with blood during arousal.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

Hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that causes the seminiferous tubules to enlarge and spermatocytes to begin dividing.

Luteinizing hormone (LH)

Hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates interstitial cells in the testes to secrete testosterone.

Testosterone

Hormone secreted by interstitial cells between the seminiferous tubules of the testes that causes the development of male secondary sexual characteristics.

Spermatogenesis

Process of producing mature spermatozoa or sperm.

Mitosis

Cell division process where 46 chromosomes in the cell nucleus duplicate and divide to create 2 identical cells, each containing 46 chromosomes.

Meiosis

Special type of cell division producing four spermatozoa, each containing 23 chromosomes (gametes).

Ejaculation

Process by which sperm are released from the reproductive system, involving muscle contractions to move sperm to the urethra and expel semen.

Gynecomastia

Enlargement of the male breast.

Cryptorchidism

Failure of one or both testes to move down through the inguinal canal into the scrotum.

Oligospermia

Condition in which fewer than the normal number of spermatozoa are produced by the testes.

Varicocele

Varicose vein in a testis; accumulation of blood causes the testis and scrotum to become distended and painful.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

Benign (noncancerous), gradual enlargement of the prostate gland, compressing the urethra.

Erectile dysfunction (ED)

Inability to achieve or sustain an erection of the penis; also known as impotence.

Phimosis

Congenital condition in which the foreskin cannot be pulled back from the glans penis.

Priapism

Abnormal, continuing erection of the penis with pain and tenderness.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), leading to fever, night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue.

Chlamydia

STD caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, causing painful urination and urethral discharge in men, or no symptoms/vaginal discharge in women.

Gonorrhea

STD caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae; maybe asymptomatic or cause painful urination and thick discharge.

Syphilis

STD caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, initially causing a painless chancre followed by fever, rash, and other symptoms.

Acid phosphatase

Test that detects the presence of an enzyme found in semen, used in rape investigations.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)

Test that detects a glycoprotein present in the cells of the prostate gland, increased in men with prostate cancer.

Semen analysis

Microscopic analysis of spermatozoa in a semen sample, including number, motility, and morphology.

Brachytherapy

Form of radiation therapy for prostate cancer, involving implantation of radioactive pellets in the prostate gland.

Digital rectal examination (DRE)

Procedure to palpate the prostate gland and check for signs of tenderness, nodules, hardness, or enlargement.

Orchiectomy

Surgical removal of a testis.

Vasectomy

Surgical removal of part of the vas deferens to prevent spermatozoa from entering the semen.