Male Reproductive system Medical terminology

testis

Primary male sex organ, paired, oval-shaped, and enclosed in a sac called the scrotum; produces spermatozoa (sperm cells) and testosterone (also called testicle).

seminiferous tubules

Approximately 900 coiled tubes within the testes in which spermatogenesis occurs.

sperm

The microscopic male germ cell, which, when united with the ovum, produces a zygote (fertilized egg) that with subsequent development becomes an embryo (also called spermatozoon).

testosterone

The principal male sex hormone; its chief function is to stimulate the development of the male reproductive organs and secondary sex characteristics.

epididymis

Coiled tube attached to each testis that provides for storage, transit, and maturation of sperm; continuous with each vas deferens.

vas deferens

Duct (tube) carrying the sperm from the epididymis to the urethra; enclosed by the spermatic cord along with nerves, lymphatics, arteries, and veins (also called ductus deferens).

seminal vesicles

Two accessory glands located posterior to the base of the bladder that open into the vas deferens and secrete a thick fluid forming part of the semen.

prostate gland

Walnut-shaped gland that encircles the proximal section of the urethra and secretes a fluid that aids in the movement of the sperm and ejaculation.

semen

Substance composed of sperm, seminal fluids, and other secretions.

scrotum

Sac containing the testes and their corresponding epididymides, from which each vas deferens begins; suspended on both sides of and posterior to the penis.

penis

Male organ of urination and coitus (sexual intercourse).

glans penis

Enlarged tip on the end of the penis.

prepuce

Fold of skin covering the glans penis in uncircumcised males (foreskin of the penis).

genitalia

Reproductive organs (male or female); includes internal and external reproductive organs (also called genitals).

gonads

Primary reproductive organs; testes in males, ovaries in females.

andr/o

Combining form meaning male.

balan/o

Combining form meaning glans penis.

epididym/o

Combining form meaning epididymis.

orch/o, orchi/o, orchid/o

Combining forms meaning testis, testicle.

prostat/o

Combining form meaning prostate gland.

sperm/o, spermat/o

Combining forms meaning sperm, spermatozoon (pl. spermatozoa).

vas/o

Combining form meaning vessel, duct (vas deferens in terms describing the male reproductive system).

vesicul/o

Combining form meaning seminal vesicle(s).

cyst/o

Combining form meaning bladder, sac.

crypt/o

Combining form meaning hidden.

lith/o

Combining form meaning stone(s), calculus (pl. calculi).

olig/o

Combining form meaning scanty, few.

a-, an-

Prefixes meaning absence of, without.

hyper-

Prefix meaning above, excessive.

-algia

Suffix meaning pain.

-ectomy

Suffix meaning excision, surgical removal.

-ia

Suffix meaning diseased state, condition of.

-ic

Suffix meaning pertaining to.

-ism

Suffix meaning state of.

-itis

Suffix meaning inflammation.

-lith

Suffix meaning stone(s), calculus (pl. calculi).

-tomy

Suffix meaning cut into, incision.

-pexy

Suffix meaning surgical fixation.

-pathy

Suffix meaning disease.

-plasia

Suffix meaning condition of formation, development, growth.

-plasty

Suffix meaning surgical repair.

-rrhea

Suffix meaning flow, discharge.

-stomy

Suffix meaning creation of an artificial opening.

erectile dysfunction (ED)

Inability to attain or maintain an erection sufficient to perform sexual intercourse (formerly called impotence).

first-line treatment for erectile dysfunction

Oral therapies, such as sildenafil, vardenafil, tadalafil, and avanafil, which work by increasing the flow of blood in the genital area.

hydrocele

Fluid-filled sac around the testicle; causes scrotal swelling.

infertility

Reduced or absent ability to achieve pregnancy; generally defined after one year of frequent, unprotected sexual intercourse.

phimosis

Tightness of the prepuce (foreskin of the penis) that prevents its retraction over the glans penis; may be congenital or a result of balanitis.

priapism

Persistent abnormal erection of the penis accompanied by pain and tenderness.

prostate cancer

Cancer of the prostate gland, usually occurring in men middle-aged and older.

spermatocele

Distension of the epididymis containing an abnormal cyst-like collection of fluid and sperm cells; may cause scrotal swelling.

testicular cancer

Cancer of the testicle, usually occurring in men 15 to 35 years of age.

testicular torsion

Twisting of the spermatic cord causing decreased blood flow to the testis; occurs most often during puberty and considered a surgical emergency.

varicocele

Enlarged veins of the spermatic cord; may cause scrotal swelling.

ablation

Destruction of abnormal or excessive tissue by melting, vaporizing, or eroding.

circumcision

Surgical removal of the prepuce (foreskin); all or part of the foreskin may be removed.

enucleation

Excision of a whole organ or mass without cutting into it.

hydrocelectomy

Surgical removal of a fluid-filled sac around the testicle causing scrotal swelling (hydrocele).

laser surgery

Use of a focused beam of light to excise or vaporize abnormal tissue and to control bleeding.

minimally invasive surgical treatments (MISTs)

Procedures for benign prostatic hyperplasia that are characterized by fewer side effects, outpatient locations, and shorter recovery times.

morcellation

Cutting or grinding solid tissue into smaller pieces for removal.

robotic surgery

Use of small surgical instruments attached to a computer and operated by the surgeon from a console several feet from the operating table.

sterilization

Surgical procedure that prevents pregnancy, either the ability of the female to conceive or of the male to induce conception.

transurethral incision of the prostate gland (TUIP)

Surgical procedure that widens the urethra by making a few small incisions in the bladder neck and prostate gland without removing prostate tissue.

transurethral resection of the prostate gland (TURP)

Surgical removal of pieces of prostate gland tissue by using an instrument inserted through the urethra, leaving the capsule intact.

simple prostatectomy

Incisional surgical procedure used for very large prostate glands or when other abnormalities, such as cystolithiasis, exist.

holmium/thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP/ThuLEP)

Laser surgery characterized by less blood loss, shorter hospitalizations, high effectiveness, and no limits on prostate size.

photo-selective vaporization of the prostate (PVP)

Laser surgery offering shorter hospitalization and catheterization and lower bleeding risk, but less effective with higher retreatment rates in larger prostate glands.

prostatic urethral lift (PUL)

Minimally invasive surgical treatment performed under local anesthesia with shorter catheterization time and preserved sexual function, though less effective than TURP.

water vapor thermal therapy (WVTT)

Minimally invasive surgical treatment performed under local anesthesia that preserves sexual function, but requires longer catheterization time and has higher retreatment rates.

BOO

Bladder outlet obstruction

LUTS

Lower urinary tract symptoms; spoken as a whole word (lutz)

BPH

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

ED

Erectile dysfunction

HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus

HPV

Human papillomavirus

STD

Sexually transmitted disease

STI

Sexually transmitted infection

DRE

Digital rectal examination

PSA

Prostate-specific antigen

TRUS

Transrectal ultrasound

HoLEP

Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate gland; spoken as a whole word (HOL-ep)

MISTs

Minimally invasive surgical treatments; spoken as a whole word (mistz)

PUL

Prostatic urethral lift

PVP

Photoselective vaporization of the prostate gland

RP

Radical prostatectomy

RARP

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy

RASP

Robot-assisted simple prostatectomy

TUIP

Transurethral incision of the prostate gland; spoken as a whole word (twip)

TURP

Transurethral resection of the prostate gland; spoken as a whole word (terp)

WVTT

Water vapor thermal therapy