Reproductive System Terminology, Pathology, and Procedures

Female Reproductive System Combining Forms and Prefixes

  • Female Reproductive System Combining Forms:

    • cervic/o: Cervix
    • colp/o: Vagina
    • endometri/o: Endometrium
    • episi/o: Vulva
    • gynec/o: Woman, female reproductive organs
    • hymen/o: Hymen
    • hyster/o: Uterus
    • mamm/o: Breast
    • mast/o: Breast
    • men/o: Menstruation
    • metr/o: Uterus
    • oophor/o: Ovary
    • pelv/i: Pelvis, pelvic cavity
    • perine/o: Perineum
    • salping/o: Fallopian tube (uterine tube)
    • trachel/o: Cervix
    • vagin/o: Vagina
    • vulv/o: Vulva

  • Prefixes Associated with the Female Reproductive System:

    • a-: Absence of, without
    • dys-: Painful, abnormal, difficult, labored
    • endo-: Within
    • peri-: Surrounding (outer)

Male Reproductive System Combining Forms and Prefixes

  • Male Reproductive System Combining Forms:

    • prostat/o: Prostate gland
    • sperm/o: Sperm, spermatozoon (plural: spermatozoa)
    • spermat/o: Sperm, spermatozoon (plural: spermatozoa)
    • vas/o: Vessel, duct (specifically the vas deferens in terms describing the male reproductive system)
    • vesicul/o: Seminal vesicle(s)

  • Combining Forms Used with Male Reproductive System Terms:

    • crypt/o: Hidden
    • cyst/o: Bladder, sac
    • lith/o: Stone(s), calculus (plural: calculi)
    • olig/o: Scanty, few

  • Prefixes Associated with the Male Reproductive System:

    • a-: Absence of, without
    • an-: Absence of, without
    • hyper-: Above, excessive

Operative, Diagnostic, and General Suffixes

  • Operative and Surgical Suffixes:

    • -cleisis: Surgical closure
    • -ectomy: Excision, surgical removal
    • -pexy: Surgical fixation
    • -plasty: Surgical repair
    • -rrhaphy: Suturing, repairing
    • -stomy: Creation of an artificial opening
    • -tomy: Cut into, incision

  • Diagnostic, Evaluative, and Procedural Suffixes:

    • -gram: The record, radiographic image
    • -graphy: Process of recording, radiographic imaging
    • -scope: Instrument used for visual examination
    • -scopic: Pertaining to visual examination
    • -scopy: Visual examination

  • Pathological and Symptomatic Suffixes:

    • -algia: Pain
    • -cele: Hernia, protrusion
    • -ia: Diseased or abnormal state, condition of
    • -itis: Inflammation
    • -lith: Stone(s), calculus (plural: calculi)
    • -osis: Abnormal condition
    • -pathy: Disease
    • -plasia: Condition of formation, development
    • -rrhagia: Excessive bleeding
    • -rrhea: Flow, discharge

  • General and Descriptive Suffixes:

    • -al: Pertaining to
    • -ic: Pertaining to
    • -ism: State of
    • -logist: One who studies and treats (specialist, physician)
    • -logy: Study of
    • -salpinx: Fallopian tube (uterine tube)

Diagnostic Procedures and Laboratory Tests

  • Digital Rectal Examination (DRE):

    • Definition: Physical examination in which the healthcare provider inserts a gloved finger into the rectum and palpates the prostate through the rectal wall to determine the size, shape, and consistency of the gland.
    • Clinical Utility: Used to screen for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer.
    • Clinical Findings:
    • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): Usually presents as a uniform, nontender enlargement.
    • Prostate Cancer: Usually presents as a stony hard nodule.

  • Transrectal Ultrasounds (TRUS):

    • Classification: Diagnostic term not built from word parts.
    • Definition: Ultrasound procedure used to diagnose cancer.
    • Mechanism: Sound waves are sent and received by a transducer probe placed into the rectum (recrum).

  • Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA):

    • Classification: Diagnostic term not built from word parts.
    • Definition: Blood test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen in the blood.
    • Diagnostic Indications: Elevated test results may indicate:
    • Presence of prostate cancer
    • Urinary or prostatic infection (unary or prostatic infection)
    • Excess prostate tissue, as found in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostatitis

Surgical Procedures of the Male Reproductive System

  • Terms Not Built from Word Parts:
    • Ablation:
    • Definition: Destruction of abnormal or excessive tissue by melting, vaporizing, or eroding.
    • Circumcision:
    • Definition: Surgical removal of the prepuce (foreskin).
    • Extent: All or part of the foreskin may be removed.
    • Enucleation:
    • Definition: Excision of a whole organ or mass without cutting into it.
    • Hydrocelectomy:
    • Definition: Surgical removal of a fluid-filled sac around the testicle causing scrotal swelling (hydrocele).
    • Laser Surgery:
    • Definition: Use of a focused beam of light to excise or vaporize abnormal tissue and to control bleeding.
    • Modalities: Utilizes a variety of non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures.
    • Common Applications for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH):
      • Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate gland (HOLEP)
      • Photoselective vaporization of the prostate gland (PVP)
    • Transurethral Resection of the Prostate Gland (TURP):
    • Variant Form: Transuretheral resection of the prostate.
    • Definition: Surgical removal of pieces of the prostate gland tissue by using an instrument inserted through the urethra.
    • Surgical Technique: The capsule of the prostate gland is left intact.
    • Indication: Usually performed when an enlarged prostate gland interferes with urination.

Sexually Transmitted Infections and Systemic Pathologies

  • Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI):

    • Alternate Term: Sexually transmitted disease (STD).
    • Transmission: Infection spread through sexual contact.
    • Impact: Affects both males and females, causing damage to reproductive organs and potentially serious health consequences if left untreated.

  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV):

    • Etiology: Sexually transmitted infection caused by a retrovirus that infects T-helper cells of the immune system.
    • Transmission Routes:
    • Sexual contact
    • Acquired in utero
    • Transmitted through infected blood via needle sharing
    • Disease Progression: Advanced HIV infection progresses to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV):

    • Etiology: Sexually transmitted infection caused by viral infection.
    • Classification: Encompasses more than 4040 types of HPV.
    • Pathological Effects: Causes benign or cancerous growths in male and female genitals.
    • Clinical Manifestation: Also called genital warts.

Medical Abbreviations

  • AIDS: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
  • BPH: Benign prostatic hyperplasia
  • DRE: Digital rectal examination
  • HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus
  • HOLEP: Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate gland
  • HPV: Human papillomavirus
  • PSA: Prostate-specific antigen
  • PVP: Photoselective vaporization of the prostate gland
  • STD: Sexually transmitted disease
  • STI: Sexually transmitted infection
  • TRUS: Transrectal ultrasounds
  • TURP: Transurethral resection of the prostate gland (transuretheral resection of the prostate)