Body Parts

Testis, or testicle (pl. testes, or testicles)

Primary male sex organs, paired, oval-shaped, and enclosed in a sac called the scrotum.  The testes produce spermatozoa (sperm cells) and the hormone testosterone.

Sperm (spermatozoon, pl. spermatozoa)

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

Testosterone

The principle male sex hormone.  Its chief function is to stimulate the development of the male reproductive organs and secondary sex characteristics such as facial hair.

Seminiferous tubules

Up to 900 coiled tubes within the testes in which spermatogenesis occurs.

Epididymis

A coiled 20-foot (6-m) tube atop each of the testes that carries the mature sperm up to the vas deferens.

Vas deferens, ductus deferens, or seminal duct

Duct carrying the sperm from the epididymis to the urethra.  (The urethra also connects with the urinary bladder and carries urine outside the body.  A circular muscle constricts during intercourse to prevent urination.)

Seminal vesicles

Two main glands located at the base of the bladder that open into the vas deferens.  The glands secrete a thick fluid, which forms part of the semen.

Prostate gland

Encircles the upper end of the urethra.  The prostate gland secretes a fluid that aids in the movement of the sperm and ejaculation.

Scrotum

Sac suspended on both sides of and just behind the penis.  The testes are enclosed in the scrotum.

Penis

Male organ of urination and copulation (sexual intercourse).

Glans penis

Enlarged tip on the end of the penis.

Prepuce

Fold of skin near the tip of the penis (foreskin of the penis).

Semen

Composed of sperm, seminal fluids, and other secretions.

Genitalia (genitals)

Reproductive organs (male and female).

Prefixes

trans-

through, across, beyond

Combining Forms

andr/o

male

balan/o

glans penis

epididym/o

epididymis

orchid/o, orchi/o, orch/o, test/o

testis, testicle

prostat/o

prostate gland

sperm/o, spermat/o

spermatozoon (pl. spermatozoa), sperm

vas/o

vessel, duct

vesicul/o

seminal vesicle

Suffixes

-ism

state of

Medical Terms – not built from word parts

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

A disease that affects the body's immune system, transmitted by exchange of body fluid during the sexual act, reuse of contaminated needles, or receiving contaminated blood transfusions (also called acquired immune deficiency syndrome).

Artificial insemination

Introduction of semen into the vagina by artificial means.

Chlamydia

A sexually transmitted disease sometimes referred to as a silent STD because many people are not aware they have the disease.  Symptoms that occur when the disease becomes serious are painful urination and discharge from the penis in men and genital itching, vaginal discharge, and bleeding between menstrual periods in women.  The causative agent is C. Trachomatis.

Circumcision

Surgical removal of the prepuce (foreskin).

Coitus

Sexual intercourse between male and female (also called copulation).

Condom

Cover for the penis worn during coitus.

Digital rectal examination

A physical examination in which the physician inserts a finger into the rectum and feels for the size and shape of the prostate gland through the rectal wall.  Used to screen for bph and cancer of the prostate.  Bph usually presents as a uniform, non-tender enlargement, whereas cancer usually presents as a stony hard nodule.

Ejaculation

Ejection of semen from the male urethra.

Erectile dysfunction

The inability of the male to attain or maintain an erection sufficient to perform sexual intercourse (formerly called impotence).

Genital herpes

Sexually transmitted disease caused by Herpes virus hominis type 2 (also called herpes simplex virus)

Gonads

Male and female sex glands.

Gonorrhea

Contagious, inflammatory sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacterial organism that affects the mucous membranes of the genitourinary system.

Heterosexual

Person who is attracted to a member of the opposite sex.

Homosexual

Person who is attracted to a member of the same sex.

Human immunodeficiency virus

A type of retrovirus that causes AIDS.  HIV infects T-helper cells of the immune system allowing for opportunistic infections such as candidiasis, P. carinii pneumonia, tuberculosis, and Kaposi sarcoma.

Human papilloma virus

A prevalent sexually transmitted disease causing benign or cancerous growths in male and female genitals (also called venereal warts).

Hydrocele

Scrotal swelling caused by a collection of fluid.

Hydrocelectomy

Surgical removal of a hydrocele.

Orgasm

Climax of sexual stimulation.

Penile implant

Surgical implantation of a penile prosthesis to correct erectile dysfunction.

Phimosis

A tightness of the prepuce (foreskin of the penis) that prevents its retraction over the glans.  May be congenital or a result of balanitis.  Circumcision is the usual treatment.

Priapism

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

Prostate cancer

Cancer of the prostate gland.

Prostate-specific antigen

A blood test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen in the blood.  Elevated test results may indicate the presence of prostate cancer.

Prosthesis

An artificial replacement of an absent body part.

Puberty

Period when secondary sex characteristics develop and the ability to reproduce sexually begins.

Sexually transmitted disease

Diseases, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and genital herpes, transmitted during sexual contact (also called venereal disease).

Sterilization

Process that renders an individual unable to produce offspring.

Suprapubic prostatectomy

Excision of the prostate gland through an abdominal incision made above the pubic bone.  Used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.

Syphilis

Infectious sexually transmitted disease having lesions that can affect any organ or tissue; a syphilitic mother may transmit the disease to her unborn infant because the causative organism is able to pass through the placenta.

Testicular carcinoma

Cancer of the testicle.

Testicular torsion

Twisting of the spermatic cord causing decreased blood flow to the testis.  Occurs most often during puberty.  Because of a lack of blood flow to the testis, it is often considered a surgical emergency.

Transrectal ultrasound

An ultrasound procedure used to diagnose prostate cancer.  Sound waves are obtained by placing a probe into the rectum.  The sound waves are transformed into an image of the prostate gland.

Transurethral incision of the prostate gland

A surgical procedure that widens the urethra by making a few small incisions in the bladder neck and the prostate gland.  No prostate tissue is removed.  TUIP may be used instead of TURP when the prostate gland is less enlarged.

Transurethral microwave thermotherapy

A treatment that eliminates excess cells present in benign prostatic hyperplasia by using heat generated by microwave.

Transurethral resection of the prostate gland

Successive pieces of the prostate gland tissue are resected by using a resectoscope inserted through the urethra.  The capsule is left intact.  Usually performed when the enlarged prostate gland interferes with urination.

Trichomoniasis

A sexually transmitted disease caused by a one-cell organism, Trichomonas.  It infects the genitourinary tract.  Men may be asymptomatic or may develop urethritis, an enlarged prostate gland, or epididymitis.  Women have vaginal itching, dysuria, and vaginal or urethral discharge.

Varicocele

Enlarged veins of the spermatic cord.

Abbreviations

AIDS

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

BPH

benign prostatic hyperplasia

DRE

digital rectal examination

HIV

human immunodeficiency virus

HPV

human papilloma virus

PSA

prostate-specific antigen

STD

sexually transmitted disease

TUIP

transurethral incision of the prostate

TUMT

transurethral microwave thermotherapy

TURP

transurethral resection of the prostate