chapter 9

prostate gland

A gland in the male surrounding the neck of the bladder and the urethra and producing a secretion containing citric acid, acid phosphatase, and proteolytic enzymes that liquefy coagulated semen.

flagellum

A hairlike projection in the tail region of the sperm cell which aids motility.

aspermia

A lack of formation or emission of semen.

carcinoma of the testes

A malignant, often incurable, neoplasm of a testis, seen most commonly in men between 20 and 35 years of age; often asymptomatic in early stages. Later-stage manifestations may include pulmonary symptoms, gynecomastia, ureteral obstruction, and abdominal mass.

interstitial cells of the testes

Clustered epithelioid cells that constitute the endocrine tissue of the testes and produce androgens, primarily testosterone, from simpler substances.

azoospermia

Condition of no living sperm in the semen.

stromal tissue

Supportive tissue.

transurethral resection of the prostate

Surgical incision through the urethra, especially as performed with a resectoscope on an enlarged prostate gland that interferes with normal urination.

circumcision

Surgical removal of all or part of the prepuce, or foreskin.

orchiectomy

Surgical removal of one or both testes.

prostatectomy

Surgical removal of the prostate.

purulent

The condition of producing, containing, discharging, consisting of, or being caused by pus.

spermatolytic

anything that causes spermatozoa destruction

identical twins

twins that come from one egg that splits into two

fraternal twins

twins that occur when ovaries release two eggs that are then fertilized

balanitis

Inflammation of the glans penis.

prostatitis

Inflammation of the prostate.

chlamydial infection

. A term commonly used to denote the condition resulting from the sexual transmission of Chlamydia. Usually asymptomatic in the early stage, later symptoms may include painful urination and penile discharge in males and genital itching, vaginal discharge, and bleeding between menstrual periods in females.

sterilization

1. Any procedure or process by which a person is rendered incapable of reproduction, such as vasectomy, castration, or salpingectomy.

testosterone

1. The major androgenic hormone produced by the Leydig cells of the testes in reaction to excitation by the luteinizing hormone of the adenohypophysis. Responsible for spermatogenesis and the development of many male characteristics; it also plays a role in stimulating skeletal muscle, regulating gonadotropic secretion, and maintaining muscle mass and bone tissue in the adult male.

perineum

2. The area between the thighs, bounded in the female by the anus and vulva and in the male by the anus and scrotum.

semen

2. The thick, whitish secretion of the reproductive organs in the male, discharged from the urethra on ejaculation and composed of spermatozoa in their nutrient plasma and secretions from the seminal vesicles, prostate, and other glands. Also called seminal fluid.

hydrocele

A circumscribed accumulation of fluid in any saclike cavity or duct, especially in the tunica vaginalis of the testicle along the spermatic cord.

testicular torsion

A condition, occurring most often during puberty, characterized by a twisting of the spermatic cord. Testicular torsion is often considered a surgical emergency because it leads to decreased blood flow to the testis.

hypospadias

A congenital developmental anomaly in the male in which the urethra opens on the underside of the penis.

cryptorchidism

A developmental abnormality in which one or both testes fail to descend into the scrotum. Also called cryptorchism or undescended testis.

varicocele

A dilated and distended condition of the pampiniform venous complex of the spermatic cord, resulting in swelling and causing a bluish appearance through the skin of the scrotum marked by a constant dragging, pulling, or dull pain in the scrotum.

erectile dysfunction

A disorder in which the spongy tissue of the penis is not capable of attaining or maintaining an erection sufficient to perform or complete sexual intercourse.

spermatozoon

A mature male germ cell that is formed in the seminiferous tubules of the testes and functions as the generative element of the semen, serving to fertilize the ovum and containing the genetic data to be sent to the zygote by the male. Also called sperm.

phimosis

A narrowing or constricting of the preputial opening that prevents the retraction of the prepuce over the glans penis.

benign prostatic hyperplasia

A noncancerous condition, common in men over 50, that is characterized by enlargement of portions of the prostate gland

seminal vesicles

A pair of pouchlike pyramidal glandular structures attached to the posterior portion of the urinary bladder, the duct of each joining the vas deferens to form the ejaculatory duct.

carcinoma of the prostate

A slowly progressive adenocarcinoma of the prostate that primarily affects men over 50 years of age and is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.

syphilis

A subacute to chronic disease caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum, usually transmitted by sexual contact or passed through the placenta as congenital syphilis. Untreated syphilis usually progresses through distinct stages of effects over a period of years, during which any organ may become involved.

ejaculation

A sudden act of expulsion, as of semen from the male urethra.

vasovasostomy

A surgical operation to rejoin the ends of the severed vas deferens in an attempt to restore fertility in a male who has previously undergone vasectomy.

orchiopexy

A surgical procedure to fixate an undescended testis in the scrotum.

human papillomavirus

A virus causing warts of the feet and hands, as well as lesions of the mucous membranes of the anal, oral, and genital cavities; affects both males and females, can be transmitted by sexual contact, and is a precursor to cancer of the cervix.

ligation

An application of a ligature, any substance (such as surgical gut, wire, cotton, or silk) used to tie off a vessel or duct or to strangulate a part. Ligation is performed to arrest or prevent bleeding during surgery, to stop traumatic or spontaneous hemorrhage, to treat varicosities, or to prevent passage of material through a duct, as in tubal ligation.

epididymis

An elongated cordlike structure located along the posterior border of the testis.

digital rectal exam

An examination in which the physician inserts a finger into the rectum to assess for the shape and size of the prostate gland through the rectal wall.

oligospermia

An insufficient number of spermatozoa in the semen.

androgen

Any steroid hormone or substance that promotes masculine traits.

glans penis

Cap-shaped expansion of the corpus spongiosum at the tip of the penis. Also called balanus.

castration

Excision of the gonads or their destruction by radiation or parasites.

prepuce

Fold of skin forming a retractable cover, as in the fold around the clitoris or the foreskin of the penis.

seminoma

Germinal tumors that form in the seminiferous tubules of the testes.

gonorrhea

Infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, transmitted primarily by sexual contact; commonly asymptomatic in women but marked in males by urethritis with pain and discharge.

herpes genitalis

Infection caused by type 2 herpes simplex virus; most commonly transmitted by sexual contact and characterized by painful vesicular eruptions on the skin and mucous membranes of the genitalia.

orchitis

Inflammation of a testis, characterized by swelling, pain, and a sense of weightiness. Also called orchiditis and testitis.

epididymitis

Inflammation of the epididymis.

impotence

Lack of copulative power in the male due to the inability to initiate penile erection, to maintain penile erection until ejaculation, or less commonly to ejaculate after achieving an erection. Also called erectile dysfunction.

testis

One of the two egg-shaped male gonads, normally located in the scrotum, that produce testosterone and sperm.

bulbourethral glands

One of two glands situated on each side of the prostate, draining to the urethra and secreting a component of the seminal fluid.

testicular

Pertaining to a testis.

penile

Pertaining to the penis.

spermatozoa

Plural of spermatozoon.

vasectomy

The excision of the vas deferens or of a portion of it. Vasectomy is performed either as a male sterilization procedure or as a routine operation before removal of the prostate to prevent inflammation of the epididymides and testes.

vas deferens

The excretory duct of the testis, joining with the excretory duct of the seminal vessel to form the ejaculatory duct. Also called ductus deferens.

penis

The external male reproductive organ, consisting of a root, body, and glans penis; functions as the organ of copulation and of urinary excretion.

scrotum

The highly vascular pouch of skin that contains the testes and portions of the spermatic cords.

chancre

The primary lesion of syphilis, occurring at the entry site of the infection. Typically painless and presenting as a small red papule or crusted erosion that exudes a serous fluid, leading to a nontender regional lymphadenopathy.

spermatogenesis

The process of the formation and development of spermatozoa, comprising the stages of spermatocytogenesis and spermiogenesis.

photoselective vaporization of the prostate

This is a procedure that attempts to alleviate urinary symptoms caused by benign enlargement of the prostate gland.

seminiferous tubules

Tiny tubes in each testes.

cryogenic surgery

Tissue destruction achieved by application of extreme cold, sometimes used in intracranial and cutaneous surgery.

parenchymal tissue

Tissue that does the actual work of an organ.

teratoma

Tumors composed of different kinds of tissue, none of which normally occur together; most common in the ovaries or testes.

semen analysis

evaluates certain characteristics of a male's semen and the sperm contained therein. It is done to help evaluate male fertility, whether for those seeking pregnancy or verifying the success of vasectomy.

ejaculatory duct

formed by the union of the vas deferens with the duct of the seminal vesicle. They pass through the prostate, and open into the urethra at the Colliculus seminalis.

embryonal carcinoma

germ cell tumor characterized by primitive epithelial cells with marked pleomorphism and various histologic patterns. It may present in pure form but often is part of a mixed germ cell tumor.

penoscrotal

pertaining to the penis and scrotum