Medical Terminology Male Reproductive System
Spermatocyte
A male gametocyte from which a spermatozoon develops.
Corpus spongiosum
Column of erectile tissue in the penis that fills with blood during an erection and surrounds the penile urethra on the ventral portion of the penis.
Oligospermia
Condition of a suboptimal concentration of spermatozoa in the ejaculated semen to ensure successful fertilization of an ovum.
Aspermia
Condition of the complete absence of sperm.
Vasovasostomy
Creation of an artificial opening between ducts to restore fertility to males who have had a vasectomy.
Varicocele
Distended veins of the spermatic cord.
Ejaculatory duct
Duct that connects the ampulla of the ductus deferens with the duct of the seminal vesicle at the prostatic urethra.
Ductus deferens
Duct that transports sperm from the epididymis through the spermatic cord and into the ejaculatory duct; also referred to as the vas deferens.
Corpus cavernosum
Either of two columns of erectile tissue in the penis that fill with blood during an erection.
Semen
Ejaculatory fluid composed of sperm and secretions from the seminal vesicles, prostate, and bulbourethral glands.
Gonads
Reproductive organs (testes in men and ovaries in women) that produce gametes and reproductive hormones.
Coitus
Sexual intercourse between a male and female.
Seminiferous tubules
Structures within the testes where spermatogenesis occurs.
Orchiectomy
Surgery to remove one or both testicles; also called orchidectomy.
Orchidectomy
Surgery to remove one or both testicles; also called orchiectomy.
Orchiopexy
Surgical fixation of the testicle.
Spermatogonia
The diploid precursor cells that become sperm.
-plasia
development, growth
-pathy
disease
-ia
diseased state, abnormal state, condition of, condition
epididym/o
epididymis
par-
near
epi-
above
hyper-
above, excessive
a-
absence of, without
an-
absence of, without
hypo-
below
-sis
condition
-stomy
creation of new opening, process of new opening
-tomy
cut into, incision
-plasty
surgical repair
orch/o
testis, testicle
orchi/o
testis, testicle
orchid/o
testis, testicle
test/o
testis, testicle
testicular/o
testis, testicle
trans-
through, across, beyond
-oma
tumor
urethr/o
urethra
vas/o
vas deferens, vessel, duct
Balanitis
Inflammation of the glans penis.
Prostatitis
Inflammation of the prostate gland.
Urethritis
Inflammation of the urethra.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
A benign condition in which an overgrowth of prostate tissue pushes against the urethra and the bladder, blocking the flow of urine.
Epididymis
A coiled tubular structure in which sperm start to mature and are stored until ejaculation.
Sterility
A condition of being unable to produce children.
Prostate gland
A gland at the base of the bladder surrounding the urethra that contributes fluid to semen during ejaculation.
Vasectomy
A procedure in which a small section of the ductus deferens is cut and sealed to interrupt sperm delivery. It is an effective form of male birth control.
Condom
A sheath that is worn over the penis during sexual behavior in order to prevent pregnancy or spread of sexually transmitted disease.
Gamete
A specialized sex cell carrying 23 chromosomes.
Hydrocele
Accumulation of serous fluid between the layers of membrane covering the testis.
Scrotum
An external pouch of skin and muscle that houses the testes.
Glans penis
Bulbous end of the penis that contains a large number of nerve endings.
Spermatic cord
Bundle of nerves and blood vessels that supplies the testes; contains ductus deferens.
Leydig cells
Cells between the seminiferous tubules of the testes that produce testosterone; a type of interstitial cell.
Sertoli cells
Cells that support germ cells through the process of spermatogenesis; a type of sustentacular cell.
Polyuria
Excessive urine production.
Enucleation
Excision of a whole organ or mass without cutting into it.
Prepuce
Flap of skin that forms a collar around, and thus protects and lubricates, the glans penis; also referred to as the foreskin.
Seminal vesicle
Gland that produces seminal fluid, which contributes to semen.
Bulbourethral glands
Glands that secrete a lubricating mucus that cleans and lubricates the urethra prior to and during ejaculation; also called Cowper's glands.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
Hormone released by the hypothalamus that regulates the production of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone from the pituitary gland.
Spermatid
Immature sperm cells produced by meiosis II of secondary spermatocytes.
Orchitis
Inflammation of a testis.
Epididymitis
Inflammation of the epididymis.
Arthralgia
Joint pain.
Sperm
Male gamete.
Testes
Male gonads.
Penis
Male organ of copulation.
Inguinal canal
Opening in the abdominal wall that connects the testes to the abdominal cavity.
Myalgia
Pain in a muscle or group of muscles.
Dysuria
Painful urination.
Cryptorchidism
The failure of one or both testes to descend into the scrotum prior to birth.
Infertility
The inability to produce children.
Spermatogenesis
The process of producing sperm.
Ablation
The removal or destruction of a body part or tissue or its function. Ablation may be performed by surgery, hormones, drugs, radiofrequency, heat, or other methods.
Circumcision
The surgical removal of the prepuce.
Spermiogenesis
Transformation of spermatids to spermatozoa during spermatogenesis.
-ectomy
excision or surgical removal
-rrhea
flow, discharge
balan/o
glans penis
gonad/o
gonad
crypt-
hidden
en-
in
-itis
inflammation
-lysis
loosening, dissolution, separating
andr/o
male
-algia
pain
dys-
painful, difficult
pen/i
penis
pen/o
penis
phall/o
penis
-al
pertaining to
-ar
pertaining to
-atic
pertaining to
-ferous
pertaining to
-ic
pertaining to
-ile
pertaining to
-ous
pertaining to
posth/o
prepuce, foreskin
preputi/o
prepuce, foreskin
-tion
process of
-graphy
process of recording
-cision
processing of cutting
-genesis
production
prostat/o
prostate gland
-gram
record
scrot/o
scrotum
semin/i
semen
vesicul/o
seminal vesicle
sperm/o
sperm, spermatozoon
spermat/o
sperm, spermatozoon
-ism
state of, condition
-logy
study of
-pexy
surgical fixation, suspension