Male Reproductive System

Lecture 8

Prefixes• a- : without• crypt- : hidden• oligo- : deficiency/few• trans- : across/through/beyond

Roots/Combining forms• cyst/o: bladder• fer/o: to carry• posth/o: prepuce/foreskin• phren/o: diaphragm

Suffixes• -al: pertaining to• -algia: condition of pain• -cele: swelling/protrusion/hernia• -cide: something that kills/killing• -ectomy: removal of• -genesis: forming/capable of causing• -graphy: technique of recording/making an X-ray

• -ia: condition of• -ic: pertaining to• -ism: process of• -itis: inflammation of• -lysis: breakdown/disintegration• -megaly: enlargement• -meter: measuring instrument• -oma: tumour/swelling• -ous: pertaining to/of the nature of• -pathia: condition of disease

• -pathy: disease of• -pexy: surgical fixation/fix in place• -plasty: surgical repair/reconstruction• -rrhagia: condition of bursting forth/discharge of

blood• -rrhaphy: suture/stitch/suturing• -rrhea: (Am.) excessive flow/discharge• -rrhoea: excessive flow/discharge• -sect(ion): cut/cutting/excision• -stomy :opening into• -tomy: incision into• -uria: condition of urine

Anatomy

• Testis or testicle = main male sex organs, paired, oval shaped, enclosed in a sac called the scrotum.

– Semini/fer/ous tubules = coiled tubes within the testes where sperm have their beginning.

– Epididymis = a pair of coiled tubes atop the testes that carry the mature sperm up to the vas deferens.

• Vas deferens = duct that carries sperm to the urethra.

Anatomy

• Seminal vesicles = main glands at the base of the bladder, open into the vas deferens. Secrete a thick fluid which forms part of the semen.

• Prostate gland= encircles the upper urethra, secretes a fluid that aids in the movement of sperm and ejaculation.

• Scrotum = sac suspended on both sides and just behind the penis.

• Penis = male organ of urination or copulation.• Semen = composed of sperm, seminal fluid & other

fluid

Combining forms

• Balan/o = glans penis.• Epididym/o = epididymis.• Orchid/o = testis, testicle or test/o, orchi/o.• prostat/o = prostate.• Vas/o = vessel, duct.• Vesicul/o = seminal vesicles.• Andr/o = male.• Sperm/o spermat/o = spermatozoa, sperm.

Medical Terms

• Balanitis = inflammation of the glans penis.• Balanorrhea = excessive discharge from the

glans penis.• Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy [BPH] =

nonmalignant excessive development of the prostate gland.

• Epididymitis = inflammation of an epididymis.• Prostatitis = inflammation of the prostate gland.• Prostatolith = stone in the prostate gland.

Medical Terms

• Prostatovesiculitis = inflammation of the prostate gland and seminal vesicles.

• Erectile dysfunction = inability to attain or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse.

• Hydrocele = scrotal swelling.• Phimosis = narrowing of/ constriction of/ the

opening of the prepuce (foreskin) of the glans penis.

• Prostatic cancer = cancer of the prostate gland.

Medical Terms

• Varicocele = enlarged veins of the spermatic cord.• Testicular torsion = twisting of the spermatic cord

causing decreased blood flow to the testis.• Orchioplasty = surgical repair of a testis.• Orchiectomy = excision or surgical removal of one

or both testes. (castration).• Prostatectomy = excision of the prostate gland.• Vasectomy = excision of a duct, sterilization.• Circumcision = removal of the prepuce.

Complementary Terms

• Andropathy = diseases of the male.• Aspermia = absence of sperm.• Oligospermia = scanty sperm (in semen).• Spermatolysis = dissolution of sperm.• AIDS = acquired immune deficiency.• Artificial insemination = introduction of semen into

the vagina by artificial means.• Chlamydia = STD, painful urination & discharge,

male and female can acquire.• Coitus = sexual intercourse male & female

Complementary Terms

• Gonads = male & female sex glands.• Gonorrhea = STD, bacterial organism affects

the mucous membranes.• Heterosexual = attracted to the opposite sex.• Homosexual = attracted to the same sex.• Human papilloma virus = prevalent STD,

benign cancerous growths in the male & female genitals (venereal warts).

• Prosthesis = artificial replacement of an absent body part.

Complementary Terms

• Puberty = period when secondary sex characteristics development

• STD= sexually transmitted disease.• Sterilization = renders an individual unable to

produce offspring.

Abbreviations

• AIDS= acquired immune deficiency syndrome.• BPH= benign Prostatic hypertrophy.• HIV= human immunodeficiency virus.• HPV= human papilloma virus.• PSA = Prostatic specific antigen.• STD= sexually transmitted disease.

Combining forms relating to the reproductive system:

Balan/o glans penisCyst/o bladderEpididym/o epididymisOrchi/o testisPhall/o penisPosth/o prepuce / foreskinProstat/o prostateScrot/o scrotumSemin/i semen/testisSperm/i spermatozoa / spermVaric/o varicose veinVas/o vas deferens/vesselVesicul/o Seminal vesicle

• Insemination refers to the deposition of semen in the female reproductive tract (from Latin seminare, meaning to sow).

• Artificial insemination (AI) refers to the insertion of semen into the uterus via a cannula (tube) instead of by coitus.

• Sperm counts are performed to estimate the number of sperms, the percentage of abnormal sperms and their mobility.

• The actual number of sperms is important in determining the fertility of the male.

• A sperm count of less than 60 million sperms per cm3 of semen results in decreased fertility, even though only one sperm is required to fertilize an egg!

• Semen containing sperms can be preserved at very low temperatures in a cryostat. Once thawed, the sperm are capable of fertilizing eggs and are used for artificial insemination.

• Recently it has become possible to use sperm to fertilize eggs outside the body in laboratory glassware, a process known as in vitro fertilization (vitro meaning glass).

Seminoma

• Mr O, a 32-year-old father of two children, consulted his GP about a severe back pain. Although a regular football player he could not recall any recent injury that could account for his condition.

• During his consultation he mentioned that several months ago he had noticed his right testicle was swollen. It felt heavy and sometimes uncomfortable but he had ignored it assuming it would resolve.

• When his early medical record was checked it revealed a history of cryptorchism of the right testicle that had been rectified by orchidopexy at the age of 5 years.

• Palpation showed the right testicle to be hard, smooth and swollen. It was easily separated from the epididymis and did not transilluminate.

• Mr O had not felt any pain and otherwise appeared in good health. There was no evidence of orchitis, epididymitis or torsion.

• He was counselled by his GP who referred him to the Urology department with suspected cancer of the testis.

• Ultrasonography determined the presence of an intratesticular mass in the right testicle. A chest X-ray was negative for lung metastases, but a CT scan of his abdominopelvic region revealed retroperitoneal and para-aortic lymphadenopathy.

• He had elevated levels of the serum tumor markers (β-HCG and lactate dehydrogenase)

• Mr O was advised of the need for surgical orchidectomy and the procedure was explained to him by the consultant.

• Mr O's scrotal contents were examined and his right testicle removed through an inguinal approach with early clamping of the spermatic cord and its vessels.

• (Note, trans-scrotal biopsy is contra-indicated as a means of evaluating scrotal masses as it causes tumor cell shedding and spread of the tumor).

• Histopathological analysis confirmed the presence of a malignant seminoma in the right testicle; the contralateral testis was biopsied at the same time and found to be normal.

• Mr O's condition was assessed as Stage IIC and he was given chemotherapy with follow up chest X-ray, abdominopelvic CT scan and serum tumor marker determination every 3 months.

• At 6 months the residual retroperitoneal mass has shrunk and calcified, and he remains progression free.

WORD HELP

• β-HCG a serum tumour marker• calcified referring to deposition of calcium salts into a

tissue• chemotherapy treatment using drugs (here cytotoxic

drugs that destroy cancer cells)• contralateral pertaining to the opposite side • CT computed tomography• epididymis the first part of the duct system that leaves

the testis and stores maturing sperm• epididymitis inflammation of the epididymis• GP general practitioner (family doctor)• histopathological pertaining to disease of a tissue

• inguinal pertaining to the groin• lactate dehydrogenase a serum tumor marker• lymphadenopathy disease of lymph nodes (lymph

glands)• malignant dangerous, capable of spreading• metastases parts of a tumor that have spread

from one site to another• palpation act of feeling with the fingers using light

pressure• para-aortic pertaining to beside the aorta• progression advancing, moving forward of a

disease

• retroperitoneal pertaining to behind the peritoneum• serum tumour marker certain chemicals are

elevated to higher than normal levels in blood serum when tumours are present, they act as signs or markers of the presence of disease

• Stage IIC staging is a system of classifying malignant disease that will influence its treatment; this patient is at Stage IIC

• torsion act of twisting/rotation

• transilluminate shine a bright light through (note, a solid tumor will prevent transmission of light)

• ultrasonography technique of recording (an image) using high frequency sound waves

• urology study of the urinary tract (here department that diagnoses and treats disease and disorders of the urinary tract)