6.1 – Introduction to the Male Reproductive System
Learning Objectives
- Identify the anatomy and describe the main functions of the male reproductive system
- Analyze, translate, and define medical terms and common abbreviations of the male reproductive system
- Practice the spelling and pronunciation of male reproductive system medical terminology
- Identify the medical specialties associated with the male reproductive system and explore common diseases, disorders, diagnostic tests and procedures
Male Reproductive System Word Parts
Click on prefixes, combining forms, and suffixes to reveal a list of word parts to memorize for the male reproductive system.
Male Reproductive System Word Parts
Prefix
- a– (absence of, without)
- an– (absence of, without)
- crypt– (hidden)
- dys– (painful, difficult)
- en– (in)
- epi– (above)
- hyper– (above, excessive)
- hypo– (below)
- par– (near)
- trans– (through, across, beyond)
Combining Forms
- andr/o (male)
- balan/o (glans penis)
- epididym/o (epididymis)
- gonad/o (gonad)
- orch/o (testis, testicle)
- orchi/o (testis, testicle)
- orchid/o (testis, testicle)
- pen/o (penis)
- pen/i (penis)
- phall/o (penis)
- preputi/o (prepuce, foreskin)
- posth/o (prepuce, foreskin)
- prostat/o (prostate gland)
- scrot/o (scrotum)
- semin/i (semen)
- sperm/o (sperm, spermatozoon)
- spermat/o (sperm, spermatozoon)
- test/o (testis, testicle)
- testicul/o (testis, testicle)
- vas/o (vas deferens, vessel, duct)
- vesicul/o (seminal vesicle)
- urethr/o (urethra)
Suffix
- –al (pertaining to)
- –algia (pain)
- –ar (pertaining to)
- –atic (pertaining to)
- –cision (processing of cutting)
- –ectomy (excision or surgical removal)
- –ferous (pertaining to)
- –genesis (production)
- –gram (record)
- –graphy (process of recording)
- –ia (diseased state, abnormal state, condition of, condition)
- –ic (pertaining to)
- –ile (pertaining to)
- –ism (state of, condition)
- –itis (inflammation)
- –logy (study of)
- –lysis (loosening, dissolution, separating)
- –oma (tumour, mass)
- –ous (pertaining to)
- –pathy (disease)
- –pexy (surgical fixation, suspension)
- –plasia (development, growth)
- –plasty (surgical repair)
- –rrhea (flow, discharge)
- –sis (condition, abnormal condition)
- –stomy (creation of new opening, process of new opening)
- –tion (process of)
- –tomy (cut into, incision)
Activity source: Male Reproductive System Word Parts by Kimberlee Carter from Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by Kimberlee Carter and Marie Rutherford licensed under CC BY 4.0./ Converted to text.
Introduction to the Male Reproductive System
Gametes are the reproductive cells that combine to form a fetus. Organs called gonads produce the gametes, along with the hormones that regulate human reproduction. The male gametes are called sperm. Spermatogenesis occurs within the seminiferous tubules that make up most of the testis (singular). The scrotum is a sac that holds the testes (plural) outside of the body cavity.
Media 6.1: CrashCourse. (2015, November 15). Reproductive system, part 2 – Male reproductive system: Crash Course anatomy & physiology #41 [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/-XQcnO4iX_U
Male Reproductive Medical Terms
Male Reproductive System terms not easily broken down into word parts (Text version)
- ablation
- a-BLĀ-shŏn (Original Term)
- destruction of abnormal or excessive tissue by eroding, vaporizing or melting
- acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
- ă-KWĪRD im-yū-nō-dĕ-FISH-ĕn-sē SĬN-drōm
- advanced, chronic immune system suppression caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
- artificial insemination
- art-ĭ-FISH-ăl in-sem-ĭ-NĀ-shŏn
- the medical procedure of injecting concentrated sperm into the vagina or uterus.
- azoospermia
- ā-zō-ŏ-SPĔR-mē-ă
- absence of viable sperm in the semen.
- chlamydia
- klă-MID-ē-ă
- sexually transmitted disease caused by a very small parasitic bacterium (also known as the silent STD).
- circumcision
- sĭr-kŭm-SIZH-ŏn (Original Term)
- surgical removal of the prepuce (foreskin)
- coitus
- KŌ-ĭ-tŭs (Original Term)
- sexual intercourse
- condom
- KON-dŏm (Original Term)
- sheath (cover) for penis, worn during coitus to prevent conception and spread of sexually transmitted infection
- ejaculation
- i-jak-yŭ-LĀ-shŏn
- the action of ejecting semen from the body.
- enucleation
- ē-nū-klē-Ā-shŭn (Original Term)
- excision of a whole organ or mass without cutting into it
- erectile dysfunction (ED)
- ĕ-RĔK-tīl dis-FŬNGK-shŏn
- the inability of a male to attain or maintain an erection sufficient to perform sexual intercourse
- genital herpes
- JEN-ĭt-ăl HĔRP-ēz
- a sexually transmitted disease characterized by blisters in the genital area, caused by the herpes simplex virus type 2.
- gonorrhea
- gon-ŏ-RĒ-ă
- a sexually transmitted disease involving inflammatory discharge from the urethra or vagina.
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- hu-man im-yŭ-nō-dĕ-FISH-ĕn-sē VĪ-rŭs
- a retrovirus that attacks the T-helper cells of the immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)
- human papillomavirus (HPV)
- hu-man PAP-ĭ-LŌ-mă-VĪ-rŭs
- a sexually transmitted disease with over 40 subtypes that cause diseases in humans ranging from common warts to cervical cancer.
- hydrocele
- HĪ-drŏ-sēl (Original Term)
- fluid-filled sac around the testicle
- hydrocelectomy
- hī-drō-sē-LĔK-tō-mē (Original Term)
- surgical removal of a fluid-filled sac around the testicle causing scrotal swelling (hydrocele)
- infertility
- in-fĕr-TIL-ĭt-ē (Original Term)
- inability to achieve pregnancy
- metastasis
- mĕ-TAS-tă-sĭs
- cancer spreading from one part of the body into another.
- morcellation
- mor-sĕ-LĀ-shŏn
- cutting or grinding solid tissue into smaller pieces for removal
- MRI ultrasound fusion biopsy
- FŪ-zhŏn BĪ-op-sē
- combination of magnetic resonance imaging with transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) to obtain a tissue from a prostate lesion. The combined MRI-TRUS image is used to direct the biopsy needle into the area of the prostate that looked suspicious on MRI.
- orgasm
- OR-gazm
- a climax of sexual stimulation
- phimosis
- fī-MŌ-sĭs
- a tightness of the prepuce (foreskin of the penis) that prevents its retraction over the glans penis. It may be congenital or the result of balanitis. Circumcision is the usual treatment.
- priapism
- PRĪ-ă-pizm
- persistant, abnormal erection of the penis accompanied by pain and tenderness
- prostate cancer
- PROS-tāt KAN-sĕr
- cancer of the prostate gland
- puberty
- PŪ-bĕrt-ē
- the period during which adolescents develop secondary sex characteristics and become capable of reproduction.
- robotic surgery
- rō-BŎ- tĭk SŬRJ-ĕ-rē
- use of small surgical instruments attached to a computer and operated by the surgeon from a console several feet from the operating table
- sexually transmitted disease (STD)
- SEKS-ū-ă-lē trăns-MĬT-ed diz-ĒZ
- infection spread through sexual contact; also known as sexually transmitted infection (STI)
- spermatocele
- spĕr-MĂT-ō-sēl
- distention of the epididymis containing an abnormal cyst-like collection of fluid and sperm cells
- sterility
- stĕ-RIL-ĭt-ē (Original Term)
- a condition of being unable to conceive or reproduce the species
- sterilization
- ster-ĭ-lĭ-ZĀ-shŏn
- procedure that prevents pregnancy, either a female’s ability to conceive or a male’s ability to induce conception
- syphilis
- SIF-ĭ-lĭs
- a chronic bacterial disease spread primarily through sexual intercourse, but also congenitally by infection of a developing fetus. Rapidly spreads through the body and if left untreated becomes systemic.
- testicular cancer
- tĕs-TĬK-ū-lăr KAN-sĕr
- cancer of the testicle
- testicular torsion
- tĕs-TĬK-ū-lăr TOR-shŏn
- twisting of the spermatic cord causing decreased blood flow to the testis. Considered a surgical emergency and accompanied by sudden onset of severe scrotal pain.
- transurethral
- trans-ū-RĒ-thrăl
- pertaining to through the urethra
- transurethral incision of the prostate gland (TUIP)
- surgical procedure that widens the urethra by making a few small incisions in the bladder neck and the prostate gland.
- transurethral resection of the prostate gland (TURP)
- surgical removal of pieces of the prostate gland tissue by using an instrument inserted through the urethra.
- transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT)
- treatment that eliminates excess tissue present in benign prostatic hyperplasia by using heat generated by microwave.
- trichomoniasis
- trĭk-ō-mō-NĪ-ă-sĭs
- sexually transmitted disease caused by the one-cell organism Trichomonas. Chiefly affects the urinary tract, vagina, or digestive system.
- varicocele
- VAR-ĭō-sēl (Original Term)
- enlarged veins of the spermatic cord, which may cause scrotal swelling
Activity Source: Male Reproductive System terms not easily broken down into word parts from Medical Terminology. by Grimm et al., licensed under CC BY 4.0. / Some H5P audio re-recorded by Tania Deane and David McCuaig and text version added.
Attribution
Except where otherwise noted, this chapter is adapted from “Male Reproductive System” in Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by Kimberlee Carter and Marie Rutherford licensed under CC BY 4.0. / A derivative of Betts et al., which can be accessed for free from Anatomy and Physiology (OpenStax). Adaptations: dividing Male Reproductive System chapter content into sub-chapters.
haploid reproductive cells that contribute genetic material to form an offspring
reproductive organs (testes in men and ovaries in women) that produce gametes and reproductive hormones
Process of producing sperm
tube structures within the testes where spermatogenesis occurs
external pouch of skin and muscle that houses the testes