Chapter 7: Reproductive System Flashcards
Andrology
Andr/o = male + -logy = study of.
study of males, usually in regard to fertility issues.
Urology
Ur/o = urinary system + -logy = study of.
study of the urinary system; many of men’s health issues are treated by a urologist.
Genitalia
term that means reproductive organs. It is made up of two types of tissue: parenchymal and stromal.
parenchymal tissue
does the work of the system. In this case, the parenchymal tissue of the male reproductive system is the male gonad, the testicle, which produces the male gamete, the spermatozoa. The testes produce the sperm through the process of spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis
(spermat/o = sperm + -genesis = production),
Testosterone
(test/o = testis + ster/o = steroid + -one = hormone)
Testosterone is produced in the interstitial cells of the testicles beginning in puberty.
Stromal tissue
is supportive; it includes the numerous glands that provide fluid for the spermatozoa, the vessels that provide a blood supply, the ducts that carry sperm out of the body, and the nerves that provide the innervation to the structures involved.
Gonad/o
combining form for gonad, the general term for a sex organ. In the male it’s the testis or testicle; in the female it is the ovary.
test/o, testicul/o, orchid/o, orch/o, and orchi/o.
combining forms for the testicles
Seminiferous in seminiferous tubules
is built from the combining form for semen, semin/i, and the suffix -ferous, meaning to bear or to carry.
semin/i
combining form for semen.
Semen is the combination of sperm and the fluid in which it is bathed
spermatogenesis.
production of sperm
Spermat/o = sperm + -genesis = production.
scrot/o.
The combining form for the sac that holds the testicles outside of the body
Epididym/o
combining form for the vessels that store the sperm
vas/o and duct/o
are used to represent the vas (or ductus) deferens.
vesicul/o
combining form for the seminal vesicles
prostat/o
prostate
The seminal vesicles, bulbourethral glands (also called Cowper’s glands), and prostate gland (combining form prostat/o) provide fluid for the nutrition and motility (movement) of the sperm.
Cowper’s glands
bulbourethral glands
Pen/i and phall/o
combining forms for the penis.
balan/o
combining form for the glans penis
preputi/o Posth/o
the foreskin.
sexual intercourse
Two other terms that are synonyms are coitus and copulation.
Anorchism
An- (no, not, without) + orch/o (testicle) + -ism (condition). A condition of no testicle. It may be stated as unilateral (pertaining to one side) or bilateral (pertaining to two sides). The fertility of an individual is not compromised if one testicle remains.
Chordee
chord/o = cord) is a congenital defect resulting in a downward curvature of the penis due to a fibrous band (cord) of tissue along the corpus spongiosum.
Cryptorchidism
Crypt- (hidden) + orchid/o (testicle) + -ism (condition). A condition of a “hidden” or undescended testicle.
Epispadias
is an abnormal condition of the opening of the urethra on the dorsum of the penis (epi- meaning above, or on top of).
Hypospadias
A synonym is hyperspadias. Hyper- (above) + -spadias (condition of a rent or tear).
Hypo- (under) + -spadias (condition of a rent or tear). This is an abnormal condition of the opening of the urethra on the underside (ventral side) of the penis.
Phimosis
Phimosis literally means “to muzzle.” This is a condition, usually congenital, of a tightening of the foreskin over the glans penis. This tightening restricts the flow of urine and semen from the urinary meatus. The correction is a circumcision (circum- = around, -cision = processing of cutting).
Aspermia
A- (no, not, without) + sperm/o (spermatozoa) + -ia (condition). Aspermia is a condition of no sperm AND no semen being emitted during ejaculation. This one is a little tricky, because there is no reference to semen in the term itself.
Azoospermia
A- (no, not, without) + zo/o (animal) + sperm/o (spermatozoa) + -ia (condition). Azoospermia is a condition of no living sperm (animal life!) in the semen. This is a desired condition in individuals who have had a vasectomy.