Medical Terminology Simplified

Male Reproductive System • CHAPTER 8 355

Word Element Meaning Word Analysis

balan/o glans penis balan/itis (băl-ă-NĪ-tĭs): inflammation of the glans penis

-itis: inflammation

gonad/o gonads, gonad/o/tropin (gŏn-ă-dō-TRŌ-pĭn): hormone that stimulates the gonads

sex glands -tropin: stimulate

Gonadotropin is a hormone that stimulates the function of the testes and ovaries

(gonads).

orch/o testis (plural, crypt/orch/ism (krĭpt-OR-kĭzm): condition of undescended testicles; also called

testes) cryptorchidism

crypt: hidden

-ism: condition

In cryptorchism, the testicles are retained in the abdomen or inguinal canal. If sponta-

neous descent does not occur by age 1, hormone therapy or surgery may be performed.

orchi/o orchi/o/pexy (ŌR-kē-ō-pĕk-sē): surgical fixation of a testis

-pexy: fixation (of an organ)

An orchiopexy is performed to mobilize an undescended testis, bring it into the scro-

tum, and attach it so that it will not retract.

orchid/o orchid/ectomy (or-kĭ-DĔK-tō-mē): excision of one or both testes

-ectomy: excision, removal

test/o test/algia (tĕs-TĂL-jē-ă): pain in the testes

-algia: pain

prostat/o prostate gland prostat/itis (prŏs-tă-TĪ-tĭs): inflammation of the prostate gland, usually as a

result of infection

• itis: inflammation
  spermat/o spermatozoa, spermat/o/cyte (spĕr-MĂT-ō-sīt): sperm cell
  sperm cells cyte: cell
  sperm/i* sperm/i/cide (SPĔR-mĭ-sīd): agent that kills spermatozoa
  -cide: killing
  sperm/o a/sperm/ia (ă-SPĔR-mē-ă): without semen
  a-: without, not
  -ia: condition
  In aspermia, semen fail to form or ejaculate.
  varic/o dilated vein varic/o/cele (VĂR-ĭ-kō-sēl): dilated or enlarged vein of the spermatic cord
  -cele: hernia; swelling
  vas/o vessel; vas vas/ectomy (văs-ĔK-tō-mē): removal of all or part of the vas deferens
  deferens; duct -ectomy: excision, removal

*Using the combining vowel i instead of ois an exception to the rule.

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