Medical Terminology Simplified

Scanty or infrequent menstrual flow

Inability of a woman to become pregnant or for a man to impregnate a woman

Rare and sometimes fatal Staphylococcusinfection that generally occurs in menstruat-

ing women, most of whom use vaginal tampons for menstrual protection

In TSS, the normally harmless vaginal bacterium Staphylococcus aureus multiplies in

the old blood in the tampon and releases toxins. The tampon itself creates small tears in

the vaginal wall that allow the toxins to enter the bloodstream.

Male Reproductive System

Congenital absence of one or both testes; also called anorchidism or anorchia

Inflammation of the skin covering the glans penis

Balanitis is caused by irritation and invasion of microorganisms. It is commonly associ-

ated with inadequate hygiene of the prepuce and phimosis.

Failure of one or both testicles to descend into the scrotum; also called cryp-

torchidism

Cryptorchism is associated with a high risk of sterility, causing a low sperm count and

male infertility. If testes do not descend on their own at an early age, orchiopexy is per-

formed to bring the testicles into the scrotum.

Additional Medical Terms • CHAPTER 8 369

oligomenorrhea

ŏl-ĭ-gō-mĕn-ō-RĒ-ă

olig/o: scanty

men/o: menses,

menstruation

-rrhea: discharge, flow

toxic shock syndrome

(TSS)

TŎK-sĭk shŏk SĬN-

drōm

tox: poison

-ic: pertaining to

anorchism

ăn-ŎR-kĭzm

an: without, not

orch:testis (plural,

testes)

-ism: condition

cryptorchism

krĭpt-OR-kĭ-zm

crypt: hidden

orch: testis (plural,

testes)

-ism: condition

balanitis

băl-ă-NĪ-tĭs

balan: glans penis

-itis: inflammation

sterility

stĕr-ĬL-ĭ-tē