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Glossary

Atherosclerosis

ath*ero*scle*ro*sis
Pronunciation: \ˌath-ə-rō-sklə-ˈrō-səs\
Function: noun
pl -ro*ses
Pronunciation: \-ˌsēz\
: an arteriosclerosis characterized by atheromatous deposits in and fibrosis of the inner layer of the arteries

Learn more: What You Can Do to Prevent Atherosclerosis

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

Function: noun
adenomatous hyperplasia of the periurethral part of the prostate gland that occurs esp. in men over 50 years old and that tends to obstruct urination by constricting the urethra abbr. BPH—called also benign prostatic hypertrophy

Learn more: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

BPH

BPH
Function: abbreviation
benign prostatic hyperplasia; benign prostatic hypertrophy

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate

Pronunciation: \-ˌjē-ˌem-ˈpē\
Function: noun
: a cyclic mononucleotide of guanosine that acts similarly to cyclic AMP as a second messenger in response to hormones —called also cyclic guanosine monophosphate, guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate

Detumescence

de*tu*mes*cence
Pronunciation: \ˌdē-t(y)ü-ˈmes-^ən(t)s\
Function: noun
: subsidence or diminution of swelling or erection

Doppler ultrasound

Function: noun
: ultrasound that utilizes the Doppler effect to measure movement or flow in the body and esp. blood flow —called also Doppler ultrasonography

Learn more: Doppler ultrasound

Ejaculate

Pronunciation: \i-ˈjak-yə-ˌlāt\
Function: verb
-lat*ed
-lat*ing
transitive verb
1 : to eject from a living body; specif : to eject (semen) in orgasmintransitive verb: to eject a fluid (as semen)

Erectile dysfunction

Function: noun
: chronic inability to achieve or maintain an erection satisfactory for sexual intercourse : see: impotence 2abbr. ED

Learn more: Understanding Erectile Dysfunction

Erection

erec*tion
Pronunciation: \i-ˈrek-shən\
Function: noun

1: the state marked by firm turgid form and erect position of a previously flaccid bodily part containing cavernous tissue when that tissue becomes dilated with blood
2: an occurrence of erection in the penis or clitoris

Learn more: Stages of an Erection

Fertility

fer*til*i*ty
Pronunciation: \(ˌ)fər-ˈtil-ət-ē\
Function: noun
pl -ties

1: the quality or state of being fertile
2: the birthrate of a population compare mortality 2b

Learn more: Fertility problems rise for men over 35

Flaccid

flac*cid
Pronunciation: \ˈflas-əd, ˈflak-səd\
Function: adjective
: not firm or stiff; also: lacking normal or youthful firmness <flaccid muscles>

Glans

glans
Pronunciation: \ˈglanz\
Function: noun
pl glan*des
Pronunciation: \ˈglan-ˌdēz\

1: a conical vascular body forming the extremity of the penis
2: a conical vascular body that forms the extremity of the clitoris and is similar to the glans penis

Impotence

im*po*tence
Pronunciation: \ˈim-pət-ən(t)s\
Function: noun

1: the quality or state of not being potent <drug-resistant bacteria are a virulent indicator of the growing impotence of antibiotics>
2: an abnormal physical or psychological state of a male characterized by inability to copulate because of failure to have or maintain an erection —called also erectile dysfunction

Learn more: Getting Help for Impotence

Libido

li*bi*do
Pronunciation: \lə-ˈbēd-(ˌ)ō also ˈlib-ə-ˌdō or lə-ˈbī-(ˌ)dō\
Function: noun
pl -dos

1: instinctual psychic energy that in psychoanalytic theory is derived from primitive biological urges (as for sexual pleasure or self-preservation) and that is expressed in conscious activity
2: sexual drive

Meatus

me*atus
Pronunciation: \mē-ˈāt-əs\
Function: noun
pl me*atus*es
Pronunciation: \-ə-səz\
or me*atus
Pronunciation: \-ˈāt-əs, -ˈā-ˌtüs\
: a natural body passage : see: canalsee: duct

Neurologist

neu*rol*o*gist
Pronunciation: \n(y)u-ˈräl-ə-jəst\
Function: noun
: a person specializing in neurology; esp: a physician skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of disease of the nervous system

Nitric oxide

Function: noun
: a poisonous colorless gas NO that occurs as a common air pollutant formed by the oxidation of atmospheric nitrogen and that is also formed by the oxidation of arginine in the mammalian body where it acts as a mediator of intracellular and intercellular communication regulating numerous biological processes (as vasodilation and neurotransmission)

Orgasm

Pronunciation: \ˈor-ˌgaz-əm\
Function: noun
: the climax of sexual excitement that is usu. accompanied by ejaculation of semen in the male and by vaginal contractions in the female

Penile

pe*nile
Pronunciation: \ˈpē-ˌnīl\
Function: adjective
: of, relating to, or affecting the penis <a penile prosthesis> <penile lesions>

Perineum

per*i*ne*um
Function: noun
pl -nea
also -naea
Pronunciation: \-ˈnē-ə\
: an area of tissue that marks externally the approximate boundary of the pelvic outlet and gives passage to the urogenital ducts and rectum; also: the area between the anus and the posterior part of the external genitalia esp. in the female

Peyronie's disease

Pronunciation: \ˌpā-rə-ˈnēz-, pā-ˈrō-(ˌ)nēz-\
Function: noun
: the formation of fibrous plaques in one or both corpora cavernosa of the penis resulting in distortion or deflection of the erect organ

Learn more: Curvature of the Penis (Peyronie's Disease)

Pituitary gland

Function: noun
: a small oval reddish gray very vascular endocrine organ that is attached to the infundibulum of the brain and occupies the sella turcica, that is present in all craniate vertebrates, that consists essentially of an epithelial anterior lobe derived from a diverticulum of the oral cavity and joined to a posterior lobe of nervous origin by a pars intermedia, and that has the several parts associated with various hormones which directly or indirectly affect most basic bodily functions and include substances exerting a controlling and regulating influence on other endocrine organs, controlling growth and development, or modifying the contraction of smooth muscle, renal function, and reproduction —called also hypophysis, pituitary body, see adenohypophysis neurohypophysis

Learn more: The Pituitary Gland

Priapism

pri*a*pism
Pronunciation: \ˈprī-ə-ˌpiz-əm\
Function: noun
: an abnormal, more or less persistent, and often painful erection of the penis; esp: one caused by disease rather than sexual desire

Learn more: Priapism

Prostate

Function: noun
: a firm partly muscular partly glandular body that is situated about the base of the mammalian male urethra and secretes an alkaline viscid fluid which is a major constituent of the ejaculatory fluid —called also prostate
Learn more: Men Over 50 Need Annual Prostate Exam

Prostatitis

pros*ta*ti*tis
Pronunciation: \ˌpräs-tə-ˈtīt-əs\
Function: noun
: inflammation of the prostate gland

Learn more: Treating prostatitis: Any cause for optimism?

prosthesis

pros*the*sis
Pronunciation: \präs-ˈthē-səs, ˈpräs-thə-\
Function: noun
pl -the*ses
Pronunciation: \-ˌsēz\
: an artificial device to replace or augment a missing or impaired part of the body <a dental prosthesis> <silicone breast and limb prostheses>

Pudendal nerve

Function: noun
: a nerve that arises from the second, third, and fourth sacral nerves and that supplies the external genitalia, the skin of the perineum, and the anal sphincters

Scrotum

scro*tum
Pronunciation: \ˈskrōt-əm\
Function: noun
pl scro*ta
Pronunciation: \-ə\
or scrotums
: the external sac that in most mammals contains the testes

Learn more: Lumps or Pain Within the Scrotum

Semen

se*men
Pronunciation: \ˈsē-mən\
Function: noun
: a viscid whitish fluid of the male reproductive tract consisting of spermatozoa suspended in secretions of accessory glands (as of the prostate and Cowper's glands)

Seminal vesicle

Function: noun
: either of a pair of glandular pouches that lie one on either side of the male reproductive tract and that in human males secrete a sugar- and protein-containing fluid into the ejaculatory duct

Testosterone

tes*tos*ter*one
Pronunciation: \te-ˈstäs-tə-ˌrōn\
Function: noun
: a male hormone that is a crystalline hydroxy steroid ketone C₁₉H₂₈O₂ produced primarily by the testes or made synthetically and that is the main androgen responsible for inducing and maintaining male secondary sex characteristics

Learn more: Testosterone, aging, and the mind

Urethra

ure*thra
Pronunciation: \yu-ˈrē-thrə\
Function: noun
pl -thras
or -thrae
Pronunciation: \-(ˌ)thrē\
: the canal that in most mammals carries off the urine from the bladder and in the male serves also as a passageway for semen

Urologist

urol*o*gist
Pronunciation: \yu-ˈräl-ə-jəst\
Function: noun
: a physician who specializes in urology

Vas deferens

Pronunciation: \-ˈdef-ə-rənz, -ˌrenz\
Function: noun
pl vasa def*er*en*tia
Pronunciation: \-ˌdef-ə-ˈren-ch(ē-)ə\
: a sperm-carrying duct esp. of a higher vertebrate that in humans is a small but thick-walled tube about two feet (0.6 meter) long formed by the union of the vasa efferentia, is greatly convoluted in its proximal portion, begins at and is continuous with the tail of the epididymis, runs in the spermatic cord through the inguinal canal, and descends into the pelvis where it joins the duct of the seminal vesicle to form the ejaculatory duct —called also ductus deferens, spermatic duct

Vasodilator