Welcome to our library of terms and phrases related to the medical world, and more specifically, the field of Urology.

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a

Androgenic: Pertaining to the development of male characteristics, including body hair, the genital organs and muscle mass. "Androgenic" is the adjective form of the noun "androgen," a word referring to any of the male hormones, including testosterone and androsterone.

Related words include "androgynous" (having both male and female characteristics), "andrology" (the study of health in males), "androphobia" (fear of men) and "android" (in science fiction, a manlike robot).

Andrology: a branch of medicine concerned with male diseases and especially with those affecting the male reproductive system.

Angiotensin:A family of peptides (smaller than proteins) that act as vasoconstrictors to narrow blood vessels.

b

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): A prostate problem that bothers men with age, BPH generally begins in a man's 30s, evolves slowly and only causes symptoms after 50.

In BPH the normal elements of the prostate gland grow in size and number. Their sheer bulk may compress the urethra which courses through the center of the prostate and impede the flow of urine from the bladder through the urethra to the outside. This leads to urine retention and the need for frequent urination. If severe enough, complete blockage can occur.

c

d

Dysmorphology: Dysmorphology is a term coined by Dr. David W. Smith in the 1960's to describe the study of human congenital malformations (birth defects), particularly those affecting the morphology (the anatomy) of the individual. Dysmorphology literally mean, "the study of abnormal form."

e

Erectile Dysfunction: An inability to get or maintain an erection, a potential side effect of treatments, e.g., lack of testosterone or damage to the cavernous nerves.

Epispadias: Congenital (at birth) malformation in which the opening of the urethra (from whence comes the urinary stream) is on the dorsum (topside) of the penis. Hypospadias is the corresponding malformation in which the opening of the urethra is on the ventral surface (underside) of the penis.

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g

Gynecology: The branch of medicine particularly concerned with the health of the female organs of reproduction and diseases thereof.

h

Heterozygous: particular gene, one inherited from each parent. A person who is heterozygous is called a heterozygote or a gene carrier.

i

Infertility: The state of being unable to produce offspring; in a woman it is an inability to conceive; in a man it is an inability to impregnate.

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k

Kidney Stones: Crystallized deposits of excess wastes such as uric acid, calcium, and magnesium that may form in the kidney.

l

Laparoscopy: A type of surgery in which a small incision (cut) is made in the abdominal wall through which an instrument (a laparoscope) is placed to permit structures within the abdomen and pelvis to be seen.

Laser coagulation: The coagulation (clotting) of tissue using a laser. A coagulation laser produces light in the visible green wavelength that is selectively absorbed by hemoglobin, the pigment in red blood cells, in order to seal off bleeding blood vessels.

Lithotripsy: Procedure to break a stone into small particles that can be passed in the urine.

m

Male Infertility: The state of being unable to produce offspring; in a man it is an inability to impregnate because of male factors.

n

o

Obstetrics: The art and science of managing pregnancy, labor and the pueperium (the time after delivery).

Oncology: The field of medicine devoted to cancer. Literally, oncology means the study of tumors. The word comes from the Greek "o(n)glos" (a bulk or mass, or later, a tumor) + "logos" (a study or treatise) = the study of tumors. However, oncology today is far more than the study of cancer. In oncology research, there is both basic and applied research. And in clinical oncology, there are three primary disciplines:

• Medical oncology -- the treatment of cancer with medicine/chemotherapy.
• Surgical oncology -- the surgical aspects of cancer including biopsy, staging, and surgical resection of tumors.
• Radiation oncology -- the treatment of cancer with therapeutic radiation.

p

Polycystic kidney disease: Genetic disorder characterized by the development of innumerable cysts in the kidneys. These cysts are filled with fluid, and replace much of the mass of the kidneys. This reduces kidney function, leading to kidney failure.

Prostatectomy: The surgical removal of the prostate gland.

Pulmonary embolus: A blood clot that has passed into and occluded the lung's pulmonary artery. An embolus causes an embolism. In this case, the embolus, a clot or foreign material, has been carried through the blood into the pulmonary artery or one of its branches, plugging the vessel.

q

r

Radiotherapy: The treatment of disease with ionizing radiation. Also called radiation therapy.

In radiotherapy, high-energy rays are often used to damage cancer cells and stop them from growing and dividing. A specialist in the radiation treatment of cancer is called a radiation oncologist.

Renal: Having to do with the kidney. From the Latin renes (the kidneys), which gave the French les reins which mean both the kidneys and the lower back.

s

Sperm Bank: A sperm bank collects sperm from donors and freezes it ready for use by couples seeking artificial insemination.

t

Testicular Sperm Extraction: An open biopsy where a small piece of testicular tissue is removed through a skin incision. The tissue is placed in culture media and separated into tiny pieces. Sperm are released from within the seminiferous tubules where they are produced and are then extracted from the surrounding testicular tissue. This procedure can be done using local anesthetic of IV sedation. It is possible to get enough sperm to freeze for future use.

Transurethral resection: Surgery performed with a special instrument inserted through the urethra. Also called TUR.

u

Urologist: A physician who specializes in diseases of the urinary organs in females and the urinary tract and sex organs in males. Also called a urological surgeon.

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