Medical Careers & Professional Terminology

andrologist: a physician specializing in andrology

andrology: a medical specialty that is responsible for treating genitourinary conditions that are faced by males

reproductive endocrinologist: a physician who has special training in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility

urologist: a physician specializing in urology

urology: a medical specialty that is responsible for treating conditions that affect the urinary tract in males

Diagnostic and Imaging Techniques/Procedures for the Organ System

computerized tomography: series of x-ray images taken to detect bone and joint problems

digital rectal examination: palpation of the prostate with a gloved finger through the wall of the rectum

magnetic resonance imaging: uses strong magnetic field and radio waves to detect problems with the tissue and the nervous system

positron emission tomography: an imaging test that can detect cancer and how far it has spread

prostate-specific antigen: a protein produced by the prostate that can be detected via a blood test; a sudden rise may indicate prostate cancer

transrectal ultrasound: an imaging test that uses sound waves to view the prostate gland

Medical and Surgical Techniques/Procedures Used for the Organ System

ablation: destruction of abnormal or excessive tissue by eroding, vaporization, or melting 

artificial insemination: introduction of spermatozoa into the vagina or cervix by artificial means 

balanoplasty: surgical repair of the glans penis 

circumcision: surgical removal of the prepuce (foreskin)

enucleation: excision of a whole organ or mass without cutting into it

epididymectomy: excision of part or all of an epididymis

HPV vaccine: a vaccine called Gardasil® 9, available for 9 HPV strains; this vaccine assists the immune system in protecting the body against infections and diseases caused by HPV

hydrocelectomy: surgical removal of a fluid-filled sac around the testicle causing scrotal swelling (hydrocele)

no-scalpel vasectomy (NSV): a minimally invasive vasectomy procedure with a shorter recovery time

orchiectomy: removal of part or all of a testis; the most common procedure for diagnosing and treating testicular cancer

orchiotomy: incision into a testis

prostatectomy: excision of all or part of the prostate gland

transurethral incision of the prostate gland: a surgical procedure that widens the urethra where it meets the bladder and prostate 

vasectomy: a sterilization procedure in which a small section of the ductus (vas) deferens is removed from the scrotum; this cuts off the path taken by sperm through the ductus deferens

vasovasostomy: vasectomy reversal; creation of an opening within a vas deferens

vesiculectomy: excision of one or both seminal vesicles

Abbreviations Commonly Used with the Male Reproductive System

AIDS: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

BPH: benign prostatic hyperplasia, benign prostatic hypertrophy

Bx: biopsy

CT: chlamydia

DRE: digital rectal examination

ED: erectile dysfunction

FTA-ABS: fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test

GC: gonococcus

GU: genitourinary

HIV: human immunodeficiency virus

HoLEP: holmium laser enucleation of the prostate gland

HPV: human papillomavirus

HSV: herpes simplex virus

LUTS: lower urinary tract symptoms

NGU: nongonococcal urethritis

NSV: no-scalpel vasectomy

PSA: prostate-specific antigen

PVP: photoselective vaporization of the prostate gland

RP: radical prostatectomy

STD: sexually transmitted disease

STI: sexually transmitted infection

TRUS: transrectal ultrasound

TSE: testicular self-examination

TUIP: transurethral incision of the prostate gland

TUMT: transurethral microwave thermotherapy

TURP: transurethral resection of the prostate gland

VD: venereal disease

Medical Terms Practice

For each card, click the speaker icon to hear the correct pronunciation of the listed term. Practice saying the term to yourself, then attempt to define the term from memory. Click “Turn” to flip the card and see the definition. Use the right and left arrows to toggle through the cards in each set.