Foundation year
T. SANAA ABD ELHAMED
After study this chapter, you should be able to:
1. Describe the structure of reproductive system.
2. Label a diagram of internal or external reproductive system.
3. Identify and use roots pertaining to the reproductive system.
4. Describe the main disorders that affect the reproductive system.
5. Interpret abbreviations used in relation to reproductive system.
6. Analyze case studies pertaining to the reproductive system.
Male Reproductive System Structure
Medical Terms Related To The
M.R.S
Scrotum: the external sac that holds the testes.
Testis: one of two male sex glands that produce the
spermatozoa, also known as testicle. The combining
forms test/o, didym/o, orch/o, orchi/o and orchid/o all
mean testis.
 Orchidalgia: pain in the testis.
 Orchidectomy: surgical removal of a testis.
 Orchidopexy: surgical fixation of an undescended testis in the
scrotum. The suffix –pexy means to fix.
 Semen: thick pale fluid containing spermatozoa, produced by
the testes and seminal vesicles, and ejaculated from the penis.
The combining form is semin/o.
 Spermatozoon: a mature male sex cell, also known as sperm.
The combining form is spermat/o. the plural is spermatozoa.
 Anorchism: means absence of one or both of testes.
 Infertility: not being able to produce children. The prefix inmeans not.
 Spermatogenesis: producing sperm. The suffix -genesis
means producing or forming.
Azoospermia: means complete absence of sperm from
the semen. The prefix a- means without. The combining form
zoosperm/o means spermatozoon. The suffix -ia means
abnormal condition.
Oligospermia: a deficient amount of sperms in the semen.
The prefix oligo- means few.
Vas deferens: one of two tubes along which sperm
passes from the epididymis to the prostate gland for
ejaculation.
Vasectomy: surgical removal of the vas deferens. The
combining form vas/o means vas or ductus. Vasectomy is a
method of male sterilization.
Prostate: a gland in men which produces a secretion in
which sperm cells float. The combining form is prostat/o.
Prostatitis: inflammation of the prostate gland.
Prostatectomy: surgical removal to the prostate gland.
Prostatomegaly: enlargment of the prostate gland.
 Impotence: an inability to have erection or ejaculate, and so have
sexual intercourse.
 Hydrocele: collection of watery fluid in a sac, usually the sac
surrounding the testes. The prefix hydro- means water. And the
suffix –cele means tumour or swellling.
Female Reproductive System Structure
Medical Terms Related To The F.R.S
Ovary: one of two organs in women which produce ova or egg
cells and secrete the female hormone oestrogen. The combining
form ovari/o means an ovary.
Ovum: a female egg cell. The combining forms ovi/o, ov/o and
oo/o all means an ovum.
Oogenesis: formation and development of ova.
Oophorectomy: surgical removal of an ovary. The
combining forms oophar/o and ovari/o means an ovary.
Oophoritis: inflammation of an ovary.
Oophoropexy: surgical fixation of an ovary.
Ovulation: released of a matured ovum from the ovarian
follicle into the Fallopian tube.
Embryo: unborn baby during the first 8 weeks after
conception.
Fetus: unborn baby in the womb. The combining form fet/o
means fetus.
Vagina: muscular tube lined with mucosa that extends
from the cervix to the outside of the body. The combining
form is vagin/o.
Vaginoscopy: visual examination of the vagina.
Uterus: a hallow organ in a woman’s pelvic activity,
behind the bladder and in front of the rectum, also known
as WOMB.
Placenta: tissue which grows inside the uterus during the
pregnancy and links the baby to the mother. The combining
form is placent/o.
Placentography: an x-ray examination of the placenta
of a pregnant women after a radio-opaque dye has been
injected.
Salpingitis: inflammation of one or both of the Fallopian
tubes. The combining form salping/o means Fallopian tubes.
Cervix: the neck of the uterus, the narrow lower part of the
uterus leading into the vagina. The combining form cervic/o
means cervix or neck.
Metritis: inflammation of the uterus. The combining form metr/o
means uterus.
 Menstruation: bleeding from the uterus which occur in a woman each
month. The combining forms men/o, menstru/o and menstruat/o all means
menstruation.
 Genitalia:
particularly
the
external
parts
of
the
reproductive system either male or female. The combining
form is genit/o.
 Gestation: means a period from conception to birth
(usually about 9 months).
 Gyaenecology: study of the diseases of women,
particularly those affecting the reproductive system. The
combining form gyaenec/o means women.
 Obstetrics: a branch of medicine and surgery dealing with
pregnancy, childbirth and the period immediately after childbirth.
 Hysterectomy: surgical removal of the uterus. The combining
form hyster/o means uterus.
 Mammary: pertianing to the breast. Mamm/o is the
combining form.
 Mammography: examination of the breast using special x-
ray technique.
 Mammoplasty: surgical repair of the breast in order to
alter their shape or increase or decrease their size.