Definition of Medical Terms
Description
This article is from the Health Articles series.
Definition of Medical Terms
adrenal glands
Located near the kidneys, the adrenal glands produce a small amount of the male hormone, testosterone.
benign tumor
A tumor which is noncancerous
biopsy
The removal of bits of tissue from the body for diagnostic examination.
digital rectal examination
A common screening procedure for prostate cancer, whereby a physician inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum, in order to feel the size and shape of the prostate through the rectal wall.
ejaculation
A sudden release of fluid, especially of semen, from the body.
estrogen
A female sex hormone.
impotence
The inability to have an erection.
incontinence
A loss of urinary control.
LH-RH analogs
Man-made compounds that are similar to the natural luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone which aids the production of testosterone.
lymph nodes
Small bean-shaped structures scattered along the vessels of the lymphatic system. The lymph nodes produce white blood cells and filter bacteria and cancer cells that may travel through the system.
malignant tumor
A tumor which is cancerous.
metastasis
The spread of disease from one part of the body to another.
oncologist
A specialist in the treatment of cancer.
orchiectomy
Surgical removal of the testicles.
pelvic node dissection
Removal of possible cancer carrying lymph nodes near the prostate for their evaluation.
prostate specific antigen
A substance manufactured only by the prostate.
prostate specific antigen test
A blood test which measures a patient's level of prostate specific antigen. If elevated, the antigens may be an indicator of prostate cancer.
prostatic acid phosphatase test
A blood substance that rises above normal in many patients when prostate cancer has spread beyond the prostate.
prostatectomy
Surgical removal of the prostate.
rectum
The last five or six inches of the intestines leading to the outside of the body.
semen
A thick, whitish fluid secreted by the prostate to carry sperm.
stage
A term used to describe the extent of cancer.
staging
Tests conducted to determine the stage of a cancer.
testosterone
A male sex hormone produced mostly by the testicles with a small amount produced by the adrenal glands. Testosterone stimulates a man's sexual activity and growth of other sex organs, including the prostate.
tissue
A group of cells organized to perform a specialized function.
tumor
An abnormal growth of cells resulting from uncontrolled cell growth.
urethra
The canal that carries urine from the bladder and semen from the sex glands to the outside of the body.
urologist
A physician and surgeon who is specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the male genital tract and urinary tract in patients of any age or sex.
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