Glossary

ABSCESS

An abscess is a pocket of pus. You can get an abscess almost anywhere in your body. When an area of your body becomes infected, your body’s immune system tries to fight the infection. White blood cells go to the infected area, collect within the damaged tissue, and cause inflammation. During this process, pus forms. Pus is a mixture of living and dead white blood cells, germs, and dead tissue.

Bacteria, viruses, parasites and swallowed objects can all lead to abscesses. Skin abscesses are easy to detect. They are red, raised and painful. Abscesses inside your body may not be obvious and can damage organs, including the brain, lungs and others. Treatments include drainage and antibiotics.

BALANITIS

Balanitis is swelling of the foreskin and head of the penis. Balanitis is most often caused by poor hygiene in uncircumcised men. Other possible causes include:

BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA (BPH)

The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. It lies just below the bladder. It makes fluid that is part of semen. An enlarged prostate is when your prostate gland becomes larger than normal. It’s also called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH for short. Benign means not cancer. And hyperplasia means too much cell growth. BPH isn’t cancer and it doesn’t increase your risk of getting prostate cancer.

BIO FEEDBACK

A method of learning to voluntarily control certain body functions such as heartbeat, blood pressure, and muscle tension with the help of a special machine. This method can help control pain.

BRACHYTHERAPY (RADIATION SEED THERAPY)

A type of radiation therapy in which radioactive material sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters is placed directly into or near a tumor.

CALCIFICATION

Deposits of calcium in the tissues.

CALCIUM OXALATE

Calcium oxalate is the calcium salt of oxalic acid, which in excess in the urine may lead to formation of oxalate calculi (kidney stones). It contains an oxalate(2-).

CALCULUS

A test to find out what a kidney stone is made of. This information helps your health care provider develop a plan to help you reduce your risk of forming more stones in the future.

CATHETER

A flexible tube used to deliver fluids into or withdraw fluids from the body.

CIRCUMCISION

Surgery to remove part or all of the foreskin (loose skin that covers the head of the penis).

CREATININE

A compound that is excreted from the body in urine.

CYSTITISM

Inflammation of the lining of the bladder.

CYSTOCELE

A cystocele is a condition in which supportive tissues around the bladder and vaginal wall weaken and stretch, allowing the bladder and vaginal wall to fall into the vaginal canal.

Usually, the muscles and connective tissues that support the vaginal wall hold the bladder in place. With a cystocele, the muscles and tissues supporting the vagina weaken and stretch, allowing the bladder to move out of place.

CYSTOSCOPY

A procedure that uses a cystoscope to look inside the urethra and bladder. A cystoscope is a long, thin optical instrument with an eyepiece at one end, a rigid or flexible tube in the middle, and a tiny lens and light at the other end of the tube. A urologist fills the bladder with fluid and looks at detailed images of the urethra and bladder linings on a computer monitor.

CYSTOURETHROGRAM

A voiding cystourethrogram is an x-ray study of the bladder and urethra. It is done while the bladder is emptying.

CRYOTHERAPY

Cryotherapy uses very cold temperatures to freeze and kill prostate cancer cells. The goal of cryosurgery is to destroy the entire prostate gland and possibly surrounding tissue.

DIRECT-VISION INTERNAL URETHROTOMY (DVIU)

To evaluate the long-term success rate of direct vision internal urethrotomy as a treatment for anterior urethral strictures. Although DVIU may be a management option for anterior urethral stricture disease, it seems that long-term results are disappointing.

DI-URINAL ENURESIS

Intermittent (non-continuous) wetting during sleep (including nap)

DYSURIA

A symptom of pain and/or burning, stinging, or itching of the urethra or urethral meatus with urination. It is a very common urinary symptom experienced by most people at least once over their lifetimes. Causes of dysuria can be divided broadly into two categories, infectious and non-infectious. Treatment varies depending on the etiology. This activity describes the evaluation and treatment of dysuria and explains the role of the healthcare team in improving care for patients with this condition.

EJACULATION

The release of semen through the penis during orgasm.

ENURESIS

A common childhood disorder seen in outpatient settings. Enuresis can be promptly treated if cases are identified early. In this activity, the diagnosis, behavioral treatments, and pharmacologic treatments for enuresis will be reviewed. This activity will highlight the role of the interprofessional team in the management of enuresis.

EPIDIDYMIS

A narrow, tightly-coiled tube that is attached to each of the testicles (the male sex glands that produce sperm). Sperm cells (male reproductive cells) move from the testicles into the epididymis, where they finish maturing and are stored.

EPIDIDYMITIS

Swelling (inflammation) of the tube that connects the testicle with the vas deferens. The tube is called the epididymis. Epididymitis is most common in young men ages 19 to 35. It is most often caused by the spread of a bacterial infection. Infection often begins in the urethra, the prostate, or the bladder. Gonorrhea and chlamydia infections are most often the cause of the problem in young heterosexual men. In children and older men, it is more commonly caused by E coli and similar bacteria. This is also true in men who have sex with men.

ENDOMETRIOSIS

a disease in which tissue that is similar to the lining of the uterus grows in other places in your body. These patches of tissue are called “implants,” “nodules,” or “lesions.” They are most often found:

• On or under the ovaries
• On the fallopian tubes, which carry egg cells from the ovaries to the uterus
• Behind the uterus
• On the tissues that hold the uterus in place
• On the bowels or bladder

In rare cases, the tissue may grow on your lungs or in other parts of your body.

FULGURATION

A procedure that uses heat from an electric current to destroy abnormal tissue, such as a tumor or other lesion. It may also be used to control bleeding during surgery or after an injury. The electric current passes through an electrode that is placed on or near the tissue. The tip of the electrode is heated by the electric current to burn or destroy the tissue. Fulguration is a type of electrosurgery. Also called electrocautery, electrocoagulation, and electrofulguration.

HEMATOSPERMIA

Blood in the semen is called hematospermia. It may be in amounts too small to be seen except with a microscope, or it may be visible in the ejaculation fluid. Most of the time, the cause for blood in the semen is not known. It can be caused by swelling or infection of the prostate or seminal vesicles. The problem may occur after a prostate biopsy.

Blood in the semen may also be caused by:

• Blockage due to enlarged prostate (prostate problems)
• Infection of the prostate
• Irritation in the urethra (urethritis)
• Injury to the urethra

HEMATURIA

When blood gets into urine (pee), it’s called hematuria (hee-ma-TUR-ee-uh). It’s pretty common and usually not serious. There are two types of hematuria:

Microscopic hematuria is when blood in the urine can be seen only with a microscope. Often, this goes away without causing any problems. In fact, people might never know they have it unless they get a urine test.
Gross hematuria is when you can see the blood in the pee even without a microscope. This is because there is enough blood in the pee to turn it red or tea-colored.

HERNIA

A hernia happens when part of an internal organ or tissue bulges through a weak area of muscle. Most hernias are in the abdomen.

There are several types of hernias, including:

• Inguinal, in the groin. This is the the most common type.
• Umbilical, around the belly button
• Incisional, through a scar
• Hiatal, a small opening in the diaphragm that allows the upper part of the stomach to move up into the chest.
• Congenital diaphragmatic, a birth defect that needs surgery

Hernias are common. They can affect men, women, and children. A combination of muscle weakness and straining, such as with heavy lifting, might contribute. Some people are born with weak abdominal muscles and may be more likely to get a hernia. Treatment is usually surgery to repair the opening in the muscle wall. Untreated hernias can cause pain and health problems.

HYDRONEPHROSIS

Swelling of one kidney due to a backup of urine

HYDROCELE

A fluid-filled sac in the scrotum. During a baby’s development in the womb, the testicles descend from the abdomen through a tube into the scrotum. Hydroceles occur when this tube does not close. Fluid drains from the abdomen through the open tube and gets trapped in the scrotum. This causes the scrotum to swell.

HYPOSPADIAS

A birth (congenital) defect in which the opening of the urethra is on the underside of the penis. The urethra is the tube that drains urine from the bladder. In males, the opening of the urethra is normally at the end of the penis.

INCONTINENCE

Inability to control the flow of urine from the bladder (urinary incontinence) or the escape of stool from the rectum (fecal incontinence).

INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS

A chronic bladder condition resulting in recurring discomfort or pain in the bladder or surrounding pelvic region. People with IC usually have inflamed or irritated bladder walls which can cause scarring and stiffening of the bladder.

INTRAVENOUS PYLOGRAM

An intravenous pyelogram (IVP) uses x-rays to take pictures of the organs of your urinary tract. These are the organs that make urine (pee) and remove it from your body. They include your:

• Kidneys, two organs located below the rib cage, one on each side of your spine. They filter your blood to remove waste and extra water in urine (pee).
• Bladder, a hollow organ in your pelvis (the area below your belly). It stores urine.
• Ureters, thin tubes that carry urine from your kidneys to your bladder.

IVP uses contrast dye to make these organs show up well on x-ray images. In males, x-rays from an IVP can also show the prostate. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. It lies just below the bladder and makes the fluid part of semen.

ISCHURIA

The suppression or retention of urine

KIDNEY STONE

A solid piece of material that forms in the kidney from substances in the urine. It may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pearl. Most kidney stones pass out of the body without help from a doctor. But sometimes a stone will not go away. It may get stuck in the urinary tract, block the flow of urine and cause great pain.

KUB

An abdominal x-ray is an imaging test to look at organs and structures in the abdomen. Organs include the spleen, stomach, and intestines.

When the test is done to look at the bladder and kidney structures, it is called a KUB (kidneys, ureters, bladder) x-ray.

LITHOTRIPSY

A procedure that uses shock waves to break up stones in the kidney and parts of the ureter (tube that carries urine from your kidneys to your bladder). After the procedure, the tiny pieces of stones pass out of your body in your urine.

MEATAL STENOSIS

A narrowing of the opening of the urethra, the tube through which urine leaves the body. Meatal stenosis can affect both males and females. It is more common in males.

MEATOTOMY

Urethral meatotomy as treatment for meatal stenosis is a common pediatric urology procedure.