Prostatitis glossary: Prostatitis & Prostate Disorders
Acute: Having a sudden onset and (usually) a short, severe course
Antacid: A medicine that neutralizes or reduces acid in the stomach.
Anus: The opening at the end of the digestive tract where bowel contents leave the body.
Anal: Pertaining to the anus.
Autoimmune Disease: A disease caused by the body's protective mechanism becoming confused and attacking a part of the body, which is not an invader.
Benign: Not malignant; noncancerous; benign growths do not generally spread to other organs or come back when they are removed.
Biopsy: A procedure where a small hollow needle is inserted into a suspicious body part in order to obtain a specimen for laboratory analysis. Usually used to check for the presence of cancer.
Bladder: The muscular bag in the lower abdomen where urine is stored. During urination, the bladder contracts to force urine out.
Catheter: A tube inserted through the penis to the bladder in order to drain urine from the body.
Chronic: Persisting over a long period of time
Cystoscope: A tube-like instrument used to view the interior of the bladder.
Ejaculation: Discharging semen from the penis during sexual climax.
Gland: An organ that makes and releases substances to other parts of the body.
Hematospermia: Blood in the seminal fluid
Hematuria: Blood in the urine
Hesitancy: Slowness to start urination
Histamine-2 (H2) Receptor Blockers: H2 blockers are the group of medicines that prevent histamine from binding to H2 receptors, leading to reduced secretion of hydrochloric acid.
Hormone: A substance that stimulates the function of a gland.
Impotent: Unable to have an erection.
Incontinence: The inability to control urination.
Infection: condition resulting from the presence of bacteria or other microorganisms
Inflammation: swelling and pain resulting from irritation or infection
Nocturia: Waking up in the middle of the night to urinate
Obstruction: A clog or blockage that prevents liquid from flowing easily.
Palliative Treatment: Medical care which aims to reduce the symptoms without curing the patient
Perineum: The area between the scrotum and the anus.
Prognosis: A forecast of the course of a disease, and future prospects of the patient
Rectum: The last part of the large intestine (colon) ending in the anus.
Reflux: Flowing back. Usually refers to the entry of urine into the prostate
Reproductive system: The bodily systems that allow men and women to have children.
Scrotum: The sac of skin that contains the testes.
Semen: The fluid, containing sperm, which comes out of the penis during sexual excitement.
Sterile: Unable to father children.
Testes: The male reproductive glands where sperm are produced.
Testosterone: The male sex hormone. This hormone is produced mostly by the testes but the adrenal gland also produces a small amount. You need a supply to maintain your prostate's current size. Castration cuts off the major source of supply and results in shrinkage of the prostate so this is sometimes used to shrink or slow the growth of prostate cancer. Testosterone cannot be used directly by the prostate however but must first be converted to Dihydrotestosterone by the action of a prostate enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase
Ultrasound: A type of test in which sound waves too high to hear are aimed at a structure to produce an image of it.
Urinary tract: The path that urine takes as it leaves the body. It includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
Urinalysis: Examination of the urine for abnormalities
Urination: Discharge of liquid waste from the body.
Urethra: The canal inside the penis that urine passes through as it leaves the body.
Void: To urinate