GLOSSARY

- Aging Male – the direct meaning is obvious. This term also means every processes connected with: health, physiology, pathology, psychology and social changes – that take place in men after 40 years of age.

- Andrology – a branch of medicine dealing with physiology and pathology of the male reproductive system; a branch of urology, endocrinology and also psychiatry.

- Andros – in Greek: "Human, Man"; also, the name of Greek island in the Cyclades.

- Andropause – from Greek andro = Man, and pausis = the end, also known as climacterium virile or more medical - PADAM (partial androgen deficiency of aging male); andropause includes all the symptoms connected with the phenomena of the aging male.

- Antidepressants, SSRI – antidepressant drugs, SSRI - selective serotonine reuptake inhibitors.

- BMI (Body Mass Index), Quetel index – the indicator of our body mass expressed as the individual's body mass divided by the square of their height (kg/m2); Proper BMI value oscilates between 18,5 and 24,99.

- BPH, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (Hyperplasia prostatae) – A men’s disease, which is most common among men over 50 years old. The disease is caused by the proliferation of prostate gland tissue. The main symptoms of Prostatic Hyperplasia is the often urination, inability to drain the bladder completely, intermittent voiding, prolonged urination, pains during voiding, weakening of the urinary stream until it is stopped completely and medical intervention is required.

- Bulbospongiosus muscle (musculus bulbospongiosus)- The main erectile muscle described in our sections: Before you start and Anatomy and Physiology.

- Corpora cavernosa of the penis (Corpora cavernosa) – Paired structures that are included into the construction of the penis, extending from the symphysis to the glans of the penis. Their structure can be similar to the structure of the honeycomb that creates a space lined with the endothelium tissue and the smooth muscle tissue; the blood flows and stops in the corpora cavernosa during the erection. Homological structures can be found also in women – clitoral corpora cavernosa and corpora cavernosa of vestibular bulb.

- DaVinci® Prostatectomy (da Vinci® Robotic Assisted Prostatectomy, ger. da Vinci® roboterassistierte Prostatektomie) – radical prostatectomy of prostate cancer with the use of specialized robotic equipment.

- Diabetes mellitus – A metabolic disease occurring along with hyperglicaemia (high concentration of sugar in blood) as a result of the defect or deficiency of insulin – hormone responsible for proper sugar management in the organism. The most common type of this disease is Diabetes Type II (NIDDM) and rather uncommon one Type I (IDDM). The most common symptoms are polyuria, polidypsia (increased thirst) i poliphagia (excessive hunger/increased apetite). The major consequences of the diabetes are: damage to blood vessels, kidney failure, brain damage, loss of vision, impotency, neuropathy, ischemic heart disease, hear attack, stroke.

- Diaphragm – The most important muscle in the breathing process. It is also a border between the chest and abdominal cavity.

- DRE (digital rectal examination); per rectum – Finger palpation of the prostate and rectal area useful for detecting tumors of this area and prostate cancer.

- Dyspareunia – (from Greek meaning "badly mated") is a painful sexual intercourse, due to medical or psychological causes.

- Erection (erectio) – This phenomenon is mostly associated with the erection of the penis as its reaction on the increased blood flow under the influence of, most commonly, sexual stimulus. The counterpart of this reaction in women is the enlargement of the nipples and clitoris.

- Erection muscles (also known as Potency muscles and Orgasmic muscles) – A group of muscles that has been described in our ANATOMY and PHYSIOLOGY and BEFORE YOU START sections. These particular muscles take a direct part in the mechanism of erection and during orgasm. The most important muscle from this group is the bulbuspongiosus muscle (musculus bulbospongiosus) and ischiocavernosus muscle (musculus ischiocavernosus).

- Impotency, Erectile Dysfunction, ED – inability to achieve the states of erection, necessary for a sexual intercourse. It may have different causes – both physiological and psychological.

- Incontinence, urinary incontinence – a disorder consisting of urinary incontinence. The main forms of incontinence that can be distinguished are as follows: Stress incontinence, Urge incontinence, Overflow incontinence, Neurogenic incontinence, Mixed incontinence.

- Ischiocavernosus muscle (musculus ischiocavernosus) – The main erectile muscle described in our sections: Before you start and Anatomy and Physiology

- L-Arginine – The aminoacid that participates in the erectile mechanism; a common diet supplement.

- Libido – The phenomenon taken from the Psychoanalysis (Jung, Freud), which means the vital energy and sexual desire.

- Nervi Erigentes (Erectile nerves) – The nerve bundles that run on both sides of the posterior lateral surface of the prostate. They are responsible for the proper erection; often, they become damaged and have to be removed during the radical prostatectomy; they are also become damaged by the diabetes and during radiotherapy.

- Orgasm (Orgasmus) –Climax, the phase of the greatest arousal and pleasure as one of the phases of sexual reactions cycle;

- Pelvic floor muscles – A very important group of muscles that create the bottom mid of the human’s pelvis (from the top side it is covered with the diaphragm); pelvic floor muscles are necessary for the proper stabilization of the pelvis and spine. They play crucial role in the pregnancy and childbirth. They are also required in the properly functioning mechanism of urination and defecation. And finally, they are indispensible in the erectile mechanism and in the orgasmic sensations.

- Premature ejaculation (Ejaculatio praecox) – This problem can touch even 20% (!) of men regardless of their age.

- Priapism (Priapismus) – a too long (even 2-3 hours and longer!) and very painful erection (can be caused be drugs), which can lead to very serious and irreversible damaged to the penis and erectile mechanism (impotency); What is interesting here, is the fact that priapism (Priapismus) can be also caused by poisonous spiders like Black Widow (Latrodectus) or Brazilian Banana Spider (Brazilian Wandering spider, Phoneutria)

- Priapos, Priap, Priapus – From Greek mythology: The son of Dionysus and Aphrodite, a symbol of bodily pleasures, human fertility; often described as a character with disproportionately big male genitals. His Roman equivalent is Mutunus Tutunus.

- Prostate (Prostata) – Men’s gland of size and shape similar to a chestnut. It is located directly under the bladder. A part of urethra runs through the prostate (pars prostatica urethrae) – that is why, the prostate block the urethra causing urinary disorder when it become overgrown; the prostate development depends on the testosterone level and their most important role is to produce the mucus, which is indispensible for the sperm and semen.

- Prostate cancer – One of the most common cancers occurring among men; the peak incidence is around the 6th and 7th decade of life. If detected and treated in the stage when it is still separated from the prostate, it can be completely cured in 75-85% cases.

- Prostate Specific Antigen, PSA – A substance generated by the prostate cells. It is present in blood in the increased amounts in case prostate cancer (but not only – it also occurs in the inflammation states of the prostate and after surgical intrusions in the area of lower pelvis and also, after the per rectum examination)

- Radical prostatectomy the complete surgical removal of the prostate along with the seminal vesciles (in case of prostate cancer). It can be conducted in 3 different ways: Classic/open surgery – through the lower belly (most common; the incision is made below the navel to the pubic symphysis) or perineum (rare cases; the incision is made between the anus and the scrotum), laparoscopic surgery and robot-assisted surgery (with the use of a special robot – daVinci);

- Sexual potency – It is the definition of sexual performance and the ability of an organism to the sexual responses. It is one’s guarantee of sexual satisfaction for himself and his/her partner.

- Syndrome „X”, Metabolic syndrome – a disease of today’s civilization; a set of symptoms that can characterize the early diabetic states. The main features of the syndrome are: obesity, high level of triglycerides, decreased level of "good" cholesterol HLD, hypertension and high level of blood glucose in the fasting state.

- Spongy body of the penis (Corpus spongiosum) – A structure similar to the corpus cavernosum (see above), but the difference is that spongy body is not paired and it surrounds the urethra. It is connected with the corpora cavernosa and is also filled with blood during the state of erection.

- Testosterone (17β-hydroksy-4-androsten-3-on) – A steroid from the androgen group, produced mainly by the testicles (Leydig’s cells) but also, in a small amounts, by the ovaries, placenta and adrenal cortex. It has numerous functions – fetal development, psyche, sexual desire, hormone economy and many other functions.

- Vaginismus – A reflex, which is independent of woman’s will, involving sudden and often painful contractions of the external part of the vagina and pelvic muscles. It results in the inability to complete a sexual intercourse or performance of the pelvic examination;

- Viagra, (Levitra, Cialis) – Popular drugs used in cases of erectile disorders. They enable bigger blood flow to the penis during the erection. Solely, they DO NOT CAUSE THE ERECTION (a sexual stimulus is required); they cannot work on even up to 35% of men (the group "resistant" to drugs – Non-Responders);

- Vulvodynia – unpleasant sensations in the area of women’s sex organs, including the very severe pain;