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Diabetes and the Endocrine System Glossary

Terms used to explain Diabetes & ED can sometimes be confusing. To help you fully understand the articles and features related to this very important health topic, we have compiled a glossary of terms that can help.

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Arteriosclerosis

ar*te*rio*scle*ro*sis
Pronunciation: \är-ˌtir-ē-ō-sklə-ˈrō-səs\

Function: noun
pl -ro*ses
Pronunciation: \-ˌsēz\
: a chronic disease characterized by abnormal thickening and hardening of the arterial walls with resulting loss of elasticity compare atherosclerosis

BPH

BPH
Function: abbreviation
benign prostatic hyperplasia; benign prostatic hypertrophy

Detumescence

de*tu*mes*cence
Pronunciation: \ˌdē-t(y)ü-ˈmes-^ən(t)s\

Function: noun
: subsidence or diminution of swelling or erection

Erection

erec*tion
Pronunciation: \i-ˈrek-shən\

Function: noun

1: the state marked by firm turgid form and erect position of a previously flaccid bodily part containing cavernous tissue when that tissue becomes dilated with blood
2: an occurrence of erection in the penis or clitoris

Fertility

fer*til*i*ty
Pronunciation: \(ˌ)fər-ˈtil-ət-ē\

Function: noun
pl -ties

1: the quality or state of being fertile
2: the birthrate of a population compare mortality 2b

Flaccid

flac*cid
Pronunciation: \ˈflas-əd, ˈflak-səd\

Function: adjective
: not firm or stiff; also: lacking normal or youthful firmness <flaccid muscles>

Impotence

im*po*tence
Pronunciation: \ˈim-pət-ən(t)s\

Function: noun

1: the quality or state of not being potent <drug-resistant bacteria are a virulent indicator of the growing impotence of antibiotics>
2: an abnormal physical or psychological state of a male characterized by inability to copulate because of failure to have or maintain an erection —called also erectile dysfunction

Libido

li*bi*do
Pronunciation: \lə-ˈbēd-(ˌ)ō also ˈlib-ə-ˌdō or lə-ˈbī-(ˌ)dō\

Function: noun
pl -dos

1: instinctual psychic energy that in psychoanalytic theory is derived from primitive biological urges (as for sexual pleasure or self-preservation) and that is expressed in conscious activity
2: sexual drive

Nitric Oxide

nitric oxide
Function: noun
: a poisonous colorless gas NO that occurs as a common air pollutant formed by the oxidation of atmospheric nitrogen and that is also formed by the oxidation of arginine in the mammalian body where it acts as a mediator of intracellular and intercellular communication regulating numerous biological processes (as vasodilation and neurotransmission)

Orgasm

¹or*gasm
Pronunciation: \ˈor-ˌgaz-əm\

Function: noun
: the climax of sexual excitement that is usu. accompanied by ejaculation of semen in the male and by vaginal contractions in the female

Perineum

per*i*ne*um
Function: noun
pl -nea
also -naea
Pronunciation: \-ˈnē-ə\

: an area of tissue that marks externally the approximate boundary of the pelvic outlet and gives passage to the urogenital ducts and rectum; also: the area between the anus and the posterior part of the external genitalia esp. in the female

Peyronie's Disease

Pey*ro*nie's disease
Pronunciation: \ˌpā-rə-ˈnēz-, pā-ˈrō-(ˌ)nēz-\

Function: noun
: the formation of fibrous plaques in one or both corpora cavernosa of the penis resulting in distortion or deflection of the erect organ

Priapism

pri*a*pism
Pronunciation: \ˈprī-ə-ˌpiz-əm\

Function: noun
: an abnormal, more or less persistent, and often painful erection of the penis; esp: one caused by disease rather than sexual desire

Prostate

²prostate
Function: adjective
: of, relating to, or being the prostate gland

Scrotum

scro*tum
Pronunciation: \ˈskrōt-əm\

Function: noun
pl scro*ta
Pronunciation: \-ə\>
or scrotums
: the external sac that in most mammals contains the testes

Semen

se*men
Pronunciation: \ˈsē-mən\

Function: noun
: a viscid whitish fluid of the male reproductive tract consisting of spermatozoa suspended in secretions of accessory glands (as of the prostate and Cowper's glands)

Testosterone

tes*tos*ter*one
Pronunciation: \te-ˈstäs-tə-ˌrōn\

Function: noun
: a male hormone that is a crystalline hydroxy steroid ketone C₁₉H₂₈O₂ produced primarily by the testes or made synthetically and that is the main androgen responsible for inducing and maintaining male secondary sex characteristics

Urethra

ure*thra
Pronunciation: \yu-ˈrē-thrə\
Function: noun
1: the canal that in most mammals carries off the urine from the bladder and in the male serves also as a passageway for semen