Biopsy: removal of a small tissue sample for microscopic examination.
Bladder: The midline, lower abdominal organ which stores urine
Bone Scan: A type of scan which is usually used to determine if there has been spread of tumour into the bones
BPH: Benign prostatic hyperplasia; benign (non cancerous) enlargement of the prostate gland, invariably seen with increasing age
Brachytherapy: A type of radiotherapy where radioactive seeds are implanted directly into an organ, usually the prostate gland
Calcium oxalate: The commonest constituent of kidney stones and the type of stone which is most prone to recur
Calculus: A stone, usually in the kidney or ureter, but may also occur in the prostate or bladder
Calyx: The outermost part of the collecting system of the kidney where urine is first released for excretion
Catheter: A rubberised or silicone tube passed into a hollow organ (usually the bladder) to drain its contents
Chemotherapy: The use of drugs to treat cancer
Circumcision: Removal of the foreskin
Cystitis: Inflammation of the internal lining of the bladder
CT scan: Computerised tomography; a form of X-ray where slices are taken through the body to produce imagesat different levels
Cystectomy: Surgical removal of the bladdder, usually for invasive cancer
Cystocele: Prolapse of the bladder into the vagina
Cystoscopy: Inspection of the bladder using a telescope (either flexible or rigid) with an attached light source to illuminate the interior of the bladder
Cytology: The study of individual cells, usually in the urine, to identify malignancy or other disorders
Dilatation: Stretching or widening of an opening, usually the urethra or neck of the bladder
Diverticulum: An abnormal pouch leading off the cavity of a hollow organ; most commonly seen in the bladder
DRE: Digital rectal examination; insertion of a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum usually to check for any abnormalities of the prostate.
Dysuria: Painful passage of urine
Epididymis: The sperm-carrying mechanism lying behind the testis which carries sperms from the testis to the vas deferens during ejaculation
Epididymitis: Inflammation/infection of the epididymis, often involving the testis as well (epididymo-orchitits)
Erectile dysfunction: Impotence; the inability to obtain or maintain an erection sufficient for penetration and the satisfaction of both sexual partners
ESWL: Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy; shockwaves generated in water, focussed and fired through the body to fragment stones in the kidney or ureter
Frequency: Passing urine too often, usually during the day
Haematospermia: Blood in the semen during ejaculation
Haematuria: Blood in the urine. It can be macroscopic (seen with the naken eye), or microscopic (detected only by testing the urine)
Hesitancy: Having to wait an abnormally long time for the flow of urine to start
HoLEP: Holmium Laser Enuleation of the Prostate. Removing the part of the prostate gland blocking the flow of urine using the holmium laser
Holmium: A type of laser energy used to cut prostate tissue or to break up renal stones
Hydrocele: An abnormal collection of fluid in the naturally-occurring sac which surrounds the testicle
ICSI: Intracystoplasmic sperm injection, where a single sperm is injected into a female's egg to create an embryo. This is a form of IVF.
Incontinence: Involuntary leakage of urine
IVF: In-vitro fertilisation, where embryos are made by fertilizing the female's eggs outside the womb
IVU: Intravenous urogram; an X-ray of the kidneys, ureters and bladder performed using an injection of dyeinto a vein in the arm
Kidney: One of two paired organs (normally) which lie at the back of the abdomen, in front of the lower ribs, andfilter the blood to produce urine
Laser: Light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation; an energy source for performing some typesof urological surgery
Laparoscope: A telescope with a light source and camera attached which is inserted into the abdomen (through a smallincision) to perform 'keyhole' surgery
Litholapaxy: Crushing of a stone, usually in the bladder, to reduce it to fragments small enough to be passed spontaneously or removed through an endoscope
Lithotripsy: Breaking a stone; usually synonymous with ESWL
Lymphadenectomy: Surgical removal of lymph nodes to determine whether they are involved with cancer
Metastasis: A secondary tumour (remote from the original cancer) which has arisen by spread through the blood, the lymph system or by direct invasion
MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging; a means of producing cross-sectional images of the body to characterise tissues by the way the electrons in the tissue move in response to a strong magnetic field
MSU: Mid Stream Urine. The collection of a specimen of urine to see if there is a urinary tract infection
Nocturia: Abnormal passage of urine at night
Paraphimosis: Retraction of a tight foreskin which becomes "stuck" due to an inability to return it to its original positioncovering the head of the penis
PCa3: A molecular test for the detection of prostate cancer cells in the urine
Phimosis: Tightness of the foreskin, either due to a scarring disease or as a result of a congenital abnormality
Polyuria: Over-production of urine, usually at night; often occurs in the elderly due to poor water handling ability with increasing age
Prostate gland: A walnut-sized organ lying at the base of the bladder which produces chemicals to nourish sperm and facilitate their transport to the female uterus
Prostatitis: Infection or inflammation of the prostate gland
Prosthesis: An artifical implant used to replace any part of the body (e.g. a testicle)
PSA: Prostate-specific antigen; a chemical released into the bloodstream by the prostate gland which may be raised in men with prostate cancer
Radiotherapy: The use of X-Rays to treat cancer
Renal Colic: The passage of a stone down the ureter which causes severe intermittent pain
Testosterone: The main male hormone produced mainly by the testicles (and by the adrenal gands)
TNM: A staging system for cancer which describes the extent of the primary tumour (T), the lymph nodes(N) and metastases (M)
Transitional cell carcinoma: A malignant (cancerous) tumour arising from the internal lining of the urinary tract, usually the bladder
TUR: TransUrethral Resection, usually of the prostate gland (TURP) or of a tumour in the bladder (TURBT)
Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves used to reflect off tissues to determine their nature
Ureter: The thin, muscular tube which propels urine down from the kidneys to the bladder
Ureteroscopy: Inspection of the ureter (and/or kidney) using a telescope (either flexible or rigid) with an attached light source passed into the bladder and up the ureter towards the kidney
Urethra: The tube through which urine passes to the outside of the body from the bladder
Urgency: A sudden, irresistible desire to pass urine
Urodymanics: An investigation which looks at the function of the bladder.
UTI: Urinary Tract Infection
Varicocele: An abnormal collection of varicose veins above the testicle, usually on the left side
Vas deferens: A muscular tube which carries sperm from the epididymis into the urethra during ejaculation of semen
