Author: Mike Hutchison

Testicles (testes) are the male gonads. Two of these stuctures are found in the scrotum where they produce the male gametes, the spermatozoa, and the male hormone, testosterone. The testes are suspended from the body by the spermatic cord which contains the ductus deferens or vas deferens, testicular blood and lymph vessels and nerves. Anatomy & Histology The testicles are paired spheroid structures, (4 to 5 x 2.5 x 3 centimeters, 10.5-14 grams) housed in the scrotum with the dual function of producing sperm and hormones. The scrotum serves as a protective covering and serves to maintain the testicular temperature about…

A major area of activity in the field of urology focuses on the prostate. The prostate gland is a male accessory sex organ comprised of 30-50 branched glands, weighs about 20 grams and measures 4 x 2 x 3 centimeters (about the size of a walnut). It is surrounded by a fibroelastic capsule that penetrates the gland to divide it into lobes. The capsule and the stroma within the gland contain smooth muscle cells capable of contracting to expell the prostatic fluid. The prostate lies in front of the rectum just under the bladder and surrounds a portion of the…

Exercise, in addition to psychological and emotional benefits, is essential for physical health. Physical benefits to the cardiovascular, respiratory system and musculoskeletal system are well documented. However, a physcian should be consulted before beginning any program of physical fitness. Resting blood flow to the muscles is low. When a muscle contracts the vessels are compressed and blood flow decreases even more. Between contractions flow is greatly increased such that per unit time flow is increased 30 fold. Blood flow can increase prior to exercise due to just thinking about exercising (getting psyched) and due to stretching. Mechanisms within the muscles…

Calcium Calcium in the body must be tightly controlled because it is necessary to cell function for such things as blood clotting, muscle contraction, enzyme reactions, cellular communication and skin differentiation. It also gives bones and teeth their strength. Calcium is rather deficient in the environment. The body has developed special mechanisms to extract calcium from dietary sources. Normal adults adapt to decreased calcium intake by increasing the fraction of dietary calcium absorbed, but absorption is impaired by aging. Some 30-60% of dietary intake is normally absorbed. Several hormones are involved in calcium metabolism. Two protein hormones, parathyroid hormone and…

Before starting any exercise program, talk with your doctor. You might also consult a fitness expert who can give you the how-to pointers on avoiding muscle strain and injury for your chosen sport. Running Somewhat of the core form of aerobic exercise, running is an effective means of strengthening the cardiovascular system. It is also one of the most convenient, requiring no facilities (except for a clear path) and only a good pair of shoes to perform. In order to maximize the utility of running, it is advised to follow some simple steps. Before running, be sure to stretch for…

Understanding Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) refers to the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, a condition most common in aging men. While BPH can produce symptoms similar to prostate cancer, it is benign and does not increase one’s future risk of developing prostate cancer. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), BPH affects over half of men older than 60 and up to 90% of those over 70. BPH develops when hormonal changes in aging men—particularly the decline in active testosterone and relative increase in estrogen—stimulate the growth of prostate cells.…

Q: I’m 32, and for six years I’ve had a continuing loss of libido. In the last two years, I don’t think of sex or get an erection without serious coaxing from my partner. A hormone level test came back normal. My doctor gave me Viagra, which gives me an erection, but what’s the use when I have no urge to use it? Some time ago, when I lifted weights, I tried androstenedione and noticed that it increased my libido dramatically. I stopped taking it for health concerns, but lately I’ve tried it again to see if I could reproduce…

Hair loss is a part of your daily life, whether you realize it or not. A typical strand of hair lives four or five years and then falls out and is replaced by a new one — in fact, the average person loses up to 100 hairs a day. But when this loss is not followed by replacement, a once-thick head of hair starts to thin out — and in some cases, go bald. So why does this happen? Most people’s hair thins gradually with age — in both men and women — a natural phenomenon called involutional alopecia. Hair…

Q. My cardiologist prescribed Atenolol (25mg) for six months as a precaution after a false positive on a nuclear stress test. (I must have moved while the scanning machine was taking the images.) Could taking Atenolol for six months cause erectile difficulty? I have been off the medicine for three months now, and I still have ED problems. If this medicine was the cause, should this problem correct itself? How long will that take? A. Atenolol belongs to a class of medication called beta blockers, whose side effects include erectile dysfunction. However, at the low dose of 25mg, I would…

Q. Are erectile problems reversible when the cause has to do with diabetes? A. Unfortunately, diabetes has multiple effects on sexual behavior and particularly the ability to achieve erections. Diabetes may interfere with erections in any of three ways: All of these changes are irreversible. However, some are treatable. In general, patients with diabetes have a mixture of these effects, so treatment for the erectile dysfunction is often very successful. If management with medications such as Viagra fails, the urologist can install a penile prosthesis; this typically produces excellent satisfaction and long-term durability.