Asthenospermia

ASTHENOSPERMIA (from Greek asthenes- weak and sperma- seed), a condition in which the spermatozoa present in the ejaculate in normal or reduced quantity possess weak and insufficient motility. Asthenospermia can be one of the causes of male infertility. Weak motility of spermatozoa depends on many causes - the general condition of the patient, the presence of pus in the ejaculate, the influence of pathologically altered secretion of the prostate. ASTEREOGNOSIA (from Greek a- negative part., stereos- solid and gnosis- knowledge), a disorder of stereognostic sense, i.e., the recognition of an object by palpation. Astereognosia is observed: 1) with impairment of peripheral and deep sensitivity, especially muscle sense, due to insufficiency of perception of external irritations; 2) with impairment of the synthetic function of the brain (elementary sensitivity may be preserved), since for recognition of an object only peripheral irritations are insufficient, but their comparison with previously received ones corresponding to this given object is necessary; only then do representations of the object and its recognition arise in the mind. - Pure astereognosia, without impairment of sensitivity, is a characteristic symptom for lesions of the cerebral cortex in the lower part of the middle third of the central convolutions near the Rolandic fissure.