Word parts
What it means
A condition present at birth in boys. The urethral opening can be anywhere from just below the tip to the scrotum, and the penis may curve downward. It is usually repaired with surgery in the first year or two of life. In epispadiasep-ih-SPAY-dee-usA birth defect in which the urethra opens on the top side of the penis instead of at the tip, or in a female, too far forward.epi- upon, above-spadias an opening (from a Greek word for tearing)Full entry , a rarer defect, the opening is on the top side.
For the nurse
Teach parents that the baby should not be circumcised before repair, since the foreskin may be used in the surgery.
At a glance
| Also written | hypospadia |
|---|
Easy to confuse with
epispadias
A birth defect in which the urethra opens on the top side of the penis instead of at the tip, or in a female, too far forward.
Related terms
epispadias
A birth defect in which the urethra opens on the top side of the penis instead of at the tip, or in a female, too far forward.