1 Flashcards
Which zone of the prostate gland is at risk of enlarging and what is its effect?
Transition zone is at risk and it will compress the ureter which causes urinary urgency
Which zone of the prostate gland is usually under rectal examination?
Peripheral zone
What is the role of seminiferous tubules
Spermatogenesis
Why is the left testicle situated slightly lower than the right testicle?
- left testicle drains from left testicular vein into left renal vein then IVC
- right testicle drains from right testicular vein directly into IVC
- so more veins and pressure is applied to left testicle
What is a varicoele?
- varicose veins condition of the testes
- usually affects the pampiniform plexus when veins are dilated
- will cause pain and swelling in scrotum
What is the purpose of the pampiniform plexus?
- in order to have heat exchange between the testicular arteries and veins
- since testicles need to have a certain temperature, this allows to do so
What is the white membrane that the testes are enclosed in?
Tunica albuginea
What is the peritoneal layer in which the testes are surrounded by?
Tunica Vaginalis
What is a hydrocoele? Why is more common in younger boys?
- scrotal swelling due to fluid accumulation in the tunica vaginalis
- more common in youngins because they still have remnants of the processis vaginalis which is a patent part of the peritoneum, so fluid can easily go in there
What is contained in the spermatic cord? Describe them.
- 3 fascial layers: external spermatic fascia (comes from external oblique), cremasteric spermatic fascia (comes from internal oblique), internal spermatic fascia (comes from transverse abd)
- 3 arteries: testicular artery, cremasteric artery, artery to vas
- 3 veins: testicular vein (pampiniform plexus), cremasteric vein, vein to vas
- 3 nerves: genital part of genitofemoral nerve (L2), sympathetic nerve to vas, ilioinguinal nerve
- vas deferens
What is the cremasteric reflex?
- when stroking medial thigh
- contains muscle which helps to pull in testes or let it out for temperature adjustment
- if reflex does not occur, then pt. May have testicular torsion
What is testicular torsion? How do we solve this?
- when the spermatic cord is twisted
- causes occlusion of arteries, veins, and nerves
- can lead to ischaemia and then necrosis
- will result in infertility
- solution: create incision and untwist spermatic cord or put a suture to secure the testes to the scrotal wall
How do the testes develop in their position?
- they are formed at the abdominal wall and slowly evaginate the wall, forming the inguinal canal
- gubernaculum pulls the testes down, allowing the abdominal wall to surround it and become the spermatic fascia
- like pushing a finger into cling film
What is the position of the ureter in both male and female testes?
“Water under the bridge”
Male: ureter passes under vas deferens
Female: ureter passes under uterine artery
Where do the testes and scrotum drain their lymph into respectively?
- testes drain lymph into paraaortic lymph nodes
- scrotum drains lymph into inguinal lymph nodes
Describe the two different tissue types of the penis
-corpus cavernosa: main erectile tissue of penis, keeps it hard during ejaculation as well, attaches the penis to pelvic bone, is a paired tissue
-corpus spongiosum: expansile tissue through which the urethra travels, resists the increased pressure of corpus cavernosa, stays patent during ejaculation, forms the penile glands
E.T.
What is the ureter called in its different positions starting from the prostate gland to the head of the penis?
-prostatic ureter, membranous ureter, spongy ureter
What is the role of the seminal vesicles?
- make of 65% of semen
- provides nutrition for sperm and neutralizes the acidic environment of the vagina
What is the role of the prostate gland?
- produces 25% of semen
- inputs more protein
What is the role of bulbourethral (cowpers) glands?
- produces about 1% of semen
- produce secretion that reduces friction
What is the purpose of the tunica albuginea?
- provides the shape of the penis during an erection
- has collagen fibres that are perpendicular to each other
What is the blood supply to the penis?
Internal pudendal artery and vein
Describe a fracture penis
- occurs when penis is bent to a certain extent where the tunic albuginea ruptures so blood from the corpus cavernosa enters
- if it is not fixed immediately, scar tissue will develop quickly causing a bend in the penis
What are the roles of Sertoli cells and Leydig cells?
- Sertoli cells produce Sperm under the influence of fSh
- Leydig cells produce testosterone under the influence of Lh (contains lots of smooth ER meaning it is active in lipid metabolism)
What is the significance of the hylum of the testes?
It is where the seminiferous tubules drain out
