16. Anatomy of the Reproductive System Flashcards
Male components
Penis, scrotum, testicles, epididymis, spermatic cord, glands
Penis
- Contains urethra
- Prostatic part
- Membranous part
- Spongy part
- 2 functions
- Transport of urine
- Transport of ejaculate
- Structure
- 2 swelling bodies
- Corpera cavernosa (2x)
- Corpus spongiosum (1x)
- Function
- Aim for swelling of the penis (erection)
- Dilation of vessels (increase blood)
- Primarily corpus cavernosum
- Corpus spongiosum
- Less swelling, -> compress urethra
- Forms glans penis
- Aim for swelling of the penis (erection)
- 2 swelling bodies
Scrotum
- Skin
- Tunica dartos
- External spermatic fascia
- Cremaster muscle + fascia
- Contains spermatic cord
- Vas deferens or ductus deferens
- Transport of sperm cells from within to outside, start in scrotum
- Blood vessels
- Nerves
- Vas deferens or ductus deferens
- Contains spermatic cord
- Internal spermatic fascia
- Tunica vaginalis
- Tunica albunginea
- Length as (dis)advantage
- Smaller risk of bladder infection
- Risk of uretral blockage
Testicles
- Situated under epididymis
- Production of sperm cells
- Contained in tunica albunginea
- Capsule formed of connective tissue
- Albunginea = white
Epididymis
- Network contains efferent ductules
- Form early epididymis
- Subdivided in regions
- caput and corpus (tightly coiled)
- cauda (unwound)
- Function
- Storage of sperm (cauda)
- Recycling of damaged sperm cells
- Production of fluid
- Further trajectory
- Epididymis forms vas deferens
- Enters inguinal canal
- Drains onto ejaculatory duct
Male glands
- Seminal vesicles
- Add up to 70% to semen (fructose and prostaglandins)
- Prostate
- Add 30% to semen (prostate fluid)
- Neutralizes acidity and improves motility
- Cowper’s gland
- Size of a pea
- Produces alkaline fluid (lubrication)
Spermatogenesis
- Sperm cells in seminiferous ducts
- Leydig cells produce testosterone (adjacent to tubules)
- Convoluted tubules → straight tubules
- Finally form rete testis (network)
Male orientation
- Ductus deferens crosses ureter dorsally
- Temporarily widens after crossing (ampulla)
- Drains in ejactulatory duct
- Join to form urethra
Labia
- Majora
- broader folds of skin
- analogous to scrotal skin
- Minora
- folds of skin and mucous membrane
- join to form clitoral hood
- Female swelling body
- Analogous to corpera cavernosa/spongiosa
Female components
Vagina, labia, pubic mound, glands, uterus, ovaries, ligaments, fallopian tubes
Glands
- Bartolin glands
- Secrete muscus for lubrication
- Analogues to Cowper’s glands
- Skene’s glands
- Secrete muscus for lubrication
Uterus
- Specific position in pelvis (anteversion and anteflexion)
- Attachment ( 4 ligaments)
- Round: embryonic rest
- Broad: fold of peritoneum
- Cardinal: uterine artery
- Uterosacral
Ovaries
- Storage of egg cells
- Connected to uterus via Fallopian tube
- Egg travel across peritoneal cavity
- Risk of extra-uterine pregnancy
- Possible extension of infection
- Egg travel across peritoneal cavity
- Ligaments
- Suspensory ligament (contains ovarian artery)
- Ovarian ligament (embryonic rest)
- Mesovary (part of broad ligament,, fold of peritoneal membrane)
Fallopian tubes
Fibriae, infundibulum, ampulla, isthmus (parts of tube)
Vagina
- Partly internal: borders cervix (neck of uterus)
- Largest part external: primarily vaginal vestibule
Peritoneal spaces
- Relevant in medical practice: accumulation of fluid
- Female: vesico-uterina, recto-uterina (pouch of Douglas)
- Male: rectovesicalis (pouch of Douglas)
Vascularization
- Testes and ovaries: testicular and ovarian artery and vein
- Uterus: supplied by internal iliac artery
Lymphoid structures
- Para-aortal, iliacal, inguinal
- Relevant for metastasis
Innervation
- Somatic: pudendal nerve (L4-S3)
- Autonomous: lumbosacral
- Superior and inferior hypogastric plexus
Inguinal canal Male
Connection skin and abdominal cavity
- Most pronounced, contains spermatic cord
- Development
- Development of testis/epididymis
- Scrotum expands from abdominal wall
- Torso grows faster (testis and epididymis move)
- processus vaginalis obliterates
- Ductus deferens remains in ‘canal’
- Effect for layers of scrotum
- Layers of abdominal wall move along
- Scrotal structure comparable to abdomen
- Layers
- Abdominal skin and superficial fascia (scrotal skin)
- External oblique fascia (external spermatic)
- Obliquus internus muscle (cremaster muscle)
- Transverse fascia (internal spermatic)
- Peritoneum (tunica vaginalis)
- Structure
- Deep inguinal ring
- Superficial inguinal ring
- Lateral wall (external oblique)
- Medial wall (transverse fascia)
- Inferior floor (inguinal ligament)
- Superior roof (internal oblique abdominal muscle and transverse abdominis muscle)
- Contents:
- spermatic cord
- ilioinguinal nerve
- sensible innervation scrotum, labia, thigh
- motoric innervation abdominal wall
Inguinal canal females
- labia majora and abdomen
- round ligament of uterus
- ilioinguinal nerve
- Inguinal hernia
- Protrusion of abdominal contents (through weak spot in wall)
- 2 places
- Lateral or indirect through deep inguinal ring
- Medial or direct through transverse fascia
- Symptoms
- Bump, increases with abdominal pressure
- Painful when pinching off structures (strangulation)
Thoracic wall
- Layered structure
- Skin with fatty tissue
- Breast with glandular tissue
- Muscles
- Skin and subdermal layers
- Skin with hair follicles
- Connective tissue and fatty tissue
- Glandular tissue (breast)
- Muscle
- Breast
- Nipple and areola
- Ligaments of Cooper
- Glandular tissue
- Drainage via ducti lactiferi, come together in nipple
- Vascularization
- Small branches of internal thoracic artery
- Originate from artery in arm
- Lymphoid structures
- 3 levels
- Lateral of pectoris minor
- Medial of pectoris minor
- Under pectoris minor
- Role in metastasis
- 3 levels
