4 seminal vesicles, prostate gland, bulbourethral gland

Question 1

what forms the bulk of seminal fluid (semen) in which sperms are suspended?

Answer 1

seminal vesicles, prostate gland, bulbourethral glands

Question 2

what happens during sexual arousal and ejaculation? (sequence)

Answer 2

secretions are emitted in a controlled sequence commencing with the bulbourethral glands, then prostate, followed by the spermatozoa, and finally, the seminal vesicles

Question 3

what is the structural and functional integrity of the glands dependent upon?

Answer 3

adequate levels of male sex hormones

Question 4

what are seminal vesicles?

Answer 4

2 small glands lying posterior to the prostate gland

Question 5

what do the body of the seminal vesicles consist of? joining? forms?

Answer 5

single, highly convoluted tube that joins the ampulla of the ductus deferens to form the ejaculatory duct

Question 6

what does the mucous membrane of the seminal vesicle form?

Answer 6

an elaborate system of thin, branched, anastomosing folds which project into the lumen

Question 7

what does the large lumen of the seminal vesicle contain?

Answer 7

coagulated secretion

Question 8

what is the epithelium lining the mucous membrane of the seminal vesicles?

Answer 8

varies from simple columnar to pseudostratified

Question 9

what is the lamina propria of seminal vesicles surrounded by?

Answer 9

a smooth muscle coat divided into an inner circular and a very thin outer longitudinal layer

Question 10

what do the prostate gland surround?

Answer 10

the urethra at its origin from the bladder (prostatic urethra)

Question 11

what is the prostate gland composed of?

Answer 11

numerous small, compound alveolar glands from which excretory ducts originate and open independently into the prostatic urethra

Question 12

what do the secretions of the prostatic gland form? (ejaculate volume)

Answer 12

about 1/3 of the ejaculate volume

Question 13

what do secretions of the prostatic gland contain?

Answer 13

prostaglandins
proteolytic enzymes
citric acid

Question 14

what is the prostatic gland surrounded by?

Answer 14

a fibro-muscular capsule from which branching septae divide it into numerous, but separate, compound alveolar glands

Question 15

what are the septae of the prostatic gland characterised by?

Answer 15

discrete bundles of SM fibres interweaving with the CT

Question 16

what is the epithelium lining the prostatic glands?

Answer 16

varies from low cuboidal to simple / pseudostratified columnar

Question 17

what do the cells of prostatic epithelium have?

Answer 17

pale-staining cytoplasm

Question 18

what does the epithelium of the prostatic gland rest on?

Answer 18

a very thin lamina propria

Question 19

what may be seen attached to the free cell surfaces of the prostatic epithelium? where else is it seen?

Answer 19

blebs of secretion

and often seen in lumen of glands

Question 20

what is also present in the lumina of the prostatic glands?

Answer 20

concentrically laminated eosinophilic bodies, the prostatic concretions (corpora amylacea), some of which may be calcified

Question 21

where are the bulbourethral glands located?

Answer 21

within the urogenital diaphragm

Question 22

what do the bulbourethral glands contain?

Answer 22

tubular and alveolar-type glands

Question 23

what do the bulbourethral glands produce just prior to ejaculation?

Answer 23

a clear watery secretion that may lubricate the urethra

Question 24

when do the prostate glands enlarge?

Answer 24

in old age

Question 25

what is benign prostatic hyperplasia dependent on?

Answer 25

sex hormone dependent

Question 26

main symptoms of BPH?

Answer 26

urinary obstruction and bladder irriration

Question 27

what is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in men?

Answer 27

prostatic cancer

Question 28

cause of prostatic cancer?

Answer 28

genetic, hormonal ,environmental etc.

factors are implicated in pathogenesis

Question 29

what is produced by normal / abnormal prostatic epithelial cells? (elevated in prostatic disorders)

Answer 29

blood levels of prostatic-specific antigen (PSA)

Question 30

what are tests used to differentiate between pathology of the prostate?

Answer 30

a range of diagnostic tests used to asses and differentiate between prostate hyperplasia, prostatitis (inflammation) and carcinoma