Anatomy - Male Reproductive Organs

Question 1

In the male, the gonads are located outside the abdominopelvic cavity but remain intimately connected to the structures located there. What purpose does this serve?

Answer 1

To keep them cool

Question 2

What are the main contents of the spermatic cord?

Answer 2

Vas deferens
Testicular artery
Nerve to cremaster

Question 3

What is the tough outer fibrous layer of the testes?

Answer 3

Tunica albuginea

Question 4

What is the tunica vaginalis?

Answer 4

A peritoneal sac covering the testes

Question 5

What are the two layers of tunica vaginalis?

Answer 5

Visceral and parietal laminae

Question 6

What material is present between the two layers of tunica vaginalis?

Answer 6

Thin fluid layer

Question 7

What is a hydrocele?

Answer 7

Accumulation of serous fluid around a testicle

Question 8

What is a haematocele?

Answer 8

Accumulation of blood around a testicle

Question 9

At what vertebral level do the testicular arteries arise from the abdominal aorta?

Answer 9

L2

Question 10

Which structures do the testicular arteries cross before the travel through the inguinal canal?

Answer 10

Ureter

External iliac artery

Question 11

What is the term used for the 8-12 anastomosing veins associated with the testes?

Answer 11

Pampiniform plexus

Question 12

What is the function of the pampiniform plexus?

Answer 12

Thermoregulation

Question 13

Into which vein does the right testicular vein drain?

Answer 13

IVC

Question 14

Into which vein does the left testicular vein drain?

Answer 14

Left renal vein

Question 15

What is a varicocele?

Answer 15

Abnormal enlargement of the pampiniform plexus

Question 16

Which two lymph node groups receive lymph from the testes?

Answer 16

Superficial inguinal (scrotum) and para-aortic (testes)

Question 17

Where does the vas deferens originate?

Answer 17

Tail of the epididymis

Question 18

How does the vas deferens enter the pelvis?

Answer 18

Through the spermatic cord in the inguinal canal, crossing over the external iliac vessels

Question 19

How does the vas deferens terminate?

Answer 19

By joining the duct of the seminal gland to form the ejaculatory duct

Question 20

What secretions are produced by the seminal vesicles?

Answer 20

Seminal fluid

Question 21

What secretions are produced by the prostate?

Answer 21

Prostatic fluid

Question 22

Why might an enlarged prostate gland cause retention of urine?

Answer 22

Constriction of urethra

Question 23

What is the clinical significance of drainage from the prostatic venous plexus?

Answer 23

The prostatic venous plexus drains into the internal iliac vein which connects with the vertebral venous plexus, this is thought to be the route of bone metastasis of prostate cancer

Question 24

Which section of the urethra do the bulbourethral glands empty into?

Answer 24

Penile/spongy urethra

Question 25

What secretions are produced by the bulbourethral glands?

Answer 25

Cowper’s fluid (pre-cum)

Question 26

What is the lymphatic drainage of the prostate?

Answer 26

Internal iliac and sacral nodes