ANATOMY - Male Reproductive System Flashcards
What are the three main functions of the male reproductive system?
Gamete/spermatozoa production
Semen production
Androgenic hormone production (testosterone)
What makes up the external male genitalia?
Penis, Prepuce, Scrotum, Testes
What type of penis do canines have?
Musculocavernous
What are the distinguishing features of a musculocavernous penis
Copious cavernous and erectile tissue
What are the four main regions of the penis?
Root, Body, Glans, Os penis
What forms the root and body of the penis?
Two crura which arise from the ischial arches to form the root and then combine to form the body of the penis
What are the two types of cavernous tissue found in the crura?
Corpus cavernosum and Corpus spongiosum
What is the fibrous coat surrounding the cavernous tissue (corpus cavernosum and corpus spongiosum)?
Tunica albuginea
Describe the corpus cavernosum
Corpus cavernosum is distensible, erectile tissue which makes up the majority of the crura
What are the different structures formed from the corpus spongiosum?
The corpus spongiosum enlarges to form the bulb of the penis, a thin vascular sleeve around the penile urethra and then enlarges again to form the glans at the distal end of the corpus cavernosum
Why is the corpus spongiosum more delicate than the corpus cavernosum?
The corpus spongiosum has larger potential blood spaces making the tissue more distensible and thus more delicate
In which animal is the os penis the easiest to see on a radiograph?
Canine (dog)
What is the os penis?
The penile bone located at the distal end of the corpus cavernosum
What is the function of the ventral groove of the canine os penis?
The ventral groove allows the penile urethra to pass through the distal glans of the penis
What is the clinical significance of the ventral groove of the os penis?
Bladder stones tend to get stuck as they can’t pass through the urethra due to the occlusion of the ventral groove
What are the two areas of the canine glans?
Bulbus glandis and Pars longa glandis
Describe where the Bulbus glandis is located in the glans?
The Bulbus glandis is the proximal, expanded region of the glans secured firmly to the os penis
Describe where the Pars longa glandis is located in the glans?
The Pars longa glandis is the distal, cylindrical region of the glans forming the apex of the penis
In which of the glans is the urethral orifice found in the musculocavernous penis?
The urethral orifice is found at the distal end of the Pars longa glandis
What is the prepuce?
An invagination of the abdominal skin which covers the retracted penis
What are the two layers of the prepuce?
Lamina externa
Lamina interna
What is found in the lamina interna of the prepuce?
Smega-secreting preputial glands and lymphoid tissue
Where do the paired preputial muscles which twitch the skin of the prepuce arise from?
Cutaneous trunci muscle
Where is the preputial orifice found in the canine?
The preputial orifice is found caudal to the umbilicus
What is different in the prepuce of neonates?
In neonates, the prepuce and penis are fused together to prevent extrusion of the penis
What is phimosis?
Phimosis is the congenital narrowing of the preputial orifice preventing the extrusion of the penis
What is paraphimosis?
Paraphimosis is the inability to retract the penis
What are some of the causes of paraphimosis?
- Preputial orifice slightly too narrow
- Fur wrapping around the extruded penis creating a stricture
Why is it essential to correct paraphimosis quickly?
Paraphimosis can lead to impaired circulation to the penis
What are the four penile muscles?
Bulbospongiosus
Ischiocavernosus
Ischiourethralis
Retractor penis
Describe where the bulbospongiosus muscle runs within the penis
The bulbospongiosus is a continuation of the urethralis muscle and forms a muscular sleeve around the penile urethra
Describe where the ischiocavernosi muscles run within the penis
The ischiocavernosi are paired muscles which wrap around the crura and attach to the corpus cavernosum
Where does the ischiourethralis muscle arise from?
The ischiourethralis muscle arises from the ischium of the pelvis
Which of the penile muscles is particularly important in the erection process?
Ischiourethralis muscle
Where do the retractor penis muscles arise from?
The retractor penis muscles are paired muscles which arise from the caudal vertebrae, run lateral to the anal canal, along the perineum and attach to the penis at the prepuce
What is the function of the retractor penis muscles?
The function of the retractor penis muscles is to retain the penis within the prepuce
Out of the four penile muscles, which one is made up of mostly smooth muscle?
Retractor penis muscles
What are the nerves which innovate the penile muscles?
Motor, parasympathetic fibres arising from the pelvic nerves
What is the main artery which supplies the penis?
Internal pudendal artery
What is the main artery which supplies the prepuce?
External pudendal artery
What are the three branches of the internal pudendal artery?
Dorsal artery of the penis
Deep artery of the penis
Artery of the bulb
Which region of the penis is supplied by the dorsal artery of the penis?
Glans
Which region of the penis is supplied by the deep artery of the penis?
Corpus cavernosum
Which regions of the penis are supplied by the artery of the bulb?
Corpus spongiosum and the proximal region of the penis
What is the predominant venous drainage route for the penis?
Dorsal vein
Which vein does the dorsal vein drain into?
Internal pudendal vein
Which structures of the penis drain directly into the dorsal vein and into the internal pudendal vein?
Bulbus glandis, Corpus cavenosum, Bulb of the penis
Describe the possible routes of venous drainage for the Pars longa glandis
Pars longa glandis can either drain into the bulbus glandis and into the dorsal vein which drains into the internal pudendal vein, or the Pars longa glandis can drain directly into the external pudendal vein
What are the two structures which prevent venous reflux in the penis?
Valves and the Ischiourethralis ring
What vein is occluded by a fibrous Ischiourethralis ring during erection?
Dorsal vein
What is the first step of erection?
Increased arterial flow into the penis and occlusion of venous outflow due to the valves and the ischiourethralis ring, allowing arterial pressure to be reached in the cavernous spaces
What is the second step of erection?
Rhythmic contractions of the bulbospongiosus and ischiocavernosus muscles squeeze more blood into the cavernous spaces to reach above arterial pressure
Describe the ‘tie’ which occurs in dogs during copulation
Further occlusion of venous drainage causes the bulbus glandis to remain swollen, ‘tying’ the penis with the vulva to keep the semen secure within the female to increases the chances of fertilisation
What is the main function of the scrotum?
Thermoregulation of the testes to allow for optimal testicular production
What is the position of the scrotum in the dog and the cat?
Dog: intermediate position
Cat: perineal position
What are the external features of the scrotum
The external scrotum is a thin skin with copious sweat and sebaceous glands