Anatomy of Genitourinary and Renal Systems Flashcards
What is the inguinal canal?
Oblique passageway through muscles of anterior abdominal wall lying superior to medial half of inguinal ligament
Inguinal canal pathway
Starts at transversalis fascia (deep inguinal ring - an aperture in the transversalis fascia) deep and laterally
Finishes at external oblique aponeurosis (superficial inguinal ring - an aperture in the external oblique aponeurosis) superficially and medially
How long is the inguinal canal in adults?
Approx 5cm
Anterior border of inguinal canal
External oblique aponeurosis
Laterally only: internal oblique aponeurosis
Posterior border of inguinal canal
Transversalis fascia
Medially only: aponeurosis of internal oblique and transversus abdominis
Roof of inguinal canal
Transversalis fascia
Fibres of internal oblique and transversus abdominis
Floor of inguinal canal
Inguinal ligament
What is the inguinal ligament made up of?
Rolled up lower border of external oblique aponeurosis
Contents of inguinal canal in females
1) Round ligament of the uterus
2) Ilioinguinal nerve
3) Genital branch of genitofemoral nerve
In males, contents of inguinal canal are all contained within the …….. except from the …….. which runs in the canal but outside the ……
Spermatic cord
Ilioinguinal nerve
Spermatic cord
Contents of spermatic cord
2 nerves (genital branch of genitofemoral nerve and sympathetic nerve fibres)
3 arteries (testicular, cremasteric and artery to vas deferens)
3 fascial layers (external spermatic fascia, cremaster muscle and fascia, internal spermatic fascia)
4 other structures (pampiniform venous plexus, lymphatics, vas deferens, processus vaginalis)
Derivatives of the 3 fascial layers of the spermatic cord
External spermatic fascia derived from external oblique aponeurosis
Cremaster muscle and fascia derived from internal oblique muscle
Internal spermatic fascia derived from transversalis fascia
What is the processus vaginalis?
Evagination of peritoneum found in the spermatic cord
An inguinal hernia is…
Protrusion of abdominal contents through anterior abdominal wall into the inguinal canal
Indirect inguinal hernia
-Intra-abdominal contents forced through deep inguinal ring and into canal
-May even also be forced through superficial inguinal ring
-More common than direct
Direct inguinal hernia
-Intra-abdominal contents forced through posterior of inguinal canal directly through superficial inguinal ring
-Herniated content won’t pass through deep ring
-Less common but easier to reduce
Difference between other skin and scrotum skin
Scrotum skin is thin, wrinkled and more darkly pigmented
Between skin of scrotum is…
Thin layer of superficial fascia
Dartos (thin, involuntary muscle)
What separates the 2 testicles?
Extension of the superficial fascia forms a septum between the 2
What covers the testes?
The same 3 fascial layers covering the spermatic cord
External spermatic fascia, cremaster and internal spermatic fascia
Testes are partially covered by a sac derived from the peritoneum called…
The tunica vaginalis
The epididymis is a coiled tube laying on what border of each testis?
Posterior border
Where are spermatozoa formed and stored?
Formed in the testis
Stored in the epididymis
What carries sperm from epididymis?
Vas deferens