Anatomy of the Male and Female Pelvis and external genitalia Flashcards
What is the perineum?
The perineum is the area between the anus and scrotum/vulva.
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How does the scrotum form in men?
Labioscrotal swellings fuse across the midline forming the scrotum.
What is the processus vaginalis?
The processus vaginalis is a tubular extension of the peritoneum and paths the way for the testes and gubernaculum down into the testes.
What does the processus vaginalis form?
The inguinal canal and then tunica vaginalis around the testes.
What is the inguinal canal?
A passage from abdominal wall to the scrotum.
The gubernaculum pulls the testes down through the inguinal canal into the scrotum.
What is the tunica vaginalis?
A serous membrane around the testes
What does the spermatic cord do?
Drain the testes
What is the raphe?
The remnant line of fusion between the labioscrotal swelling.
What is the ductus deferens?
The ductus deferens is a muscular tube that carries sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct.
What is the site of sperm maturation?
The epididymis
Where is spermatazoa produced?
Seminiferous tubules
Explain the route of spermatazoa in the seminiferous vesicles to the epididymis.
- Spermatazoa is produced in the seminferous vesicles.
- Seminiferous tubules connect to the rete testis (a collecting chamber).
- Efferent ductules connect the rete testis with the epididymis.
- Spermatazoa are stored and mature in the epididymis until ejaculation.
What makes up the root of the penis?
Two crura and the bulb of the penis.
What are the crura?
Two arms that attach to the pubic arch.
What forms the body of the penis?
The combination of the two corpora cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum.
What are the two ligaments of the penis?
Fundiform ligament
Suspensory ligament
What is the tip of the penis covered by?
Glans penis (an expansion of the corpus spongiosum)
What does the frenulum of the penis do?
Connects the glans of the penis to the shaft on the underside.
What nerve controls erection?
Pudendal nerve
Explain the mechanism of erection.
- Arteries in erectile tissue dilate due to pelvic splanchnic nerves and pudendal nerves.
- Corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum become engorged with blood and expand.
- Veins become compressed against the surround fasica preventing the outflow of blood.
- Increase in penile length and diameter
What occurs post-climax in the penis?
Vasoconstriction, veins drain thus the penis returns to being flaccid.
What forms the male and female pelvic floor?
Pelvic diaphragm (levator ani and coccygeus)
What makes up the levator ani muscle?
Pubococcygeus
Puborectalis
Illiococcygeus
What does the levator ani do?
Prevents urinary incontinence
What does the puborectalis help to do?
Control defecation
What can happen to a womens levator ani?
It can be damaged in child birth, weakening the sphincter and leading to incontinence.
What is the vulva?
The external female genitalia
What is the vestibule of the vagina?
The vestibule of the vagina refers to the urethra and vaginal opening.
What do the labia minora join to form?
The frenulum of the clitoris
What are the two main muscles of the scrotum?
Cremaster muscle
Dartos muscle
What does the cremaster muscle do?
Suspends the muscle of the spermatic cord, enabling elevation of the scrotum, in cold conditions to regulate the temperature of the testes.
What does the dartos muscle of the testes do?
Forms the subcutaneous muscle of the scrotum. Contraction of the dartos muscle causes the scrotum to become tight and wrinkled reducing heat loss.
