Anatomy Practical 2 Flashcards
Where do the testes originally develop?
- high on posterior abdominal wall
- descend before birth through inguinal canal into anterior abdominal wall into scrotum
- carry vessels, ducts (vas deferens), nerves, lymphatics with them
Where is the lymph drainage of the testes?
Para-aortic lymph nodes in abdomen
What does the spermatic cord connect?
- pouch in scrotum and abdominal wall
What is the tunica vaginalis?
Covers sides and anterior aspects of testis
- closed sac of peritoneum
- normally connection closes after testicular descent = fibrous remnant
What is the tunica albuginea?
- interstitial tissue surrounding testis
What produces the spermatozoa?
Seminiferous tubules of testes
- project to rete testis
Features of epididymis
- single long coiled duct
- along side of testes
- efferent ductules/head
- true epididymis/body and tail
- spermatozoa acquire ability to move/stored here until ejaculation
- end continuous with vas deferens
Features of ductus deferens
- long muscular duct
- transports spermatozoa from tail of epididymis to ejaculatory duct
- ascends as part of spermatic cord
- through inguinal canal
- behind bladder to prostate
Features of inguinal canal
- area of junction between anterior abdominal wall and thigh
- weakened from development and diverticulum changes
How does the processus vaginalis form?
- from initial high testis position in posterior abdominal wall passes through: - transversalis fascia - musculature of internal oblique - aponeurosis of external oblique (each gives covering layer)
Why is a testes covering from the transversus abdominal muscle not acquired?
- outpouching passes under arching fibres of the muscle
What is the gubernaculum?
Extends from inferior border of developing gonads to labioscrotal swellings
- allows descent of testes into scrotum
What happens if the processus vaginalis does not obliterate?
- indicates end of development and happens when testes fully descended
- if not: potential weakness exists and inguinal hernia may develop
What are the structures in the spermatic cord?
- ductus deferens
- artery to ductus deferens
- testicular artery
- pampiniform plexus of veins
- cremasteric artery and vein
- genital branch of genitofemoral nerve to cremaster muscle
- sympathetic and visceral afferent nerve fibres
- lymphatics
- remnants of processes vaginalis
What is the inguinal canal?
- slit like passage above and parallel to inguinal ligament
- begins at DIR ends at SIR
- occupied by spermatic cord and ilio-inguinal nerve from lumbar plexus
What fascia enclose the spermatic cord content below the SIR?
- internal spermatic fascia (deepest layer arising from transversalis fascia, margins attached to DIR)
- cremasteric fascia with cremaster muscle (from internal oblique)
- external spermatic fascia (most superficial layer covering spermatic cord, arising from aponeurosis of external oblique, attached to SIR margins)