Andrology Flashcards
What is the penile raphe?
Midline skin fold between glans penis and scrotum
What is the scrotal raphe?
Midline skin fold between penile raphe and perineal raphe
What is the perineal raphe?
Midline skin fold between scrotal raphe and anus
What are the contents of the spermatic cord?*
Ductus deferens, testicular A, artery of the ductus deferens, cremasteric A, pampiniform plexus, sympathetic nerve fibers and genital branch of genitofemoral N
What is the ductus deferens?
Muscular tube that conveys sperm
Continuation of the duct of the epididymis
Describe the course of the ductus deferens
Begins at the tail of the epididymis
Travels through the inguinal canal as part of the spermatic cord
Enters pelvis and swells to the ampulla of the ductus deferens
Joins with the ducts of the seminal vesicles posterior to the urinary bladder to form the ejaculatory ducts
What is the ampulla of the ductus deferens?
Part of the ductus deferens closest to the ejaculatory ducts
What is a deferenectomy/vasectomy?
The ligation and/or excision of the ductus deferens through an incision made in the superior scrotum thereby rendering the resultant ejaculant devoid of spermatozoa
What does the testicular A supply?
Testis and epididymis
What does the pampiniform plexus drain into?
Testicular V
What does the genital branch of the genitofemoral N innervate?
Cremaster M
What provides blood supply to the ductus deferens?
Artery of the ductus deferens from the inferior vesical A
What provides blood supply to the cremaster M?
Cremasteric A from the inferior epigastric A
What are the layers of the scrotum?*
Skin, dartos fascia and dartos M
What is dartos fascia?
Derived from membranous superficial fascia
Associated with a layer of smooth muscle that inserts onto the skin giving the scrotum a wrinkled appearance
What is Dartos M?
Smooth muscle fibers associated with Dartos fascia inserting onto the skin
What are the layers of the spermatic cord?
External spermatic fascia, cremasteric fascia and internal spermatic fascia
What is external spermatic fascia derived from?
EOM aponeurosis
What is cremasteric fascia derived from?
IOM aponeurosis
Contains cremaster muscle
Describe the cremaster M
Thin slips of muscle on the cremasteric fascia
Derived from the IOM
Reflexively draws the testis superiorly to produce an optimal temperature for spermatogenesis
Innervated by the genital branch of the genitofemoral N
What is the internal spermatic fascia derived from?
Transversalis fascia
What are the two layers of the testes?
Tunica vaginalis and albuginea
What is the tunica vaginalis?
Double layered closed peritoneal sac covering the testis and epididymis
Includes parietal and visceral layers
What is the parietal tunica vaginalis?
Adherent to internal spermatic fascia
Derived from parietal peritoneum
What is visceral tunica vaginalis?
Adherent to tunica albuginea
Derived from visceral peritoneum
Includes sinus of epididymis (slit between epididymis and testes)
What is the tunica albuginea?
Tough fibrous coat adherent to the testes
Describe the testis
Ovoid organ suspended from spermatic cord in the scrotum
Produces spermatozoa
Includes seminiferous tubules, straight tubule, rete testis, septum
What is the site of spermatozoa formation in the testis?
Seminiferous tubules
What transfers spermatozoa to the rete testis?
Straight tubule
What is the rete testis?
Sinusoidal spaces where spermatozoa enter the efferent ductules of the epididymis
What is the septum of the testis?
Separate between lobular formations of seminiferous and straight tubules
Describe the epididymis
Tightly packed convoluted duct of the epididymis
Rests on posterior testis and tapers off to a single deferent duct (ductus deferens)
Stores spermatozoa
Has head, body, tail and efferent ductules
What is the head of the epididymis?
Most superior and largest region
Formed by tightly coiled ends of several efferent ductules
Contains lobules (compartmentalizations of the coiled ends of the ductules)
What is the body of the epididymis?
Longest portion between the head and tail
Convoluted duct of the epididymis
What is the tail of the epididymis?
Tapering region between body and ductus deferens
What are efferent ductules?
Transfer spermatozoa from rete testis to head and body of epididymis
What is the deep fascia of the penis?
Surround the erectile tissue and deep vasculature
Made of deep perineal fascia
What structures are a part of the regional organization of the penis?
Root, body and glans penis
What is the root of the penis?
Attached
Includes bulb and crura of penis, bulbospongiosus and ischiocavernosus muscles
What is the body of the penis?
Free
Includes CT, paired corpora cavernosa, corpus spongiosum and spongy urethra
What is the glans penis?
Distal conical expansion
Continuous with corpus spongiosum proximally
Which structures are a part of the erectile tissue organization?
Ventral and dorsal cylinders of penile erectile tissue
What is the ventral cylinder of penile erectile tissue?
Central, unpaired, from proximal to distal: bulb of the penis, corpus spongiosum and glans penis
What is the bulb of the penis?
Erectile tissue at the root of the penis
Continuous with corpus spongiosum
What is the corpus spongiosum?
Ventrally positioned erectile tissue
Transmits spongy urethra
Describe the glans penis as part of the erectile tissue organization
Contains the corona of the glans (margin which projects proximally over the corpus cavernosa)
Neck of the glans (separation of the body and glans penis)
What is the dorsal cylinder of penile erectile tissue?
Paired, from proximal to distal: crura of the penis and corpora cavernosa
What is the crura of the penis?
Erectile tissue associated proximally with the corresponding inferior pubic ramus
Continuous with the two corpus cavernosa
Right and left crus
What is the corpus cavernosum?
Paired erectile tissue
Houses the paired deep A of the penis
What is the external urethra orifice?
Exit point of the urethra at the tip of the glans penis
What is the prepuce?
Skin and fascia of the penis that covers the glans penis to a variable extent
Contains the frenulum (ventrally located median fold)
What is the prostate gland?
Unpaired, largest accessory gland of the male reproductive system
Produces prostatic fluid which makes up 20% of seminal fluid
Described as having an anterior, posterior, two lateral and a middle lobe
Contains prostatic ducts
What are prostatic ducts?
Convey prostatic fluid from the parenchyma of the prostate gland to the prostatic sinus
Describe enlargement of the prostate gland
Occurs with increasing age and can impinge on the prostatic urethra impeding urination
Enlargement of the prostate gland and prostatic cancer can both be determined by a digital rectal exam
What are seminal vesicles?
Paired elongated structure between the urinary bladder and rectum
Secrete a fluid which becomes part of the ejaculatory semen
Has a duct (duct of the seminal vesicle)
What is the function of the duct of the seminal vesicle?
Conveys secretions of the seminal vesicle to the ejaculatory duct
What are the ejaculatory ducts?
Begin at the union of the ampulla of the ductus deferens and duct of the seminal vesicle near the neck of the bladder
Converge immediately proximal to the prostatic urethra
Empty into the prostatic urethra through paired opening on the seminal colliculus on either side of the prostatic utricle
What are the bulbourethral glands?
Pea sized glands positioned posterolateral to the membranous urethra
Produce a mucus like substance during sexual arousal
Have a duct
What is the function of the duct of the bulbourethral glands?
Conveys bulbourethral secretions to the intrabulbar fossa of the spongy urethra
