Glands Of Males

Question 1

Where are the seminal vesicles located?

Answer 1

Between bladder fundus and rectum

Question 2

What separates the seminal vesicles from the rectum?

Answer 2

Retrovesicle pouch

Question 3

Epithelium of the seminal vesicles?

Answer 3

Pseudostratified columnar

Question 4

Which structures are derived from the mesonephric ducts?

Answer 4

SEED
Seminal vesicles
Epididymis
Ejaculatory ducts
Ductus deferens

Question 5

What do the seminal vesicles produce?

Answer 5

Make up 70% of the total volume of semen

Alkaline fluid: neutralises the acidity of the urethra and vagina to facilitate survival of spermatozoa

Prostaglandins: suppress female immune response to foreign semen

Clotting factors: keep semen in female repro tract post-ejaculation

Question 6

Vasculature of the seminal vesicles?

Answer 6

Arteries to seminal gland, derived from the inferior vesicle, internal pudendal artery, middle rectal arteries
All from internal iliac artery

Question 7

Autonomic innervation of the seminal vesicles?

Answer 7

Sympathetic

Question 8

Lymphatic drainage of the seminal vesicles?

Answer 8

External and internal iliac lymph nodes

Question 9

What clinical problem can you get with seminal vesicles?

Answer 9

Abscess formation which can allow pus to enter the peritoneal cavity in the event of rupture
Swollen glands felt through DRE

Question 10

How can seminal vesicles be examined/checked?

Answer 10

Felt most easily through DRE, especially with a full bladder
Palpability can allow glands to be massaged to release their secretions - collect d and used for microscopy of certain STOs eg gonorrhoea

Question 11

Function of the prostate gland?

Answer 11

Secretes proteolytic enzymes into the semen which breakdown clotting factors in the ejaculate
Allows the semen to stay fluid and move through female repro tract

Question 12

Location of the prostate?

Answer 12

Inferior to neck of the bladder and superiorly to external urethral sphincter
Levator ani muscle lies inferolaterally to it
Posterior to the prostate is the ampulla of the rectum - therefore have a DRE to examine it

Question 13

Path of the proteolytic enzymes produced by the prostate?

Answer 13

Exit via prostatic ducts into prostatic portion of the urethra
Secreted into semen immediately before ejaculation

Question 14

What divides the prostate into lobes and what is each called?

Answer 14

Urethra and ejaculatory ducts
Inferoposterior
Superomedial
Anteromedial

Question 15

PICTURE What are the clinical divisions of the prostate?

Answer 15

Central zone - surround ejaculatory ducts, embryo logically derived from Wolffian duct

Transitional zone - central, surround the urethra, embryology ally derived from urogenital sinus

Peripheral zone - makes up the main body of the gland and located posteriorly, embryologically from UG sinus

Fibromuscular stroma - situated anteriorly, merges with the tissue of the urogenital diaphragm

Question 16

Vascular supply of the prostate?

Answer 16

Prostatic arteries from internal iliac arteries
Internal pudendal and middle rectal arteries

Prostatic venous plexus into internal iliac veins
Batson venous plexus to internal vertebral venous plexus

Question 17

Innervation of the prostate?

Answer 17

Sympathetic, parasympathetic and sensory
From inferior hypogastric plexus
Smooth muscle innervated by sympathetic fibres in ejaculation (point and shoot)

Question 18

What is benign prostatic hyperplasia? (BPH)

Answer 18

Increase in size of the prostate without malignancy, more common with age
Usually due to enlargement of the transitional zone

Question 19

Symptoms with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic carcinoma?

Answer 19

Compresses bladder and urethra causing urinary frequency, urgency and difficulty initiating urination

Question 20

In prostatic carcinoma, where do malignant cells usually arise from?

Answer 20

The peripheral zones

Question 21

What is found on a DRE with prostatic carcinoma?

Answer 21

Hard irregular gland

Question 22

How do metastases spread in prostatic carcinoma?

Answer 22

Via Batson venous plexus to vertebral bodies

Question 23

What type of glands are the seminal vesicles?

Answer 23

Tubular

Question 24

Where are the bulbourethral glands located?

Answer 24

Pea shaped exocrine glands
Posterolateral to membranous urethra
Enclosed within fibres of external urethral sphincter and superior to bulb of penis

Question 25

Purpose of the bulbourethral glands?

Answer 25

Produce a lubricating mucus secretion - alkaline

Question 26

Where do the ducts of the bulbourethral gland go?

Answer 26

Pierce the perineal membrane alongside the membranous urethra
Open into the proximal portion of the spongy urethra

Question 27

Why type of glands are the bulbourethral glands?

Answer 27

Compound tubule-alveolar glands with columnar epithelium

Question 28

Where are the bulbourethral glands derived from?

Answer 28

Urogenital sinus

Question 29

Vasculature of the bulbourethral glands?

Answer 29

Derived from arteries to the bulb of the penis

Question 30

Innervation of the bulbourethral glands?

Answer 30

Sympathetic - prostatic plexus

Question 31

Lymphatic drainage of bulbourethral glands?

Answer 31

Internal and external iliac lymph nodes