Lec 1 - The Male Reproductive System Flashcards
What happens in the lumen of the straight tubule?
Sperm Is released.
What happens in the seminiferous tubule?
Spermatogenesis
What separates the seminiferous tubules from one another?
separated from each other by fibrous tissue.
Where do the testes originate from?
The testes originate from the abdominal cavity.
They descend and puncture their way through the abdominal wall taking with them some peritoneum down into the scrotum.
What is a hydrocele?
This is when the tunica vaginalis fills with fluid.
What are the two major cell types in the testes?
- Sertoli cells - in the tubules.
- Leidig cells - In the interstitium.
Where does the lymph from scrotal skin drain?
drains into the inguinal region.
Where does the lymph from testes drain?
drains into the para-aortic lymph nodes.
Where does the testicular artery originate from?
originates from the abdominal aorta.
Where does the left testicular vein drain into?
drains into the left renal vein.
Where does the right testicular vein drain into?
drains into the Inferior Vena cava.
How is the Pampiniform plexus formed?
- the testicular vein forms a plexus around the testicular artery
- vine shaped
What does the pampiniform plexus allow?
- helps to transfer heart from hot arterial blood into cool venous blood.
- This is called counter current arrangement.
Why is testicular tortion very serious?
You can lose blood supply, meaning that the testes become necrotic and you lose them.
How do the testes become twisted?
- The testes are invaginated in the tunica vaginalis.
- The testes and visceral layer of the tunica can twist if there is a bell clapper deformity.
- venous drainage become occluded.
- This followed by more swelling, arterial occlusion and eventually the testes start to die.
Why can the testes not swap sides?
- This is because the septum in the midline (cremaster) stops them from swapping sides.
How do the testes evaginate the abdominal wall?
-They are pulled through by the gubernaculum, forming the spermatic fascia that surrounds the testis and its vessels.
How is the spermatic cord formed?
As the testes descend, they form the spermatic cord behind them.
What are the three fascial layers in the spermatic cord and where do they originate from?
- Internal spermatic fascia - deepest - from the transversus abdominis muscle.
- Cremasteric fascia - from internal oblique muscle.
- External spermatic fascia - from external oblique
What are the three arteries in the spermatic cord?
- testicular artery - supplies the testes with blood
- arteries to the vas deferens
- Cremasteric artery - supplies the cremasteric fascia, it has muscle fibres within it.
What are the three veins in the spermatic cord?
- testicular vein - load of veins surrounding the testicular artery in pampiniform plexus.
- vein to the vas deferens.
- Cremasteric vein - drains the cremaster muscle.
What are the three nerves in the spermatic cord?
- Cremasteric nerve - supplies the cremaster muscle.
- sympathetic nerve to the vas
- ilioinguinal nerve (sits outside the spermatic cord)
What does the cremasteric muscle do?
It regulates the height at which the testes sit.
Describe the pathway of the ureter in females and males?
females - the ureter passes under the uterine artery
males - passes beneath the ductus deferens, water under the bridge.
What occurs in the seminal vesicle?
- substrate is added to the products of the vas (ductus deferens)
What are the secretions of the ejaculatory duct and proportions?
- 10% from the testes - epididymis and testicle
- 65% from the seminal vesicle
- 25% from the prostate gland
Where do prostate cancers tend to be?
Tend to be in the peripheral zone.
Where does BPH act best?
BPH tends to affect the transitional zone - the portion of the prostate that surrounds the urethra.
What are functions of the penis?
- expulsion of urine via urethra.
- deposition of sperm in female genital tract.
- Removal of competitors sperm
What is the structure of the penis?
The penis is a hydraulic device that is filled with lots of erectile tissue.
- The corpus cavernosum get firm during an erection.
- The corpus spongiosum has smaller pressure.
How is an erection and ejaculation brought about?
- Vasodilation in penile arterioles and compression of veins results in erection.
- Vasodilation is initiated by parasympathetic stimulation.
- Erection is terminated by vasoconstriction (sympathetic)
- Ejaculation is a complex process primarily orchestrated by the sympathetic system.
Why does penis enlargement operations not work?
Because the penis is anchored by bone.
How are the penis and clitoris similar?
They have the same attachments.
clitoris is basically a mini penis without a urethra running through it.
What are the two types of fibres in the tunica albuginea of the penis and what do they do?
- circular and longitudinal.
- They work together to give the penis its cylindrical shape during erection.
How are the collagen fibres in the tunica albuginea arranged?
They are arranged at right angles to each other (one circumferential, one parallel to the penile long axis).
