Male Anatomy Flashcards
List the male external genitalia
Penis
Scrotum
List the male internal genitalia
Testis Seminiferous tubules Epididymis Vas deferens Seminal vesicles Ejaculatory duct Bulbourethral glands Prostate gland
What is the scrotum?
A cutaneous fibromuscular sac developed from labioscrotal folds. Holds the testes and other associated structures.
List the contents of the scrotum.
Testis
Epididymis
First part of spermatic cord
Describe the testis.
Paired reproductive glands that produce spermatozoa and male hormones.
It is surrounded by the tunica vaginalis (outer) and tunica albugenia (inner) and is organised into lobules by fibrous septae.
Describe the descent of the testis.
- The gonads develop within the mesonephric ridge.
- They are tethered to labioscrotal fold by the gubernaculum
- Relative position of the testes become more caudal as the body grows
- Musculo-Fascial layer evaginates into developing scrotum with peritoneal membrane, forming processus vaginalis
- Testes then descend and cross the inguinal canal.
- They exit the anterolateral abdominal wall.
- Above the testes, the fascia and peritoneum become closely apposed
What is the blood supply of the testis. Describe its course.
The testicular arteries (branch directly off abdominal aorta).
The testicular artery passes retroperitoneally and crosses over ureters at the inferior part of the external iliac artery. It travels through the inguinal canal and enters the spermatic cord.
Explain the venous drainage of the testes.
Testes drain into the pampiniform venous plexus, which in turn drains into the testicular vein. The right testicular vein drains into the IVC. The left testicular vein drains into the left renal vein and then into the IVC.
Describe the structure and function of the epididymis.
Is split into a head, body, and tail.
It’s main function is sperm transport, maturation and storage. Sperm undo structural maturation and become motile. They are stored in the tail segment until ejaculation.
Describe the structure and function of the vas deferens.
A straight muscular tube which rapidly transports sperm to prostatic urethra. It has autonomic innervation allowing rapid contractions of smooth muscle.
How is the processus vaginalis formed?
Musculofascial layer evaginates into the developing scrotum with the peritoneal membrane.
What is the spermatic cord formed from?
Fascial layers
Obliterated stem of processus vaginalis
Vas deferens
Testicular vessels and nerves
Where do the coverings of the spermatic cord come from?
They come from the anterolateral wall.
The external spermatic fascia coms from the aponeurosis of external oblique.
The cremasteric muscle and fascia comes from internal oblique and transversalis.
The internal spermatic fascia comes from the transversalis fascia.
What does the spermatic cord occupy?
Inguinal canal
Where do the seminal vesicles lie?
Posterior to the prostate, between the bladder and rectum
