Male Anatomy Flashcards
What are the main parts of the male reproductive system?
Testes Penis Seminal vesicle Vas deferens Epididymis
What are the layers of the testis?
Tunica vaginalis
- parietal layer
- cavity
- visceral layer
Tunica albuginea
Seminiferous tubules
What is a hydrocele?
Cavity of the tunica vaginalis fills with fluid
What arteries supply the testis?
Testicular artery + branches of cremasteric
What veins drain the testis?
Pampiniform plexus -> testicular vein
What lymph nodes do the testis drain to?
Lumbar + para-aortic
What is the path of sperm through the testis?
Produced by Sertoli cells in seminiferous tubules
Pass through rete testis
Pass though efferent vesicles into head of epididymis
Passes through epididymis
Enters vas deferens
What are the main cell types in the seminiferous tubules?
Sertoli
Leydig
What is the role of Sertoli cells?
Support maturation of spermatozoa
Where are Sertoli cells found?
Lining the seminiferous tubules
What is the role of Leydig cells?
Produce testosterone
What are the layers of the spermatic cord?
External spermatic fascia
Cremasteric fascia
Internal spermatic fasica
What are the 3 arteries found in the spermatic cord?
Testicular artery - internal
Vas artery - internal
Cremasteric artery - cremaster
What 3 veins are found in the spermatic cord?
Pampiniform plexus - internal
Vas vein - internal
Cremasteric vein - cremaster
What 3 nerves are found in the spermatic cord?
Vas nerve - internal
Cremasteric nerve - cremaster
Ilioinguinal nerve - outside spermatic cord
What other structures are found in the spermatic cord?
Vas deferens
Lymph nodes
What is the action of the cremasteric muscle?
Controls height of testis - maintain temp
What are the layers of the scrotum?
Skin
Dartos muscle
Spermatic cord
What is the action of the dartos muscle?
Wrinkles skin to prevent heat loss
What arteries supply the scrotum?
Anterior scrotal - from external pudendal
Posterior scrotal - from internal pudendal
What veins drain the scrotum?
Anterior + posterior scrotal veins
Drain into external pudendal vein
What lymph nodes drain the scrotum?
Superficial inguinal nodes
What are the areas of the prostate?
Peripheral zone
Central zone
Transitional zone
Anterior region
What area of the prostate does cancer tend to occur?
Peripheral zone
What area of the prostate does BPH tend to affect?
Transitional zone
What artery supplies the prostate?
Prostatic artery - from internal iliac
What vein drains the prostate?
Prostatic venous plexus - drains into internal iliac vein
What are the different ejaculatory ducts?
Prostate
Seminal vesicle
Bulbourethral
What does the prostate produce?
Prostatic enzymes
What is the function of prostatic enzymes?
Break down clotting factor
Ensure semen remains liquid
What does the seminal vesicle produce?
Alkaline fluid
Fructose
Prostaglandins
What is the function of the alkaline fluid?
Neutralise male urethra + vagina
What is the function of the fructose?
Energy for spermatozoa
What is the function of prostaglandins?
Suppress female immune response
What is the bulbourethral gland also known as?
Cowper’s gland
What does the bulbourethral gland produce?
Glycoproteins
What is the function of glycoproteins?
Expel urine
Lubrication
What are the parts of the penis?
Root
- fixed in superficial perineal pouch
Body
- suspended from pubic symphysis
Glans
- expansion of corpus spongiosum
- contains external urethral sphincter
Where does the neurovascular bundle lie in the glans?
On the dorsal surface
What makes up the neurovascular bundle in the penis?
Dorsal nerve
Dorsal artery
Deep dorsal vein
What are the 2 tissue types in the penis?
Corpus spongiosum
Corpus cavernosum
Where does the corpus spongiosum lie?
Around urethra
Where does the corpus cavernosum lie?
Either side of the urethra
Which tissue is the erectile tissue?
Corpus cavernosum
What arteries supply the penis?
Dorsal artery
Cavernous artery
Bulbourethral artery
All originate from internal pudendal
What is the nerve supply to the penis?
S2-4
Pudendal = sensory + sympathetic
Periprostatic plexus = parasympathetic
What is the function of the penis?
Expulsion of urine
Deposition of sperm in female genital tract
How is an erection initiated?
Parasympathetic stimulation leads to vasodilation in penile arterioles and compression of veins results in erection
