Male Repro Anatomy Flashcards
What is the name of the fibrous capsule surrounding the testis?
Tunica albuginea
What is the name of the external covering of the testis? What are the two layers of this covering?
Tunica vaginalis
- parietal layer
- visceral layer
What are the functions of the epididymis?
Accumulation, storage and maturation of spermatozoa
What name is given to the microvilli in the epididymis epithelium?
Stercocelia
What forms the septa that separate the lobules in the testes?
Invaginations of tunica albuginea
Where are spermatozoa produced?
Seminiferous tubules of the testes
What cells make up the epithelium of the seminiferous tubules?
Sertoli cells; tall simple columnar cells, which span from the basement membrane to the lumen. They form pockets around the proliferating and differentiating germ cells. They are connected by tight junctions.
What cells are present in the interstitium between seminiferous tubules?
Leydig cells; form blood-testis barrier and produce testicular fluid
Describe the innervation of the testes
Innervated by the testicular plexus; derivative of renal and aortic plexi, contain autonomic and sensory fibres
At which vertebral level do the testicular arteries arise from the abdominal aorta?
L2
From what are the testicular veins derived?
The pampiniform plexus of the scrotum
Where do the testicular veins drain?
Left testicular vein drains into the left renal vein
Right testicular vein drains into the IVC
Describe the lymphatic drainage of the testes
Testes and epididymis drain into lumbar and para-aortic nodes at L1
Scrotum drains into the superficial inguinal nodes
What is the role of the pampiniform venous plexus?
Thermoregulation of the testes
Describe the muscular layers of the ductus deferens
- Inner longitudinal muscle layer
- Middle circular muscle layer
- Outer longitudinal muscle layer
What is the role of the seminal vesicles?
Produce seminal fluid; makes up a large proportion of semen.
Give four constituents of seminal fluid
Alkaline fluid
Fructose
Prostaglandins
Clotting factors
What sort of epithelium lines the seminal vesicles?
Pseudostratified tall columnar epithelium
Which arteries supply the seminal vesicles?
Inferior vesical artery
Internal pudendal artery
Middle rectal artery
Describe the internal structure of seminal vesicles
Honeycombed, lobular structure
What are corpora amylacea?
Thickened prostatic fluid that accumulates in the glands of the prostate, particularly in older men
What is the function of the prostate?
Secretes citric acid and proteolytic enzymes into the semen
Which part of the prostate encloses the ejaculatory duct?
Central zone of the prostate
Which zone of the prostate encloses the prostatic urethra?
Transitional zone
What group of nerves innervates the prostate?
Inferior hypogastric plexus
Describe the blood supply to the prostate
Prostatic arteries
Prostatic venous plexus
What is the function of the bulbourethral glands?
Produce mucus which acts as lubrication during sexual arousal
Where are the bulbourethral glands located?
Posterolateral to the membranous urethra, superior to the bulb of the penis
Where do the ducts of the bulbourethral glands open?
Into the proximal portion of the spongy urethra
Describe the innervation of the bulbourethral glands
SYmpathetic innervation from the prostatic plexus
Describe the histology of the bulbourethral glands
Compound tubulo-alveolar glands, lined by columnar epithelium
What type of epithelium lines the urethra?
Stratified columnar epithelium
How long is the male urethra?
15-20cm
What are the four anatomical parts of the male urethra?
Pre-prostatic (intramural)
Prostatic
Membranous
Spongy
Which structures does the membranous urethra pass through?
Pelvic floor
Deep perineal pouch
Which muscle surrounds the membranous urethra?
External anal sphincter
What are the three anatomical parts of the penis?
Root (most proximal)
Body
Glans (most distal)
What names are given to the erectile tissues present in the root of the penis?
Two crura (part of the corpa cavernosa) Bulb of penis (part of the corpus spongiosum)
Which two muscles make up part of the root of the penis?
Ischiocavernosus
Bulbospongiosus
What names are given to the erectile tissues of the body of the penis?
Two corpa cavernosa (continuation of the crura) Corpus spongiosum (continuation of the bulb of the penis)
Which part of the penis contains the spongy urethra?
Corpus spongiosum
Which erectile tissue forms the glans?
Corpus spongiosum (distal part)
Which two ligaments support the penis?
Suspensory ligament
Fundiform ligament
Which spinal nerve roots innervate the penis?
S2-S4
Which nerve supplies sensory and sympathetic innervation to the penis?
dorsal nerve of the penis
Which nerve supplies parasympathetic innervation to the penis? What is the outcome of this parasympathetic excitation?
Prostatic nerve plexus
Erection
Which arteries supply the penis? From which artery do these arise?
Dorsal arteries of the penis
Deep arteries of the penis
Bulbourethral artery
(All are branches of the internal pudendal nerve)
Which veins drain the penis? Where do they drain?
Deep dorsal vein of penis
Superficial dorsal veins
(All drain into the prostatic venous plexus)
