Male reproductive anatomy

Question 1

what plexus’ does the prostatic venous plexus join?

Answer 1

vesical plexus & pudendal

Question 2

what is the clinical significance of knowing that the prostatic venous plexus joins with the vesical and pudendal plexus’?

Answer 2

when they join they drain into the internal iliac veins
these are valveless veins which connect it to the vertebral venous plexus
tumour cells of the prostate can reach the vertebral venous plexus of the spine and cause bone metastasis

Question 3

what is the root value of the illioinguinal nerve?

Answer 3

L1

Question 4

where does the illioinguinal nerve enter the inguinal canal?

Answer 4

the superficial inguinal ring

Question 5

what does the illioinguinal nerve supply in a male?

Answer 5

skin at the roof of the penis

Question 6

what is the root value of the genitofemoral nerve?

Answer 6

L1-L2

Question 7

where does the genitofemoral nerve enter the inguinal canal?

Answer 7

deep inguinal ring

Question 8

what does the genitofemoral nerve supply in a male?

Answer 8

anterior scrotal skin

cremaster muscle

Question 9

what muscle is found in the inguinal and scrotum between the external and internal layers of spermatic fascia?

Answer 9

cremaster muscle

Question 10

what is the innervation of the cremaster muscle?

Answer 10

genitofemoral nerve (L1-L2)

Question 11

what is the clinical significance of the genitofemoral nerve?

Answer 11

genitofemoral nerve damage/entrapment can occur mostly due to appendectomy, c section and inguinal herniorrhaphy
causes chronic pain and paraesthesia in the distribution of the nerve

Question 12

what does the sympathetic fibres from L1 and L2 via the hypogastric plexus innervate?

Answer 12

vas deferens
seminal vesicles
prostate
epididymis

Question 13

what is the nerve supply of the prostate?

Answer 13

sympathetic fibres from L1 and L2 via hypogastric plexus

Question 14

what is the nerve supply of the vas deferens?

Answer 14

sympathetic fibres from L1 and L2 via hypogastric plexus

Question 15

what is the innervation of the parasympathetic fibres from S2, S2 and S4 via the hypogastric plexus?

Answer 15

erectile tissues

Question 16

in males, the gonads are located outwit the abdominal/pelvic region but is connected to the structures there, why?

Answer 16

to maintain temperature 2 degrees below body temperature

Question 17

what are the contents of the spermatic cord?

Answer 17

vas deferens
cremaster muscle
external spermatic artery

Question 18

what is the tough outer fibrous layer of the testes?

Answer 18

tunica vaginalis

Question 19

what are the layers of the inguinal canal?

Answer 19

tunica vaginalis (visceral & parietal)
internal spermatic fascia
cremaster muscle
external spermatic fascia 
scrotum

Question 20

what is present between the 2 layers of the tunica vaginalis?

Answer 20

cremaster muscle

Question 21

what is the blood supply of the testes?

Answer 21

testicular arteries

Question 22

from what artery do the testicular arteries arise and at what level?

Answer 22

abdominal aorta at L2

Question 23

what is a haematocele?

Answer 23

collection of blood within the tunica vaginalis

Question 24

what is a hydrocele?

Answer 24

collection of serous fluid within the tunica vaginalis

Question 25

what 2 structures does the testicular arteries cross before they travel through the inguinal canal?

Answer 25

ureter

external iliac artery

Question 26

what 2 lymph nodes receive drainage from the testes?

Answer 26

lumbar

para aortic

Question 27

what forms the ejaculatory duct?

Answer 27

vas defers + seminal vesical

Question 28

what secretions are produced but the prostate?

Answer 28

prostatic fluid which is proteolytic enzymes

these enzymes breakdown clotting factors in semen to keep it a fluid

Question 29

why might an enlargement of the prostate cause retention of urine?

Answer 29

compresses the urethra

Question 30

what are the bulbourethral glands?

Answer 30

2 small paired structures located in the urogenital diaphragms which empty into the spongy/penile urethra
they release mucus into the semen during ejaculation

Question 31

what does the bulbourethral glands secrete?

Answer 31

mucus to lubricate semen during ejaculation

Question 32

what is the lymph drainage of the prostate?

Answer 32

internal iliac and sacral nodes

Question 33

what is the lymph drainage of the seminal vesical?

Answer 33

external and internal iliac lymph nodes

Question 34

what is the lymph drainage of the scrotum?

Answer 34

superficial inguinal lymph nodes

Question 35

what is the lymph drainage of the penis?

Answer 35

superficial inguinal nodes?

Question 36

where is sperm produced?

Answer 36

seminiferous tubules

Question 37

what are the erectile tissues in males?

Answer 37

bulbospongiosus
bulbocavernosus
bulb of penis

Question 38

what is the lymph drainage of the vas deferens?

Answer 38

lumbar

drain with the testes

Question 39

what is the innervation and function of the cremaster muscle?

Answer 39

genitofemoral nerve (L1-L2)
temperature regulation of the testes by raising or lowering the testes

Question 40

when he testes descend through the inguinal canal, what layer of the abdominal wall becomes the cremaster muscle?

Answer 40

internal oblique muscles

Question 41

when the testes descend through the inguinal canal, what layers of the abdominal wall form the following parts of the testes;

• cremaster muscle ?
• external spermatic fascia ?
• internal spermatic fascia ?
• tunica vaginalis ?

Answer 41

cremaster muscle - internal oblique muscles

internal spermatic fascia - trasversali fascia

external spermatic fascia - external oblique muscles

tunica vaginalis - peritoneum