Male Reproductive Anatomy - BGDA Flashcards
Where do the testes initially develop?
High in the abdominal cavity near the kidneys
What is the gubernaculum?
A process that the testes follow as they descend
- bring with them part of the aponeuroses and fascia of the abdominal muscles
What are the surfaces of the testes?
Superior and inferior end, medial and lateral surface, and posterior and anterior margin
Where are the testes and epidydmis located?
Within the scrotum. Supported by the spermatic cord and the smooth dartos muscle of the scrotum
What covers the posterior margin of the testes?
Epididymis and lower part of spermatic cord
What is the tunica albuginea?
Fibrous outer covering of the testes that sends septa into the testes and divides it into lobules
What do the lobules do in testes?
Converge to form the mediastinum tests, which is a fibrous tissue continuous with the tunica albuginea
What is contained within each lobule?
1-4 seminiferous tubules which converge to straight tubules as they approach the mediastinum
What is rete testis?
This is a convoluted network formed by the straight tubules in the mediastinum. From the rete testis, efferent ductules project to the head of the epididymis
What is the tunica vaginalis?
- Closed sac
- remnant of the foetal processus vaginalis
- has both visceral and parietal layers
- fluid filled space between them is the sac of the tunica vaginalis
- visceral layer covers the tunica albuginea + parts of the epididymis
- parietal layer lines the internal spermatic fascia
What is the scrotum?
A cutaneous, fibromuscular sac containing the testes, epididymis and lower parts of the spermatic cord
What divides the scrotum into two halves?
Scrotal raphe
What is the skin of the scrotum like?
Thin and pigmented and overlies the dartos muscle, which sends a septum between the testes.
What are the layers deep to the dartos muscle?
External spermatic fascia, cremasteric fascia and internal spermatic fascia.
What is the cremasteric muscle?
Longitudinal muscle associated with the cremasteric fascia - it is involved in thermoregulation of the testes as they need to be kept cooler than the body.
What is the spermatic cord?
Conduit between testes and abdominal cavity
- contains vessels - testicular, cremasteric arteries and the artery of ductus deferens, testicular vein: pampiniform venous plexus and lymph vessels
- nerves - genital branch of genitofemoral nerve and its cremasteric nerve branch - supplies the cremaster muscle, testicular sympathetic and ductus deferens autonomic plexuses
What is the inguinal canal?
A passage through the abominal wall containing deep and superficial inguinal rings
What passes through the inguinal canal?
Ductus deferens, testicular and other small arteries, testicular veins (pampiniform plexuses), testicular lymph vessels and somatic and autonomic nerves
Where is the deep inguinal ring?
In the midinguinal point - halfway between the ASIS and the midline of the body
Where is the superficial inguinal ring?
1cm superior and 1cm lateral to the pubic tubercle.
What is the ductus deferens?
A continuation of the tail of the epididymis
- starts off torturous and becomes straighter
What is the course of the ductus deferens?
Goes through the inguinal canal, over the lateral pelvic wall, crosses the ureter and passes between the posterior surface of the bladder and the upper pole of the seminal vesicle.
What happens at the ampulla of the ductus deferens?
Sperm can collect here prior to ejaculation
How does the ductus deferens form the ejaculatory ducts?
By entering the prostate and joining with the duct of the seminal vesicle to form the ejaculatory ducts.
What are the ejaculatory ducts?
Short and open into the prostatic urethra on the colliculus seminalis of the urethra crest
What are the seminal vesicles?
Coiled tubular glands that produce fructose, fibrinogen and prostaglandins.
- do not store sperm
- lie lateral to the ampulla of the ductus deferens, posterior to the base of the urinary bladder and anterior to the rectum