Male Reproductive System Flashcards
What is the journey of the sperm?
Testes
Rete testes (hylum)
Efferent ductules = remove water, concentrate sperm
Epididymus = sperm maturation
Vas deferens = muscular tube carrying sperm away
Prostate
Urethra
What is the tunica albuginea of the testes?
Holds together the seminiferous tubules together
What is the tunica vaginalis?
Outpost of peritoneal cavity that surrounds the testes as they descend
Layers = parietal, cavity, visceral
What is hydocoele?
Pathology = fluid between the tunica vaginalis
What is a haematocoele?
Blood between the tunica vaginalis
Which veins are dilated in a varicocoele, and what does it feel like on palpation?
Pampiniform venous plexus
Feels like a bag of worms
Why is a varicocoele almost always on the left?
Vein of the L connects to the larger outflowing vein at a R angle, which tends to fail
Valves that are meant to prevent backflow fail
Pressure in the upstream arteries creates a ‘nutcracker’ syndrome
What are the seminiferous tubules?
Start live solid, then become hollow tubes (in the testes)
Spermatogenesis occurs
What is the interstitium of the testes?
Tissue between the seminiferous tubules
Describe sertoli cells
Make up wall of seminiferous tubules
Nurture baby sperm - Remove excess cytoplasm from sperm
Outline the function of leydig cells?
Sit outside of the seminiferous tubules in the interstitial fluid
Androgen synthesis – testosterone
Fill of lipid droplets and sER
What is the blood supply of the testes?
As they descend they take they’re blood supply with them
L/R testicular artery from the abdominal aorta
Describe the venous drainage of the testes
R = to IVC
L = to L renal vein
Asymmetry due to great resistance in L due to extra vessel to IVC, congested = heavier = hang lower
Describe the lymphatic drainage of the testes
Drain lymph to the abdo aortic region
Scrotum drain to inguinal region
What is testicular torsion?
Testes twists on its blood supply
Veins then occluded = pressure in testes increase = occlude artery
Bell clapper deformity increases risk due to narrower areas of tunica vaginalis due to placement of epididymus
Treatment = fix testes to scrotal wall
What stops the testes from swapping sides?
Scrotal septum
What is the cremaster reflex?
Inner thigh stroked = sensory fibres of ilioinguinal N stimulated = activate motor fibres of genital branch of genitofemoral N = cremaster muscle contract = elevates testes
What is the gubernaculum?
Guides the testes (and ovaries) down to its final position
What are the abdominal wall muscles known as when they invaginate the descended testes?
Spermatic fascia
External oblique = external spermatic fascia
Internal oblique = cremasteric fascia
Transerversus abdominis = internal spermatic facia
What is the spermatic cord?
Provided neurovascular supply to the testes
What is contained within the spermatic cord?
3 facial layers = internal, cremasteric, external
3 arteries = testicular, to the vas, cremasteric
3 veins = testicular, to the vas, cremasteric
3 nerves = ilioinguinal (run alongside), cremasteric, sympathetic
The vas
Draw a cross section of the spermatic cord
In males how do the ureters and vas lie?
Ureter passes beneath the vas (water under the bridge)
What muscles is responsible for regulating how high the testes sit?
Cremaster muscle
What parts of the nervous system allow for erection and ejaculation?
P = erection S = ejaculation
What approach is a vasectomy performed?
Scrotal approach
cut and tie the vas in the spermatic cord
What are the accessory glands to the male reproductive tract?
Prostate
Seminal vesicles
Bulbourethral
What volumes make up the ejaculate?
Testes = 10%
Seminal vesicle fluid = 65%
Prostate = 25%
What is the role of the seminal vesicle?
Prod 65% of the ejaculate
Fluid = fructose rich, enzymes, prostaglandins
What is the role of the prostate gland?
Make alkaline secretion = neutralise acidic vaginal environment
Contains some smooth muscles that help expel semen during ejaculation
Conveys vas ducts
What is BPH – benign prostate hypertrophy?
Transitional zone enlarges = compression of urethra, eventually occlude
Happens regardless due to age
More androgens = larger prostate
Cancer of the prostate typically occurs where?
Occurs peripherally
Can be observed via rectal exam
What is the narrowest part of the urethra?
When the urethra passes through the pelvic floor muscles
During catheterisation you will feel resistance
What is the role of the corpus spongiosum?
Mass of spongy tissue surrounding the male urethra within the penis
Prevents the urethra from being pinched closed during erection
What is the corpus cavernosa?
Erectile tissue = engorged with blood
What is the tunica albuginea of the penis?
Fibrous envelope of the corpus cavernosa
Can rupture
Wheres does the blood supply for the penis come from?
External iliac artery
Can become blocked by atherosclerosis = impotence
What occurs when the penis get fractured?
Rupture of the tunica albuginea
If not fixed the erection won’t be straight
What is the inguinal canal?
Passages in the anterior abdominal wall which in men convey the spermatic cords and in women the round ligament of uterus
Which structures of the male repro tract contract in peristaltic waves?
Vas deferens
What valve stops the sperm going up into the bladder?
bladder neck muscle tightens to prevent ejaculate from entering the bladder as it passes from the prostate into the tube inside the urethra
Lable the anatomy
