PP3 - Male Genitalia (Clinical)

Question 1

what is hydrocele?

Answer 1

an abnormal accumulation of serous fluid, leads to swelling and discomfort

Question 2

where does fluid accumulate in a hydrocele of the testes?

Answer 2

fluid accumulates within the cavity of the tunica vaginalis surrounding the testes

Question 3

common causes of hydrocele in the testes?

Answer 3

excessive secretion of serous fluid by the visceral layer of the tunica vaginalis - may be due to inflammation, injury, other pathological changes

Question 4

what differentiates a hydrocele of the spermatic cord from one of the testes?

Answer 4

hydrocele of the spermatic cord occurs when fluid accumulates within a persistent processus vaginalis that has not fully closed

hydrocele of the testes involves fluid accumulation around the testes in the tunica vaginalis

Question 5

where does fluid accumulate in a hydrocele of the spermatic cord?

Answer 5

fluid accumulates in the processus vaginalis if it remains partly open after foetal development

Question 6

what test is used to diagnose a hydrocele? how does it work?

Answer 6

transillumination test

light is shone through the scrotal sac - if if the light passes through it indicates the presence of serous fluid & confirms hydrocele

Question 7

what is testicular torsion?

Answer 7

twisting of the testes and spermatic cord

Question 8

why is testicular torsion a medical emergency?

Answer 8

twisting of the testes and spermatic cord can cut off blood supply and potentially lead to ischaemia

requires urgent treatment (within 24 hours) to prevent tissue damage

Question 9

what are the primary treatments for testicular torsion?

Answer 9

manual rotation to untwist the testicle
surgical rotation to attach the testicle to the scrotum and prevent further twisting

Question 10

what is the success rate of saving the testes with treatment within 6 hours of testicular torsion onset?

Answer 10

90% chance of saving the testes

Question 11

what is varicocele?

Answer 11

the dilation and twisting of the pampiniform plexus veins

Question 12

characteristic appearance of varicocele?

Answer 12

‘bag of works’ appearance around the testes

Question 13

why is varicocele more commonly found on the left side?

Answer 13

the left testicular vein drains at a right angle into the left renal vein - causes slower blood flow and higher venous pressure

makes varicocele more likely on the left side

Question 14

in transurethral catheterization, how does the procedure differ for biological females compared to males?

Answer 14

females:
- urethra is shorter and straighter
- the external urethral meatus is located by moving posteriorly from the clitoris, making it a short and straight passage

males:
- natural bends of the penis require holding it at a right angle to the abdomen (holding it straight)

Question 15

considerations during transurethral catheterisation for biological females?

Answer 15

menopausal changes may make the the tissue around the urethra more delicate and the urethral meatus harder to locate

Question 16

potential complications of transurethral catheterization in biological males?

Answer 16

difficulty due to benign prostatic hyperplasia - enlarged prostate can obstruct the urethra

risk of creating a ‘false passage’ from excessive force

potential damage to the membranous urethra - it’s the least dilatable part of the urethra

Question 17

why is it important to insert a catheter gently during transurethral catheterization?

Answer 17

helps prevent trauma to the urethra and avoids creating a false passage, especially in the less dilatable membranous urethra