Scrotum & Prostate Flashcards
What does the prostate do?
- Secretes alkaline fluid that provides a mode of transportation for sperm
- Produces majority of ejaculatory fluid volume
- Prostatic glandular tissue produces prostate specific antigen (PSA)
What is the upper limit of PSA?
4ng/mL
What regulates prostate growth/function?
Testosterone & dihydrotestosterone
What does the prostate develop from?
from the Wolffian Duct during embryology at week 10 of gestation
What 5 lobes make up the prostate?
- Anterior
- Middle
- Posterior
- 2 Lateral
What are the seminal vesicles? Where are they located?
- Two outpouchings of the vas deferens
- Between bladder and rectum
- Superior and posterior to prostate
The prostate is ________ to seminal vesicles and bladder.
Inferior
The prostate is ______ to the rectum.
Anterior
The prostate is ______ to pubic bone.
Posterior
The seminal vesicles are _____ to the prostate
Superior
The seminal vesicles are ______ to the bladder
Inferior
What is the size of the prostate?
3.8 x 4.0 x 3.0 cm
What is the sono app of the prostate?
Mildly heterogenous with medium level echogenicity
How is the prostate visualized most accurately?
Transrectally
What is the prep for a prostate US?
32-40 oz water 1 hr prior to exam
What position is transrectal ultrasound done in?
Sims
What are indications for a prostate ultrasound?
- benign prostatic hypertrophy
- urinary symptoms
- abnormal lab values
- abnormal physical examination
- pain
- hematospermia
- oligospermia
- infertility
What are the functions of the scrotum?
Containment, protection, heat regulation
What is the function of the testicles?
Produce sperm
What is the purpose of the epididymis?
Stores sperm
What is the function of the vas deferens?
Transports sperm from epididymis to prostatic urethra
What is the function of the seminal vesicles?
Produce fructose rich fluid
How thick should the scrotum tissue be?
< 3 mm
What is the tunica vaginalis?
Extension of peritoneum into the scrotum chambers
What does the inner/visceral layer cover?
Testicle and epididymis
What does the outer/parietal layer of the tunica vaginalis line?
The scrotal chamber
Where do hydroceles form?
In between the inner and outer layers of the tunica vaginalis
What is dartos?
A fibrous muscular layer that lies beneath the scrotal skin, separates scrotum into 2 chambers
What is the division of the scrotum called?
Scrotal raphe
What is contained within the scrotum?
Testes, epididymis, prox vas deferens
What is the fibrous capsule surrounding the testicle?
Tunica albuginea
What forms the mediastinum testes? What does it do?
Septations from the tunica albuginea, it separates the testicles into lobules
The mediastinum extends ______ within the testicle
Longitudinally
Where are the seminiferous tubules?
In the wedge shaped compartments formed by the septations from the tunica albuginea
What do the seminiferous tubules converge to form?
Tubuli recti
Tubuli recti form the _______ when they enter the mediastinum testis
Rete testis
What are the rete testis?
A network of tubules at the hilum that carry sperm to efferent ductules
What do the efferent ductules do?
Carry seminal fluid from rete testis to epididymis
How large is the epididymis?
6-7 cm
Where is the epididymis located?
Begins superiorly and travels posterolaterally to testis
What segments is the epididymis divided into?
Head, body, tail
What is the width of the epididymis head?
6-15 mm
How many efferent ductules are in the epididymis? What do they form?
10-15, form the ductus epididymis
Where are the seminal vesicles located?
Posterior to bladder and superior to prostate
What do the seminal vesicles join with and what does it form?
Vas deferens, together they form ejaculatory duct
Where does the ejaculatory duct travel to?
Through the prostate, sperm meets with fluid and empties into prostatic urethra
The ductus epididymis becomes the _______ after leaving the epi
Vas deferens
What arteries supply the testicles?
- deferential artery
- cremasteric artery
- right and left testicular arteries
Where do the right and left testicular arteries originate?
From the abdominal aorta below the RAs
What drains the testicles?
Pampiniform plexus
What does the right testicular vein drain into? Left?
IVC, left renal vein
What are the avg adult testicle measurements?
Sag 3-5 cm
AP 3 cm
Trv 2-4 cm
How should testes appear on US?
- homogenous
- low level echoes
- bilaterally isoechoic
- visualization of proper blood flow
How should epididymis appear on US?
- isoechoic to each other
- slightly hypo to testes
- head should be largest portion
When a varicocele is suspected what technique should be used?
Valsalva
What are indications for a scrotal US?
- pain
- enlargement
- palpable mass
- undescended testicles
- follow up of orchiectomy or tumor
- trauma
- male infertility