Sem 2 - B - Male pelvic contents and the anal triangle - Vas deferens, prostate, seminal vesicle, anal triangle/canal/sphincters Flashcards
The vas deferens is a muscular tube that helps with the transport of sperm Describe the route of the vas deferens?
The vas deferens is a muscular tube that transports sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct. It travels within the spermatic cord through the inguinal canal and rings before turning medially once it reaches the lateral pelvic wall before travelling downwards to join with the seminal gland ducts located posteriroly to the bladder - this union forms the ejaculatory duct
How are you able to distinguish between ureter and vas deferns when inside the pelvis? Where is the vas deferens in relation to the inferior epigastric vessels/
The ureter travel inferiorly from the kidneys and crosses the bifurcation of the common iliac arteries
Vas deferens comes from lateral pelvic wall crossing the external iliac artery
The vas deferens exits the deep inguinal ring, lateral to the inferior epigastric artery and then goes posterior to travel medially towards the seminal gland
Where does the ejaculatory duct drain into?
The ejaculatory duct drains sperm into the prostatic urethra located within the prostate gland
How many seminal vesicles are there? What is the size of the seminal vesicles? (coiled and uncoiled) Name two things the seminal vesicle adds to the sperm
There are two seminal vesicles (right + left)
The seminal vesicles are approximately 5cm and 10-15cm in length if uncoiled
The seminal vesicles the liquid component of sperm as well as fructose - this gives the sperm energy and allows the sperm to swim more efficiently
Restate the blood supply to the bladder What is the arterial supply to the seminal vescile?
Arterial supply to bladder
- 2x superior vesical arteries from each side
- One inferior vesical artery from each side (these are branches from the internal iliac artery)
Arterial supply to the seminal vesicle
- Inferior vesical artery and the prostatic artery (branch of inferior vesical artery)
What is the nervous innervation of the seminal vesicle?
The seminal vesicle innervation like much of the male genitalia is via sympathetic innervation
If feeling the end of the bladder, can push the fingers further down to feel the prostate gland in the male What does the prostate gland secrete into the urethra to add to the semen?
The prostate gland secretes proteolytic enzymes and acid phosphatase into the semen to prepare the sperm to meet and penetrate the egg
What is the blood supply to the prostate gland? What is the drainage of the prostate gland?
Prostate gland blood supply - prostatic arteries arise mainly from the internal pudendal artery, middle rectal artery, inferior vesical artery
The prostate gland drains into the prostatic venous plexus which drains into the internal iliac vein (this also drains the deep dorsal vein of the penis)
How is the internal iliac vein drianage related to the vertebral venous plexus?
Batson’s venous plexus is a valveless network connecting the deep pelvic veins - internal iliac vein mainly - and thoracic veins to the internal vertebral venous plexus and is therefore believed to provide a route for metastases to the vertebral column from primary cancers ie prostate
What is the neck of the bladder supported by in males and females?
In females the neck of the bladder is held in place by the pubovesical ligament
In males the neck of the bladder is held in place by the puboprostatic ligament
Puboprostatic ligament also helps to support the prostate gland
We have already discussed how the puboprostatic ligament supports the prostate gland Which muscle slings around the prostate gland to help support it?
The levator prostatae muscle - which is technically part of the levator ani slings around the prostate gland helping support it
The muscle outside the levator prostatae is the puborectalis which slings around the rectum helping maintain fecal continence
Where is the widest and narrowest parts of the urethra?
The widest part of the urethr is at the prostatic urethra The narrowest part of the urethra is as the urethra passes through the urogenital diaphragm - the membranous urethra
Why may an enlarged prostate affect micturition? What age group of males is prostatic hypertrophy commonly seen in?
If you have an enlarged prostate, it may be difficulty for the sphincter vesicae (involuntary and incomplete sphincter) to fully close around the neck of the bladder leading to problems with urination Prostatic hypertrophy is commonly seen in males aged > 50 years
What is the lymphatic drainage of the teste and epidiymis? What is the lymphatic drainage of the scrotum and skin below the umbilicus? What is the drainage of the prostate gland?
The testis and epididymis drain to the para-aortic nodes at root of testicular artery at L2
The scrotum and skin below the umbilicus drains to the superficial inguinal nodes
The prostate gland drains to the internal iliac nodes
What lies between the bladder and the pelvic floor? What sits behind the seminal vesicles?
Between the bladder and pelvic floor lies the prostate gland The rectum sits behind the seminal vesicle