Seminal vesicles Flashcards
What could a submarine possibly have in common with the seminal vesicles?
they’re both full of semen
ha. ha. ha…
where are seminal vesicles located?
in the pelvis
what are seminal vesicles linked with?
intimately linked with the vas deferens
function of seminal vesicles?
seminal vesicles spend their time chugging out most of the constituent ingredients of semen, providing around 70% of its final volume
what are the seminal vesicles?
a pair of small (5cm long) tubular glands
where are the seminal vesicles located?
between the bladder fundus and the rectum
what are the seminal vesicles separated from the rectum by?
by the rectovesicle pouch
males only have 1 pouch, females have 2
what is the most important anatomical relation of the seminal vesicle?
with the vas deferens
comes from testis
what does the vas deferens combine with the seminal vesicle to form?
form the ejaculatory duct
both join just above the prostate
where does the ejaculatory duct (vas deferens + seminal vesicle) drain into?
the prostatic urethra
internal structure of the seminal vesicles? (histology)
Internally the gland has a honeycombed, lobulated structure with a mucosa lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium
what are the pseudostratified columnar epithelium of the seminal vesicles influenced by?
highly influenced by testosterone, growing taller with higher levels
what are the pseudostratified columnar epithelium of the seminal vesicles responsible for producing?
seminal secretions
in response to testosterone
where are the Seminal glands derived from embryologically?
the mesonephric ducts, the precursor structure of male internal genitalia. These structures can easily be remembered using the handy acronym SEED
what else is derived from the mesonephric ducts embryologically?
Ejaculatory ducts, Epididymis and Ductus (vas) deferens
and seminal vesicles
what are the mesonephric ducts?
the precursor structure of male internal genitalia
how can you remember which structures are derived from the mesonephric duct?
SEED: Seminal vesicles Ejaculatory ducts (vas deferens + seminal vesicles) Epididymis Ductus (vas) deferens
what do the secretions from the seminal vesicles contain?
makes up 70% of semen: Alkaline fluid Fructose Prostaglandins Clotting factors
function of alkaline fluid within the seminal vesicles?
neutralises the acidity of the male urethra and vagina in order to facilitate the survival of spermatazoa
function of fructose within the seminal vesicles?
provides an energy source for spermatozoa - helps them keep on swimming
function of prostaglandins within the seminal vesicles?
have a role in suppressing the female immune response to foreign semen
function of clotting factors within the seminal vesicles?
designed to keep semen in the female reproductive tract post-ejaculation
what is the remaining volume of semen made up of?
testicular spermatozoa, prostatic secretions and mucus from the bulbourethral gland
where are the arteries to the seminal gland derived from?
the inferior vesicle, internal pudendal and middle rectal arteries
where do the inferior vesicle, internal pudendal and middle rectal arteries all stem from?
internal iliac artery
innervation to seminal vesicles?
same as all male genitalia: point + shoot (ANS)
sympathetic in origin
lymphatic drainage of seminal vesicles?
external and internal iliac lymph nodes
what can abscess formation in the seminal gland lead to?
can allow pus to enter the peritoneal cavity in the event of rupture
how can swollen seminal vesicle glands can be detected?
through digital rectal examination (DRE)
when can seminal glands be felt most easily?
through DRE, especially when the bladder is almost at full capacity
what can the palpability of the seminal vesicles through DRE allow?
can allow the glands to be massaged to release their secretions, which can be collected and used for the microscopy of certain STIs such as gonnorhoe
