testes & epididymis: nerve, vascular, lymph, clinical Flashcards
where do the testes and epididymis receive innervation from?
the testicular plexus
what is the testicular plexus?
a network of nerves derived from the renal and aortic plexi
aside from the testicular plexus, what else do the testes and epididymis receive in terms of innervation?
they receive autonomic and sensory fibres
what is the arterial supply to the testes and epididymis via?
the paired testicular arteries
where do the paired testicular arteries arise?
directly from the abdominal aorta
where are the testicular arteries’ course of travel?
They descend down the abdomen, and pass into the scrotum via the inguinal canal, contained within the spermatic cord
venous drainage of testicles and scrotum?
paired testicular veins
what are the paired testicular veins formed from?
They are formed from the pampiniform plexus in the scrotum
what is the pampiniform plexus in the scrotum?
a network of veins wrapped around the testicular artery
where does the left testicular vein drain in the abdomen?
drains into the left renal vein
where does the right testicular vein drain in the abdomen?
directly into the inferior vena cava
what is the lymphatic drainage of the testes?
paired lumbar and para-aortic nodes, located at the L1 vertebral level
where are the paired lumbar and para-aortic nodes located?
L1 vertebral level
what is the lymphatic drainage of the scrotum?
into the nearby superficial inguinal nodes
what is a feature of the scrotal sac?
very distensible
what does distensibility of the scrotal sac mean?
it will enlarge in response to the size of its contents
what are the most common causes of scrotal swelling?
Inguinal hernia Hydrocoele Haematocoele Varicocoele Epididymitis
what is an inguinal hernia? (causes scrotal swelling)
contents of the abdominal cavity protrude into the scrotum, via the inguinal canal
what is a hydrocoele? (causes scrotal swelling)
a collection of serous fluid within the tunica vaginalis
what is a hydrocoele most commonly due to? (causes scrotal swelling)
failure of the processus vaginalis to close
what is a haematocoele? (causes scrotal swelling)
a collection of blood in the tunica vaginalis
how can a haematocoele be distinguished from a hydrocoele?
by transillumination
what is transillumination? (distinguish between haematocoele and hydrocoele)
where a light is applied to the testicular swelling
what happens in haematocoele during a transillumination?
Due to the dense nature of blood, light is unable to pass through
