testes & epididymis: nerve, vascular, lymph, clinical

Question 1

where do the testes and epididymis receive innervation from?

Answer 1

the testicular plexus

Question 2

what is the testicular plexus?

Answer 2

a network of nerves derived from the renal and aortic plexi

Question 3

aside from the testicular plexus, what else do the testes and epididymis receive in terms of innervation?

Answer 3

they receive autonomic and sensory fibres

Question 4

what is the arterial supply to the testes and epididymis via?

Answer 4

the paired testicular arteries

Question 5

where do the paired testicular arteries arise?

Answer 5

directly from the abdominal aorta

Question 6

where are the testicular arteries’ course of travel?

Answer 6

They descend down the abdomen, and pass into the scrotum via the inguinal canal, contained within the spermatic cord

Question 7

venous drainage of testicles and scrotum?

Answer 7

paired testicular veins

Question 8

what are the paired testicular veins formed from?

Answer 8

They are formed from the pampiniform plexus in the scrotum

Question 9

what is the pampiniform plexus in the scrotum?

Answer 9

a network of veins wrapped around the testicular artery

Question 10

where does the left testicular vein drain in the abdomen?

Answer 10

drains into the left renal vein

Question 11

where does the right testicular vein drain in the abdomen?

Answer 11

directly into the inferior vena cava

Question 12

what is the lymphatic drainage of the testes?

Answer 12

paired lumbar and para-aortic nodes, located at the L1 vertebral level

Question 13

where are the paired lumbar and para-aortic nodes located?

Answer 13

L1 vertebral level

Question 14

what is the lymphatic drainage of the scrotum?

Answer 14

into the nearby superficial inguinal nodes

Question 15

what is a feature of the scrotal sac?

Answer 15

very distensible

Question 16

what does distensibility of the scrotal sac mean?

Answer 16

it will enlarge in response to the size of its contents

Question 17

what are the most common causes of scrotal swelling?

Answer 17

Inguinal hernia
Hydrocoele
Haematocoele
Varicocoele
Epididymitis

Question 18

what is an inguinal hernia? (causes scrotal swelling)

Answer 18

contents of the abdominal cavity protrude into the scrotum, via the inguinal canal

Question 19

what is a hydrocoele? (causes scrotal swelling)

Answer 19

a collection of serous fluid within the tunica vaginalis

Question 20

what is a hydrocoele most commonly due to? (causes scrotal swelling)

Answer 20

failure of the processus vaginalis to close

Question 21

what is a haematocoele? (causes scrotal swelling)

Answer 21

a collection of blood in the tunica vaginalis

Question 22

how can a haematocoele be distinguished from a hydrocoele?

Answer 22

by transillumination

Question 23

what is transillumination? (distinguish between haematocoele and hydrocoele)

Answer 23

where a light is applied to the testicular swelling

Question 24

what happens in haematocoele during a transillumination?

Answer 24

Due to the dense nature of blood, light is unable to pass through

Question 25

what is Varicocoele?

Answer 25

gross dilation of the veins draining the testes

Question 26

which testicle is more affected in varicocoele?

Answer 26

The left testicle is more commonly affected

Question 27

why is the left testicle more affected in varicocoele?

Answer 27

the left testicular vein drains into a smaller vessel, the left renal vein, at a perpendicular angle

Question 28

what can a large varicocoele look and feel like?

Answer 28

a bag of worms within the scrotum

Question 29

what is Epididymitis?

Answer 29

inflammation of the epididymis

Question 30

causes of Epididymitis?

Answer 30

inflammation of the epididymis, usually caused by bacterial or viral infection