The Male Reproductive System

Question 1

The male reproductive organs can be grouped into 4 categories:

Answer 1

1) The External Genitalia
2) The Gonads – Where gametes or sex cells are produced and also the site for the production of male sex hormones
3) The Tube System – For transporting the sperm from the gonads
4) The Accessory Glands – These support the sperm and lubricate the copulatory organs.

Question 2

which organs comprise the male reproductive system?

Answer 2

• testis
• vas deferens or ductus deferens
• seminal glands
• prostate
• epididymis
• bulbourethral glands

Question 3

label male repro system

Answer 3

Question 4

During embryological development the testis move from the…

Answer 4

internal abdominal cavity, through the anterior abdominal wall, and lie as part of the external genitalia in the scrotum.

Question 5

what is the name of the canal that the testis pass through during development?
what are the deep and superficial openings of this canal called?

Answer 5

Inguinal canal
- deep and superficial inguinal rings.

Question 6

Answer 6

Question 7

What are the main contents of the spermatic cord?

Answer 7

• blood vessels: testicular artery, cremasteric artery and vein, artery to vas deferens, pampiniform plexus of testicular veins.
• nerves: genital branch of genitofemoral nerve, autonomic nerves.
• vas deferens
• processus vaginalis
• lymph vessels

Question 8

which nerve supplies the cremaster muscle?

Answer 8

genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve

Question 9

what is the tough outer fibrous layer of the testis called?

Answer 9

tunica albuginea

Question 10

what are the two layers of the tunica vaginalis called?

Answer 10

visceral tunic and parietal tunic

Question 11

what material is present between the two layers of tunica vaginalis?

Answer 11

peritoneal fluid

Question 12

what is a hydrocoele?
what causes this?

Answer 12

a collection of serous fluid within the tunica vaginalis. The congenital form is most commonly due to a failure of the processus vaginalis to close. Adult hydrocele is often associated with inflammation or trauma and rarely, testicular tumors.

Question 13

what is a haematocoele?
what causes this?

Answer 13

• a collection of blood in the tunica vaginalis. It can be distinguished from a hydrocoele by transillumination (where a light is applied to the testicular swelling). Due to the dense nature of blood, light is unable to pass through.
• most common causes: testicular rupture, torsion or tear in pampniform plexus veins (trauma).

Question 14

what is the main blood supply to the testis?

Answer 14

testicular arteries, branch of abdominal aorta

Question 15

at which vertebral level do the testicular arteries arise from the abdominal aorta?

Answer 15

L2-3

Question 16

The testicular arteries travel retroperitoneally and cross two important structures near the pelvic brim before they travel through the inguinal canal. Name these that they cross.

Answer 16

1. ureter
2. genitofemoral nerve

Question 17

what is the term used for the 8-12 anastomosing veins associated with the testes?

Answer 17

pampiniform plexus

Question 18

what is the function of the pampiniform plexus?

Answer 18

• venous drainage of the testes.
• acts as a heat exchanger, cooling the arterial blood before it reaches the testes, by wrapping around the testicular artery.

Question 19

the right testicular vein drains into

Answer 19

IVC

Question 20

the left testicular vein drains into

Answer 20

left renal vein

Question 21

what is a varicocele?
what causes it?

Answer 21

• gross dilation of the veins draining the testes.
• can look and feel like a ‘bag of worms’
• caused by a malfunction of the valves in the veins of the scrotum that prevent blood from flowing properly, causes it to pool.

Question 22

what is testicular torsion?

Answer 22

• an emergency presentation.
• With this the blood supply has been completely cut off from one of the testis, therefore it is at risk of necrosis within a few hours.
• This requires urgent resolution through an operation and internal fixation (orchidopexy) of the testis to the scrotum to prevent this happening in the future

Question 23

which two lymph node groups receive lymph from the testis?

Answer 23

lumbar and para-aortic nodes

Question 24

what is the lymphatic drainage of the prostate?

Answer 24

internal iliac and sacral nodes

Question 25

Answer 25

Question 26

fucntion of epididymis

Answer 26

• attached to body of the testis, and stores sperm that is produced by the testis.

Question 27

describe vas deferens

Answer 27

This is a muscular tube which arises from the tail of the epididymis, traverses the inguinal canal and enters the pelvis by crossing over the external iliac vessels. It terminates by joining the duct of the seminal gland to form the ejaculatory duct.
- The vas deferens transports mature sperm to the urethra in preparation for ejaculation.

Question 28

describe seminal glands (vesicles)

Answer 28

These paired structures are located on either side of the posterior surface of the bladder, note their relation to the ureter, the vas deferens and the prostate gland.
Produces semen.

Question 29

describe the prostate gland and its function

Answer 29

The prostate gland is fused to the inferior part (neck) of the bladder and surrounds the prostatic urethra.
It produces prostatic secretions that contain zinc, citric acid, calcium, phosphates, and other enzymes essential for sperm health and motility. At ejaculation, semen passes through the ejaculatory ducts and mixes with secretions from the prostate gland

Question 30

Answer 30

Question 31

what are Bublourethral (Cowper’s) glands?
what secretions are produced by these glands?

Answer 31

• small, paired structures located in the urogenital diaphragm which empty into the penile/spongy uretha.
• produces pre-ejaculate.

Question 32

Answer 32