The Male Reproductive System 2 Flashcards
What is the epididymis?
A long coiled tube that lies posterior to the testes, it’s so tightly compact that it appears as a solid.
How do the epithelial cells change from head to tail of the epididymis?
The epithelial cell height decreases from the head of the epididymis at the superior end of the testes to the rail of the epididymis.
What does the length of the epididymis act as?
It acts as storage and maturation site for spermatozoa.
What is the tail of the epididymis continuous with?
The vas deferens that passes into the spermatic cord.
What is the spermatic cord?
The spermatic cord suspends the testis in the scrotum and contains structures running to and from the testes.
What is the spermatic cord covered by?
It’s covered by the internal spermatic fascia, the cremasteric fascia and the external spermatic fascia.
Where are the fascia that cover the spermatic cord derived from?
The layers of the abdominal wall because the testes passes through then as it descends into the scrotum in early childhood.
What does the spermatic cord consist of?
The vas deferens, carrying sperm
Blood vessels, supplying and draining testicular blood
Sympathetic and somatic nerves
Lymphatic vessels
What is the vas deferens?
A continuation of the epididymis.
Where’s the vas deferens located?
It ascends in the spermatic cord into the abdominal cavity, loops over the ureter on its respective side and descends posterior to the urinary bladder.
How is the ejaculatory duct formed?
When the vas deferens combines with the duct of the seminal vesicle.
What are the seminal vesicles?
Obliquely placed elongated glands, about 5cm long.
Where do seminal vesicles lie?
They lie posteroinferior to the bladder, anterior to the rectum and inferior to the peritoneum.
What’s the function of the seminal vesicles?
They secrete an alkaline fluid that mixes with the sperm as they pass into the ejaculatory ducts.
What are ejaculatory ducts?
Short 2.5cm long tubes which arise from the combination of the vas deferens with the ducts of the seminal vesicles.
