The Male Reproductive System Flashcards
Route of seminal fluid
SEVEN UP
Seminiferous tubules
(Rete testis)
Epididymis
Vas deferens
(Ampulla and seminal vesicle adds)
Ejaculatory duct (and prostate adds)
Nothing
Urethra
Penis
What do you cut in vasectomy?
Vas deferens
What is hydrocele?
Swelling of scrotum
Tunica vaginalis cavity (between parietal and visceral layers) fills with fluid
What’s the name for the capsule around the testicals and penis?
Tunica albuginea
Connective tissue
What do sertoli cells do and where are they found?
In semimiferous tubules in testis
Prune developing sperms cytoplasm and keep germ cells nourished
What are leydig cells and where are they found?
Adjacent to seminiferous tubules in testis
Synthesise sex hormones e.g. testosterone in the presence of LH
What is the pampiniform plexus?
Begins in scrotum from mediastinum of testis and then descends along spermatic cord in front of vas deferens
Countercurrent exchange system - keep testis at 35dc for spermatogenesis - cools arteries adjacent (surrounds testicular artery)
Venous return for testis along with testicular vein
What is varicocele?
Abnormal enlargement of the pampiniform plexus can lead to infertility (valves not working causing backflow blood)
What is Bell-clapper deformity and what can it lead to?
When the testicals hang freely in the scrotum (are not attached) this can lead to testicular torsion/ twisting -> cut off blood supply -> necrosis
How do the testes descend down
The gubernaculum pulls the testes through the abdominal wall (evaginated) forming the spermatic fascia
Which muscles make up the spermatic fascia layers and what do they become?
External oblique -> external spermatic fascia
Internal oblique -> cremasteric fascia
Transversalis fascia -> internal spermatic fascia
What structures lie between cremasteric fascia and internal fascia in the spermatic cord?
Cremasteric artery, cremasteric vein and cremasteric nerve (genital branch of Genito-femoral)
Hat structures lie within the interval fascia in the spermatic cord?
Testicular artery, testicular vein, nerve to Vas, artery to vas, vein to vas, lymphatics and obliterated processus vaginalis
What normally causes urinary symptoms in men and which zone of the prostate?
Prostatic hyperplasia in the transitional zone, compresses the urethra
What zone is most likely to have cancers occurring in men’s prostate and why is this a problem?
The anterior zone, no urinary symptoms
Which structures help to produce seminal fluid? What are the percentages?
Seminal vesicle - 65% Prostate gland- 25% Bulbourethral - 1% Periurethral glands - 1% Epididymis and testicals - 10%
What should you do the penis when you want to catherterise and why?
Pull down gently and straighten to remove the 2 kinks in the urethra
What are the 3 major blocks of erectile tissue in the penis?
2 blocks of corpus cavemosum anterior (surrounded by tunica albuginea - holds erectile tissue in correct shape)
posterior and middle corpus spongiosum (urethra centre) (surrounded separately but connected by tunica albuginea)
How does erection occur?
Parasympathetic stimulation -> vasodilation in penile arterioles and compression of veins = erection
Terminated by sympathetic stimulation -> vasoconstriction arterioles
Ejaculation primarily sympathetic system
What can cause impotence?
Micro vascular disease to the internal pudendal artery
What is a fractured penis?
Rupture of the tunica albuginea, not treated -> fibrous scar and permanent bend
