Urinary bladder

Question 1

Where is the urinary bladder located?

Answer 1

-Located in the pelvis between pubic symphysis and the rectum in males, and vagina in females
-Can be felt on abdominal palpation when distended

Question 2

Where does the vas deferens run, and what is its function?

Answer 2

-Epididymis in scrotum –> inguinal canal –> ejaculatory ducts

-During ejactulation smooth muscle in wall of vas contracts, causing peristalsis which propels sperm into urethra
-There it joins secretions from seminal vesicles, prostate and bulbourethral glands to form semen

Question 3

What role does the vas deferens play?

Answer 3

-Transfers sperm from epididymis to the ejaculatory ducts
-During ejaculation the smooth muscle in the vas deferens contracts to propel the sperm forward into the urethra

Question 4

What role do the seminal vesicles play?

Answer 4

-Contribute a large proportion of seminal fluid
-Form an out pocket in the wall of the ampulla of each vas deferens