Anatomy of the Male Reproductive Tract Flashcards Preview

ESA 4 - Reproductive System > Anatomy of the Male Reproductive Tract > Flashcards

Flashcards in Anatomy of the Male Reproductive Tract Deck (93)
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1
Q

What is the male reproductive tract in anatomical relationship with?

A

The urinary tract

2
Q

What is the scrotum?

A

A cutaneous sac

3
Q

What does the scrotum contain?

A
  • Testis
  • Epididymis
  • First part of spermatic cord
4
Q

What is the testis surrounded by?

A

The tunica vaginalis

5
Q

What is the tunica vaginalis derived from?

A

Processus vaginalis

6
Q

What is testis enclosed by?

A

Tunica albuginea

7
Q

Are the testes enclosed within the peritoneal membrane?

A

No, sit behin it enveloped in an outpouching

8
Q

What is the testis organised into?

A

Lobules

9
Q

How is the testis organised into lobules?

A

By fibrous septae

10
Q

What is found within the lobules of the testis?

A

Functional tissue of the testis

11
Q

What happens to the testes during development?

A

They descend

12
Q

What are the testes developed from?

A

Labioscrotal folds

13
Q

What are the labio scrotal folds derived from?

A

Outpouchings of the anterolateral abdominal wall

14
Q

Where do the gonads develop?

A

Within the mesonephric ridge, up in the abdomen in association with the kidneys

15
Q

What course do the testes take during their descent?

A
  • Descend through the abdomen, behind the peritoneum
  • Cross the inguinal canal
  • Exit the anterolateral abdominal wall
16
Q

Are the testes palpable in the scrotum at delivery in a term pregnancy?

A

Yes

17
Q

What is the arterial supply of the testes?

A

Direct branch of the abdominal aorta

Relates to their embryological origin

18
Q

What is the venous drainage of the testes?

A

By the testicular vein, which drains into;

  • IVC on right
  • Renal vein on left
19
Q

What is the innervation of the testes?

A
  • Anterior surface by lumbar plexus
    • Posterior and inferior surfaces by sacral plexuses
      *
20
Q

What does the lymphatics of the testes drain into?

A

The para-aortic nodes

21
Q

Where does the lymphatics of the scrotum drain into?

A

The superficial inguinal nodes

22
Q

Why is there a vast difference in the lymphatic drainage of the testes and the scrotum, despite them being close to each other geographically?

A

Because the testes develop on the posterior abdominal wall, and the drainage reflects that

23
Q

What does the epididymis consist of?

A
  • Head
  • Body
  • Tail
24
Q

What does the epididymis do?

A

Connects to the seminiferous tubules via efferent ductules and rete testis

25
Q

What does the spermatic cord contain?

A

Structures running to and from testes;

  • Neurovascular structures
  • Duct system
  • Processus vaginalis
26
Q

What neurovascular structures does the spermatic cord contain?

A
  • Testicular artery
  • Cremasteric artery
  • Artery to vas
  • Pampiniform plexus
  • Genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve
27
Q

What is the pampiniform plexus?

A

The beginning of the venous drainage, drains to testicular artery

28
Q

What does the pampiniform plexus form?

A

A meshwork around the artery, ensuring optimum temperature for gametogenesis

29
Q

What is the optimum temperature for gametogenesis?

A

Slightly lower than body temperature

30
Q

How does the pampiniform plexus ensure optimum temperature for gametogenesis?

A

The veins form a heat exchange surface, so the blood that enters the testes is of a slightly lower temperature

31
Q

Other than the pampiniform plexus, what else helps maintain the optimum temperature for gametogenesis?

A

The scrotum hanging lower than the body

32
Q

What part of the duct system does the spermatic cord contain?

A

Vas deferens

33
Q

What course does the vas deferens take?

A
  1. Ascends in the spermatic cord
  2. Transverses inguinal canal
  3. Tracks around pelvic side wall
  4. Passes between bladder and ureter
  5. Forms dilated ampulla
  6. Opens into ejaculatory duct
34
Q

What is formed from specialisations of the dilated ampulla of the ductus deferens?

A

The seminal vesicles

35
Q

What are the coverings of the spermatic cord?

A
  • External spermatic fascia
  • Cremasteric muscle and fascia
  • Internal spermatic fascia
36
Q

What is the external spermatic fascia?

A

The aponeurosis of the external oblique

37
Q

Where does the cremasteric muscle and fascia come from?

A

The internal oblique and transversalis

38
Q

Where does the internal spermatic fascia come from?

A

The transversalis fascia

39
Q

What is the result of the oblique pathway of the spermatic cord through the inguinal canal?

A

There is a sequential building of the muscular and fascial layers

40
Q

What path does the spermatic cord take?

A

The path that the testes take during development

From the deep inguinal ring and lateral to inferior epigastric vessels, to the posterior border testis, via the inguinal canal and superficial inguinal ring

41
Q

What are the potential pathologies of the scrotum and its contents?

A
  • Hydrocoele
  • Haematocoele
  • Spermatocoele
  • Epididymitis
  • Inguinal hernia
  • Testicular torsion
42
Q

What is a hydrocoele?

A

Serous fluid in the tunica vaginalis

43
Q

How can a hydrocoele arise?

A

Becasue tunica vaginalis is derived from a serous peritoneal membrane, so normally produces a small amount of serous fluid. However, can get over production

44
Q

What is a haemoatocoele?

A

Blood in the tunica vaginalis

45
Q

What is a haematocoele typically a result of?

A

Trauma

46
Q

What is a spermatocoele also known as?

A

An epididymal cyst

47
Q

What is a spermatocoele?

A

A collection of developing spermatozoa

48
Q

What is epididymitis?

A

Inflammation of the epididymis

49
Q

What is epididymitis usually a consequence of?

A

Infection

50
Q

What can be used to determine the type of swelling in the scrotum?

A

Transillumination

51
Q

How can transillumination be used to determine the type of swelling in the scrotum?

A
  • If swelling is fluid, allows light, so will transilluminate
  • If swelling is solid, will not allow light, so won’t transilluminate

*

52
Q

What are the types of inguinal hernias?

A
  • Direct
  • Indirect
53
Q

Where does a direct inguinal hernia pass?

A

Through the inguinal wall

54
Q

Where does an indirect inguinal hernia pass?

A

Through the inguinal canal, following the same pathway as the testes did during development

55
Q

What is the developmental basis of an indirect inguinal hernia?

A

It is the reopening of the processus vaginalis, which should have nothing in it, but sometimes does and therefore can allow an intestinal loop to pass into the scrotum

56
Q

What does a failure of closure of the tunica vaginalis produce?

A

A potential continunity between the peritoneal cavity and the tunica vaginalis, i.e. between the abdomen and the scrotum

57
Q

What is testicular torsion?

A

Twisting of the testes around the spermatic cord

58
Q

Where does testicular torsion most commonly occur?

A

Just above the upper pole

59
Q

What can testicular torsion lead to?

A

May occlude the testicular artery, leading to ischaemia and risking necrosis of the testis

60
Q

Where do the seminal vesicles lie?

A

Between bladder and rectum

61
Q

Are the seminal vesicles a storage site?

A

No

62
Q

What do the secretions of the seminal vesicles constitute?

A

70-80% of the ejaculate

63
Q

What are the seminal vesicles formed from?

A

Diverticulum of the vas deferens

64
Q

What does the duct of the seminal vesicle combine with?

A

The vas deferens

65
Q

What is formed when the duct of the SV combines wih the VD?

A

The ejaculatory duct

66
Q

What kind of gland is the prostate?

A

Fibromuscular

67
Q

What important anatomical relationships does the prostate have?

A
  • Base with neck of bladder
  • Apex with urethral sphincter and deep perineal muscles
  • Muscular anterior surface with urethral sphincter
  • Posterior with ampulla of rectum
  • Inferolateral with levator ani
68
Q

What are the zones of the prostate?

A
  • Central zone
  • Peripheral zone
69
Q

Where does the urethra run in relation to the prostate?

A

Through the centre of the body of the prostate

70
Q

What can result from enlargement of the prostate?

A

Can compress the urethra

71
Q

Why will varying states of enlargement compress the urethra?

A

Depends on where it is

72
Q

Where does benign prostatic hypertrophy primarily affect?

A

The middle lobule

73
Q

What does benign prostatic hypertrophy lead to?

A

Obstruction of the internal urethral orifice

74
Q

What are the symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy?

A
  • Dysuria
  • Nocturia
  • Urgency
75
Q

Where do prostatic malignancies usually affect?

A

Outer lobes

76
Q

What is the result of prostatic malignancies usually affecting the outer lobes?

A

They present later

77
Q

How can prostatic malignancies metastasise?

A
  • Lymphatic route
  • Venous routes
78
Q

What lymph nodes are involved in prostate cancer metastasise?

A
  • Internal iliac
  • Sacral
79
Q

What veins are involved in prostate cancer metastases?

A

Internal vertebral plexus to vertebrae and brain

80
Q

What does a digital rectal examination (DRE) allow?

A

Examination of the prostate gland

81
Q

What does a DRE exploit?

A

The anatomical relationship of the prostate to the rectum

82
Q

What does the penis consist of?

A
  • Root
  • Body
  • Glans
83
Q

What does the internal structure of the penis consist of?

A
  • Pair of corpus cavernosa dorsally
  • A single corpus spongiosum ventrally
84
Q

What is the penis supplied by?

A

Branches of the internal pudendal arteries

85
Q

What are the parts of the urethra?

A
  • Pre-prostatic
  • Prostatic
  • Membranous
  • Spongy
86
Q

Which parts of the urethra are very short?

A
  • Pre-prostatic
  • Membranous
87
Q

Which part of the urethra is the least distensible?

A

Membranous

88
Q

Why is the membranous part of the urethra the least distensible?

A

Because the peritoneal membrane is a thick, membranous, fascial layer

89
Q

When is the lack of distensibility of the membranous urethra important to consider?

A

Male catherisation

90
Q

What is the blood supply to the male perineum?

A

Via the internal pudendal artery, which is a branch of the anterior divison of the internal iliac artery

91
Q

What are the muscles of the male perineum?

A
  • Bulbospongiosus
  • Ischiocavernosus
92
Q

What does the bulbiospongiosus do?

A
  • Helps expel last drops of urine
  • Helps maintain erection
93
Q

What does the ischiocavernosus do?

A

Compresses veins, therefore helps maintain erection