Accessory Structures

Question 1

What do accessory structures of the male reproductive tract mostly function to produce?

Answer 1

Seminal fluid

Question 2

What does seminal fluid help?

Answer 2

Help sperm survive in the female reproductive tract. Sperm is only 1% of the volume of seminal fluid

Question 3

Where are seminal vesicles placed?

Answer 3

They lie posteroinferior to the bladder, anterior to the rectum and inferior to the peritoneum

Question 4

How long are the seminal vesicles?

Answer 4

5cm long

Question 5

What do the seminal vesicles do?

Answer 5

They do not store sperm by they secrete components off seminal fluid that mixes with the sperm as they pass into the ejaculatory ducts

Question 6

How much of the volume of seminal fluid do the seminal vesicles produce?

Answer 6

They produce 60-70% of the final volume

Question 7

What type of fluid is produced by the seminal vesicles?

Answer 7

Alkaline thick fluid

Question 8

What does the alkaline fluid protect?

Answer 8

Protects sperm from acidic nature of the urethra and female reproductive tract

Question 9

What provides energy for sperm?

Answer 9

Fructose

Question 10

What is used for lowering the female immune response to seminal fluid?

Answer 10

Prostaglandins and they improve sperm motility to the uterine tubes

Question 11

What do coagulation factors do?

Answer 11

They coagulate seminal fluid to help deliver sperm as directly as possible to the cervix

Question 12

How long are the ejaculatory ducts?

Answer 12

They are 2.5cm long

Question 13

How are the ejaculatory ducts formed?

Answer 13

They are from the combination of the ductus deferens with the ducts of the seminal vesicles

Question 14

Where are the ejaculatory ducts found?

Answer 14

They are found near the neck of the bladder and pas through the posterior part of the prostate

Question 15

Where do the ejaculatory ducts open?

Answer 15

They open into the urethra within the prostate which is known as the prostatic urethra

Question 16

How long is the prostate gland?

Answer 16

3cm long

Question 17

What is the largest accessory gland in the male reproductive system?

Answer 17

The prostate

Question 18

What is the base of the prostate related to?

Answer 18

The neck of the bladder

Question 19

What is the posterior surface of the prostate related to?

Answer 19

The rectum

Question 20

Where do the prostatic ducts open into?

Answer 20

The prostatic urethra

Question 21

Describe prostatic fluid

Answer 21

It is thin and milks and supplies 20-25% of the volume of semen - the secretions aid mobility of the sperm

Question 22

Where do the bulbourethral glands lie?

Answer 22

They lie immediately inferior to the prostate gland at the level of the membranous urethra

Question 23

Where do the bulbourethral gland ducts open?

Answer 23

Open into the penile spongy urethra - after the urethral sphincter

Question 24

Describe the secretions from the bulbourethral glands

Answer 24

It is transparent and viscous - it adds some volume to semen. These glands produce what is known as ‘pre ejaculate’ which flushes out the urethra and acts as a lubricant

Question 25

How many ductus deferens are there?

Answer 25

There is one on each side of the body

Question 26

How does the ductus deferens reach the pelvic cavity?

Answer 26

Travels in the spermatic cord through the inguinal canal to get from the scrotum to the pelvic cavity

Question 27

How many seminal vesicles are there?

Answer 27

One on each side. They sit posterior to the bladder

Question 28

How many ejaculatory ducts are there?

Answer 28

There is a left and a right duct and these sit within the prostate and drain into the prostatic urethra

Question 29

How many bulbourethral glands are there?

Answer 29

There is a left and right gland

Question 30

What is usually a begin process in the prostate?

Answer 30

Prostatic hyperplasia

Question 31

What is fatal in the prostate?

Answer 31

Malignant carcinoma - it is less common but is more fatal. The common age of presentation is 65-85

Question 32

Where does the malignant carcinoma occur?

Answer 32

In the peripheral tissue, in some cases the growth can be slow and asymptomatic and the patient often dies of unrelated causes

Question 33

What is a symptom of a benign prostatic hyperplasia?

Answer 33

It is due to the enlarge gland pressing on other structures, the bladder outlet obstruction causes urinary retention, hesitancy, poor stream and double voiding. There may be some haematuria (blood in the urine)

Question 34

What is the symptom of prostate cancer?

Answer 34

Back pain from bony mestastes to the spine

Question 35

What do malignant and begin growths feel like?

Answer 35

Malignant usually feel modular and irregular whereas benign growths are smooth