Male Reproductive System

Question 1

What is the journey of the sperm?

Answer 1

Testes

Rete testes (hylum)

Efferent ductules = remove water, concentrate sperm

Epididymus = sperm maturation

Vas deferens = muscular tube carrying sperm away

Prostate

Urethra

Question 2

What is the tunica albuginea of the testes?

Answer 2

Holds together the seminiferous tubules together

Question 3

What is the tunica vaginalis?

Answer 3

Outpost of peritoneal cavity that surrounds the testes as they descend

Layers = parietal, cavity, visceral

Question 4

What is hydocoele?

Answer 4

Pathology = fluid between the tunica vaginalis

Question 5

What is a haematocoele?

Answer 5

Blood between the tunica vaginalis

Question 6

Which veins are dilated in a varicocoele, and what does it feel like on palpation?

Answer 6

Pampiniform venous plexus

Feels like a bag of worms

Question 7

Why is a varicocoele almost always on the left?

Answer 7

Vein of the L connects to the larger outflowing vein at a R angle, which tends to fail

Valves that are meant to prevent backflow fail

Pressure in the upstream arteries creates a ‘nutcracker’ syndrome

Question 8

What are the seminiferous tubules?

Answer 8

Start live solid, then become hollow tubes (in the testes)

Spermatogenesis occurs

Question 9

What is the interstitium of the testes?

Answer 9

Tissue between the seminiferous tubules

Question 10

Describe sertoli cells

Answer 10

Make up wall of seminiferous tubules

Nurture baby sperm - Remove excess cytoplasm from sperm

Question 11

Outline the function of leydig cells?

Answer 11

Sit outside of the seminiferous tubules in the interstitial fluid

Androgen synthesis – testosterone

Fill of lipid droplets and sER

Question 12

What is the blood supply of the testes?

Answer 12

As they descend they take they’re blood supply with them

L/R testicular artery from the abdominal aorta

Question 13

Describe the venous drainage of the testes

Answer 13

R = to IVC

L = to L renal vein

Asymmetry due to great resistance in L due to extra vessel to IVC, congested = heavier = hang lower

Question 14

Describe the lymphatic drainage of the testes

Answer 14

Drain lymph to the abdo aortic region

Scrotum drain to inguinal region

Question 15

What is testicular torsion?

Answer 15

Testes twists on its blood supply

Veins then occluded = pressure in testes increase = occlude artery

Bell clapper deformity increases risk due to narrower areas of tunica vaginalis due to placement of epididymus

Treatment = fix testes to scrotal wall

Question 16

What stops the testes from swapping sides?

Answer 16

Scrotal septum

Question 17

What is the cremaster reflex?

Answer 17

Inner thigh stroked = sensory fibres of ilioinguinal N stimulated = activate motor fibres of genital branch of genitofemoral N = cremaster muscle contract = elevates testes

Question 18

What is the gubernaculum?

Answer 18

Guides the testes (and ovaries) down to its final position

Question 19

What are the abdominal wall muscles known as when they invaginate the descended testes?

Answer 19

Spermatic fascia

External oblique = external spermatic fascia

Internal oblique = cremasteric fascia

Transerversus abdominis = internal spermatic facia

Question 20

What is the spermatic cord?

Answer 20

Provided neurovascular supply to the testes

Question 21

What is contained within the spermatic cord?

Answer 21

3 facial layers = internal, cremasteric, external

3 arteries = testicular, to the vas, cremasteric

3 veins = testicular, to the vas, cremasteric

3 nerves = ilioinguinal (run alongside), cremasteric, sympathetic

The vas

Question 22

Draw a cross section of the spermatic cord

Answer 22

Question 23

In males how do the ureters and vas lie?

Answer 23

Ureter passes beneath the vas (water under the bridge)

Question 24

What muscles is responsible for regulating how high the testes sit?

Answer 24

Cremaster muscle

Question 25

What parts of the nervous system allow for erection and ejaculation?

Answer 25

P = erection S = ejaculation

Question 26

What approach is a vasectomy performed?

Answer 26

Scrotal approach cut and tie the vas in the spermatic cord

Question 27

What are the accessory glands to the male reproductive tract?

Answer 27

Prostate Seminal vesicles Bulbourethral

Question 28

What volumes make up the ejaculate?

Answer 28

Testes = 10% Seminal vesicle fluid = 65% Prostate = 25%

Question 29

What is the role of the seminal vesicle?

Answer 29

Prod 65% of the ejaculate Fluid = fructose rich, enzymes, prostaglandins

Question 30

What is the role of the prostate gland?

Answer 30

Make alkaline secretion = neutralise acidic vaginal environment Contains some smooth muscles that help expel semen during ejaculation Conveys vas ducts

Question 31

What is BPH – benign prostate hypertrophy?

Answer 31

Transitional zone enlarges = compression of urethra, eventually occlude Happens regardless due to age More androgens = larger prostate

Question 32

Cancer of the prostate typically occurs where?

Answer 32

Occurs peripherally Can be observed via rectal exam

Question 33

What is the narrowest part of the urethra?

Answer 33

When the urethra passes through the pelvic floor muscles During catheterisation you will feel resistance

Question 34

What is the role of the corpus spongiosum?

Answer 34

Mass of spongy tissue surrounding the male urethra within the penis Prevents the urethra from being pinched closed during erection

Question 35

What is the corpus cavernosa?

Answer 35

Erectile tissue = engorged with blood

Question 36

What is the tunica albuginea of the penis?

Answer 36

Fibrous envelope of the corpus cavernosa Can rupture

Question 37

Wheres does the blood supply for the penis come from?

Answer 37

External iliac artery Can become blocked by atherosclerosis = impotence

Question 38

What occurs when the penis get fractured?

Answer 38

Rupture of the tunica albuginea If not fixed the erection won’t be straight

Question 39

What is the inguinal canal?

Answer 39

Passages in the anterior abdominal wall which in men convey the spermatic cords and in women the round ligament of uterus

Question 40

Which structures of the male repro tract contract in peristaltic waves?

Answer 40

Vas deferens

Question 41

What valve stops the sperm going up into the bladder?

Answer 41

bladder neck muscle tightens to prevent ejaculate from entering the bladder as it passes from the prostate into the tube inside the urethra

Question 42

Lable the anatomy

Answer 42