The Male Reproductive System

Question 1

List the male external genital organs

Answer 1

• penis

- scrotum

Question 2

List the male internal genital organs (duct system)

Answer 2

• testes
• epididymides
• ductus deferentes
• seminal glands
• ejaculatory ducts
• prostate
• Cowper glands

Question 3

Describe the penis

Answer 3

Long shaft or body and an enlarged bulbous shaped tip called the glans which is prolonged by a foreskin called the prepuce.
Attached root called Radix in the perineum and a free pendulous body which is completely covered with skin.
Contains spongy tissues that become turgid and erect when filled with blood.

Question 4

What are the erectile tissues of the penis ?

Answer 4

• corpus spongiosum : traversed by urethra

- corpora cavernosa : contains most of the blood in the penis

Question 5

What are the suspensory ligaments of the penis ?

Answer 5

• the fundiform ligament

- the triangular ligament

Question 6

What are the blood supplies of the penis ?

Answer 6

Three pairs of arteries that are all branches from the internal pudendal artery :
- artery to the bulb
- deep artery of the penis
- dorsal artery of the penis
Mainly the dorsal vein - all the veins return the blood to the internal pudendal vein.

Question 7

What is the innervation of the penis ?

Answer 7

• pudendal nerves
• perineal nerves
• posterior scrotal and dorsal nerves
• pelvic splanchnic nerves (S2 and S3 nerves)

Question 8

Define the scrotum ?

Answer 8

Pouch like structures that hang behind the penis.
Houses and protects the testes and spermatic cords and keeps the testis at a temperature of about 2 to 4 degree lower than the body temperature.

Question 9

What gives its wrinkle appearance to the scrotum ?

Answer 9

The Dartos muscle

Question 10

What is the role of the cremaster muscle ?

Answer 10

Contracts to pull the scrotum closer to the body for a higher temperature when outside temperature lowers.

Question 11

What is the raphe ?

Answer 11

The midline between right and left parts of the scrotum

Question 12

What is the scrotum blood supply ?

Answer 12

Superficial and deep external pudendal arteries branches from the internal pudendal arteries.
External pudendal veins

Question 13

What is the innervation of the scrotum ?

Answer 13

• ilio inguinal nerve (L1)
• scrotal branches of the perineal nerve (S3)
• posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (S2)

Question 14

What is the function of the testes ?

Answer 14

Produce sperm and testosterone

Question 15

What encloses the seminiferous tubules ?

Answer 15

Interstitial cells of Leydig producing testosterone in the presence of luteinizing hormone.

Question 16

What is the direction of sperm in the testes ?

Answer 16

From the rete testis to the epididymis

Question 17

Which is the name of the tissue protecting the testes ?

Answer 17

The tunica albuginea

Question 18

What is the blood supply of the testes ?

Answer 18

Testicular arteries running from the aorta

The veinous drainage takes place in the pampiniform plexus

Question 19

What is the innervation of the testes ?

Answer 19

Sympathetic

Question 20

Describe the epididymis

Answer 20

Attached to the postero lateral surface of the testes
Firm single tube of approximately 7m highly coiled and packed together by fibrous tissue
Divided into three parts : head, body and tail of the epididymis

Question 21

What is the role of the epididymis ?

Answer 21

Site for maturation and storage of spermatozoa

Question 22

What continues the epididymis at its tail ?

Answer 22

The vas deferens

Question 23

What is the blood supply of the epididymis ?

Answer 23

Branches of the testicular artery

Venous returns into the pampiniform plexus

Question 24

What is the innervation of the epididymis ?

Answer 24

Sympathetic nerves from the coeliac ganglion

Question 25

Describe the ductus deferens

Answer 25

Continues the epididymis Thick muscular wall and minimal lumen Forms the primary component of the spermatid cord Enlarges to form the ampulla of ductus deferens before terminating by joining the duct of the seminal gland to form the ejaculatory duct

Question 26

Describe the seminal glands

Answer 26

Elongated structure of approximately 5 cm | Lies between the fundus of the bladder and the rectum

Question 27

What is the role of the seminal glands ?

Answer 27

Secrete a thick alcaline fluid with fructose and coagulating agent that mixes with the sperm as they pass through the ejaculatory duct and the urethra

Question 28

What composes the ejaculatory duct ?

Answer 28

Duct of the seminal gland + ductus deferens

Question 29

What is the blood supply of the seminal glands ?

Answer 29

Branches from the inferior vesicle and middle rectal arteries and vena comitans

Question 30

What is the innervation of the seminal gland ?

Answer 30

Pelvic plexus

Question 31

Describe the Ejaculatory ducts

Answer 31

Tubes that arise from the union of the ducts of the vas deferens and of the seminal glands Arises next to the neck of the urinary bladder Pierces the prostate and empty in the urethra that runs through the prostate gland

Question 32

What are the blood supplies of the ejaculatory duct ?

Answer 32

Branches of the superior and/ or inferior vesicle arteries | Veinous drainage goes into the veina comitans that joins into the prostatic and vesicle veinous plexus

Question 33

Describe the prostate

Answer 33

``` Largest accessory gland 2/3 glandular 1/3 fibromuscular Composed of 3 zones : - central zone - transitional zone - peripheral zone ```

Question 34

What is the role of the prostate ?

Answer 34

Secretion of proteolytic enzymes into the semen which acts to break down clotting factors in the ejaculate, allowing semen to remain in a fluid state. The proteolytic enzymes leave via the prostatic ducts.

Question 35

Why can a physician examine the prostate ?

Answer 35

Posterior to the prostate lies the ampulla of the rectum allowing the physician to palpate the size of the prostate = Digital Rectal Examination

Question 36

What are the blood supplies of the prostate ?

Answer 36

Branches of the internal illiac artery, including the inferior vesicle arteries, internal pudendal and middle rectal arteries. Veinous drainage through prostatic veinous plexus that drains into the internal iliac veins.

Question 37

What is the innervation of the prostate ?

Answer 37

Pelvic splanchnic nerves

Question 38

Describe the bulbo-urethral glands

Answer 38

Accessory glands also called Cowper glands ` Lie posterolateral to the intermediate part of the urethra They empty directly into the urethra

Question 39

What is the function of the bulbo-urethral glands ?

Answer 39

They secrete slippery fluids that lubricate the glans of the penis when it is erect.

Question 40

What is the blood supply of the bulbo-urethral glands ?

Answer 40

One of the branches of the common penile artery : the bulbo-urethral artery