Prostatic utricle: easy and brief description with clinical anatomy

Prostatic utricle

•      It refers to a tiny diverticulum of the prostatic urethra, lined by epithelium.

•      It The prostatic utricle is a small indentation in the prostatic urethra, at the apex of the urethral crest, on the seminal colliculus (verumontanum), laterally flanked by openings of the ejaculatory ducts.

•       is also called the “Vagina masculina.”

•      It is also known as the vagina masculina or uterus masculinus or (in older literature) vesicula prostatica.

•      It is often described as "blind", meaning that it is a duct that does not lead to any other structures.

•      It can sometimes be enlarged.

•      It is 6 mm long

•      It is  projects upward and backward into the substance of the prostate.

•      It appears as a tiny blind pouch that protrudes into the prostate gland from the wall of the prostatic urethra.

•      The prostatic utricle is important, primarily, because it is the homologue of the uterus and vagina, usually described as derived from the paramesonephric duct,  although this is occasionally disputed. Prostatic utricle is a remnant of Mullerian duct in males

•      In 1905 Robert William Taylor stated the function of the utricle, writing, "In coitus it so contracts that it draws upon the openings of the ejaculatory ducts, and thus renders them so patulous that the semen readily passes through."

Prostatic utricle Disorders

In some cases, this pouch can suffer an inflammation. Cysts may also arise on the spot. These are known as Prostatic utricle cyst (PUC) and are more frequently noticed to develop within the first two decades of life. These tend to vary in size and do not generally extend over the prostate gland. The condition may lead to an accumulation of urine in the cysts and possibly cause post-void dribbling.

Most prostatic utricular cysts are asymptomatic, especially when small. When large, symptoms typically consist of urinary incontinence, recurrent infections, or stone formation. Malignant degeneration has been reported in 3% of prostatic utricles with a peak incidence in the fourth decade of life