Anatomy books

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Anatomy of male reproductive system : important information for viva examination

 

 Male reproductive organ

•      Epididymis

•      It is a coma-shaped body situated along the lateral part of the posterior border of testis

•      It is an organ that contains the efferent ductules and the duct of the epididymis

•      The efferent ductules are lined with pseudostratified columnar epithelium

•      A circular smooth muscle layer 1st appear at the beginning of the efferent ductules

      Duct of epididymis

•      It is lined with a pseudostratified columnar epithelium. It contains principal cells and basal cells

•      Numerous long, modified microvilli called stereocilia extend from the luminal surface of the principal cells

•      Epididymal cells function in both absorption and secretion

•      The smooth muscle coat of the duct of epididymis gradually increases in thickness to become three-layered in the tail

 

Ductus deferens
    
is a thick cord-like tubular structure and is about 45 cm

 

          Section of the ductus deferens

  • Section of the ductus deferens showing the mucosa formed by pseudostratified columnar epithelium with stereocilia and a lamina propria. The thick outer wall is formed of smooth muscle (brown) and collagen fibers (blue).

 

  • In epididymis, the lumen is smooth but in d. deferens the lumen is thrown into deep longitudinal fold due to contraction of the thick muscular coat.

Course and relations of ductus deferens

•      It begins from the tail of epididymis then enters the spermatic cord and traverses the inguinal canal

•      At the deep inguinal ring the vas leaves the other constituents of the cord & ascend in front of the external iliac artery

•      Next the vas crosses above and medial to the terminal part of Ureter & passes behind the base of urinary bladder

•      Finally, approaches the base of prostate and joins with the duct of seminal vesicle to form the ejaculatory duct 

Seminal vesicle

•      They are paired, elongated and highly folded tubular glands

•      It secrete a fluid rich in fructose which is the principal metabolic substrate for sperm 

•      It is lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium which contain tall, nonciliated columnar cells and short, rounded cells that rest on basal lamina

Prostate gland

•      This is a pyramidal-shaped, fibromuscular and glandular organ 3cm in long, which surrounds the prostatic urethra

Prostate gland: relations

•      Superiorly: it is continuous with the neck of urinary bladder

•      Inferiorly, the apex of the prostate rest on external sphincter of the bladder

•      Anteriorly, lies the pubic symphysis separated by the extraperitoneal fat of retropubic space

•      Posteriorly,lies the rectum separated by the fascia of Denonvilliers

•      Laterally, lies levator ani

The prostatic capsules

•      These are normally two

•      The true capsule – a thin fibrous sheath which surrounds the gland

•      The false capsule –condensed extraperitoneal fascia

•      Between layers 1 and 2 lies the prostatic venous plexus

•      In prostatic operation the true capsule is not disturbed because the prostatic venous plexus lying external to this. 

The prostate gland secretes prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), fibrinolysin, citric acid & prostate specific antigen

Presenting parts of prostate 

 

•        The apex is directed below

•        The base is directed above and surrounds the neck of the bladder. It is pierced by the urethra in the median plane

•        Anterior surface is narrow and convex situated behind the lower part of symphysis pubis

•        Each infero-lateral surface is related to the anterior fibers of the levator ani

•        The posterior surface is broad and flat related to the ampulla of rectum. This surface is palpable by rectal examination about 4 cm.above the anus. 

The penis

•        It forms the male organ of copulation and consists of two parts – a root and a body

•        The root is situated in the superficial perineal pouch and consists of two diverging crura and a median bulb of the penis

 

The body of the penis the body of the penis consists principally of two dorsal masses of erectile tissue the corpora cavernosa which are the continuation of two crura and a ventral mass of erectile tissue the corpora spongiosum, in which the spongy part of urethra is embedded and it is the continuation of bulb of penis .

 

                                     

           CORPORA  CAVERNOSA

 

•        It is divided into number of intercommunicating cavernous spaces which is lined by endothelium

•        These spaces receive the blood from the capillaries of the helicine arteries are the branches of deep artery of penis

•        During erection the arterioles dilate and the cavernous spaces are filled with blood, at the same time the venous outflow is diminished by the pressure of the distended cavernous spaces. Therefore, erection is purely a vascular phenomenon

        Coverings of penis

•        The skin

•        The superficial fascia

•        Fibrous envelope- the tunica albuginea

Ligaments of penis

•        Fundiform ligaments

•        Suspensory ligaments

•        Erection

•         It is a vascular phenomenon which occur by the action of parasympathetic nerve. The parasympathetic nerve ( S2-4 spinal segments) dilate arterioles of the corpora cavernosa

•                   

•        Ejaculation

•        It is stimulated by the sympathetic nerves (L1 spinal segment) which produce contraction of the vas deferens, seminal vesicle, ejaculatory ducts and prostate.

•        Contraction of the internal urethral orifice preventing the reflux of semen into the bladder

•        At the end of the  ejaculation, the sympathetic nerves produce vasoconstriction of penis and the penis is flaccid.

 

   The parasympathetic initiates the sexual act by erection & sympathetic finalizes the act by       ejaculation

 

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