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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