Anatomy6- Male Reproductive Organs

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the anatomy and functions of the male reproductive system.

Penis

The male reproductive organ involved in sexual intercourse and urination.

Scrotum

A cutaneous sac that contains the testes and regulates their temperature.

Testes

Oval-shaped gonads that produce sperm and testosterone.

Epididymis

The coiled duct that stores and matures spermatozoa.

Ductus deferens

The muscular tube that carries sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct.

Prostate gland

The largest accessory gland in the male reproductive system that secretes proteolytic enzymes into semen.

Semen

The fluid containing sperm and secretions from seminal vesicles, prostate, and bulbourethral glands.

Varicocele

Tortuous dilation of the veins draining the testes, often described as a 'bag of worms'.

Spermatic cord

A bundle of fibers containing blood vessels, nerves, and the ductus deferens, encasing them as they travel to the scrotum.

Cremaster muscle

A muscle that helps to elevate the testes and is involved in thermoregulation.

Spermatogenesis

The process by which sperm is produced within the seminiferous tubules of the testes.

Buck's fascia

The deep layer of fascia surrounding the erectile tissues of the penis.

Colles fascia

The superficial layer of fascia around the penis that is continuous with Scarpa’s fascia.

Tunica albuginea

A strong connective tissue that encases the erectile bodies of the penis.

Erection

The engorgement of erectile tissue with blood, resulting in an increase in size and rigidity.

Ejaculation

The discharge of semen from the male reproductive tract.

Bulbourethral glands

EXocrine glands that produce a lubricating mucus secretion to aid in semen composition.

Seminal vesicles

Glands that secrete fluid contributing to the volume of semen, located between the bladder and rectum.

Testicular torsion

Twisting of the spermatic cord that can lead to severe pain and requires surgical intervention.

Pampiniform plexus

A network of veins that cools blood to the testes and drains the testicular vein.

Prostatic urethra

The part of the male urethra that runs through the prostate gland and receives secretions from it.

preprostatic urethra

between internal urethral opening and prostate

prostatic urethra

through prostate gland

membranous urethra

through deep perineal pouch 

surrounded by external urethral sphincterspongy/penile

spongy/penile urethra

through corpus spongiosum

urethral length

20cm

three parts of the penis

root body glans

root of penis

fixed in superficial peritoneal pouch

contains three erectile tissues and two muscles

body of penis

three erectile tissues protected by three layers of fascia then skin

glans

expanded corpus spongiosum

erectile tissue

found in the root as 2 crura and 1 bulb

crura

attached to ipsilateral ischial ramus covered by ischiocavernosal muscles

two crura continue to

anterior dorsum as corpus cavernosa

bulb of erectile tissue in root of penis

forms corpus spongiosum

fascial coverings of penis

colles fascia and bucks fascia

colles fascia

superficial continuation of scarpas fascia

bucks fascia

deeper layer continuous with deep perineal fascia

holds all three erectile tissues together 

ligaments of penis

suspensory and fundiform

suspensory ligament

connects erectile body to pubic symphysis

fundiform ligament

from Linea alba slinging around the penis and attaching to the symphysis pubis

vasculature of penis

internal pudendal artery supplying dorsal, deep and bulbourethral arteries

deep dorsal veins to prostatic venous plexus and superficial dorsal veins 

penis nerve supply

point and shoot

parasympathetic=pelvic splanchnic nerves 

sympathetic=pudendal nerve 

erectile function

is a parasympathetic nerve function

ejaculation

function of the sympathetic nervous system

scrotum 

sac holding testes and lower spermatic chord that regulates temperature for optimal sperm production and storage.

layers of scrotum

superficial skin 

deeper dartos fascia 

dartos and cremaster muscles

smooth dartos mucle runs through

dartos fascia

testes

oval shaped gonads suspended by spermatic chord 

testes produce 

sperm and testosterone

testes consist of

seminiferous tubules and rete testis, leydig and sertoli cells (secretory cells)

testes covered

almost entirely by tunica vaginalis with parenchyma protected by tunica albuginea 

epididymis

single, heavily coiled duct posterior to testes that stores and matures sperm to drain to the ductus deferens 

blood supply of testis and epididymis

paired testicular arteries that anastomose with main testicular artery at cremaster branches and vas deferens artery

testicular veins

formed by pampiniform plexus

left testicular vein drains into left renal vein

right testicular drains into IVC

varicocele

dilation of veins draining testes

bag of worms

spermatic chord

bundle of arteries, nerves, pampiniform plexus, ductus deferens, lymphatic vessels and tunica vaginalis 

spermatic cord

travels in the inguinal canal to the scrotum, contents disperse arounf testes and scrotum

spermatic chord

is 3 layers of external spermatic fascia, cremaster muscle, and internal spermatic fascia

spermatic cord coverings

external spermatic fascia (from external oblique muscle)

cremaster muscle (from internal oblique muscle) 

internal spermatic fascia (from transversalis fascia)

cremaster muscle innervation

genital branch of genitofemoral nerve and lumbar plexus.

contents of spermatic chord

testicular artery

cremaster artery and vein

artery to vas deferens 

pampiniform plexus 

genital branch of genitofemoral nerve

autonomic nerves

vas deferens

processes vaginalis

lymphatics

testicular torsion

twisting of spermatic chord that cuts off blood supply to the testis.

severe sudden pain, surgical emergency

testicular torsion can be caused by

spasm of cremaster muscle or loose testicle in large tunica vaginalis

vas deferens 

straight thick muscular tube conveying sperm from epididymis to ejaculatory duct

vas deferens muscles

inner and outer logintudinal

intermediate circular

seminal vesicles

tubular glands between bladder and rectum helping form ejaculatory ducts 

seminal vessicle and vas deferens meet to form

ejaculatory duct

seminal vesicles

secrete 70% of semen volume including alkaline fluid, fructose, prostaglandins, clotting factor 

blulbourethral / cowpers gland

pair of pea shaped exocrine glands posterolateral to male urethra that contribute to semen with mucus

prostate

largest accessory gland in male repro

prostate gland

secretes proteolytic enzymes into semen to help liquefy it after ejaculation, providing a more favorable environment for sperm.

prostate located

inferior to the EUS with levator ani muscle inferiolateral and anterior to rectum