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Flashcards in Seminal vesicles Deck (31)
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1
Q

What could a submarine possibly have in common with the seminal vesicles?

A

they’re both full of semen

ha. ha. ha…

2
Q

where are seminal vesicles located?

A

in the pelvis

3
Q

what are seminal vesicles linked with?

A

intimately linked with the vas deferens

4
Q

function of seminal vesicles?

A

seminal vesicles spend their time chugging out most of the constituent ingredients of semen, providing around 70% of its final volume

5
Q

what are the seminal vesicles?

A

a pair of small (5cm long) tubular glands

6
Q

where are the seminal vesicles located?

A

between the bladder fundus and the rectum

7
Q

what are the seminal vesicles separated from the rectum by?

A

by the rectovesicle pouch

males only have 1 pouch, females have 2

8
Q

what is the most important anatomical relation of the seminal vesicle?

A

with the vas deferens

comes from testis

9
Q

what does the vas deferens combine with the seminal vesicle to form?

A

form the ejaculatory duct

both join just above the prostate

10
Q

where does the ejaculatory duct (vas deferens + seminal vesicle) drain into?

A

the prostatic urethra

11
Q

internal structure of the seminal vesicles? (histology)

A

Internally the gland has a honeycombed, lobulated structure with a mucosa lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium

12
Q

what are the pseudostratified columnar epithelium of the seminal vesicles influenced by?

A

highly influenced by testosterone, growing taller with higher levels

13
Q

what are the pseudostratified columnar epithelium of the seminal vesicles responsible for producing?

A

seminal secretions

in response to testosterone

14
Q

where are the Seminal glands derived from embryologically?

A

the mesonephric ducts, the precursor structure of male internal genitalia. These structures can easily be remembered using the handy acronym SEED

15
Q

what else is derived from the mesonephric ducts embryologically?

A

Ejaculatory ducts, Epididymis and Ductus (vas) deferens

and seminal vesicles

16
Q

what are the mesonephric ducts?

A

the precursor structure of male internal genitalia

17
Q

how can you remember which structures are derived from the mesonephric duct?

A
SEED:
Seminal vesicles
Ejaculatory ducts (vas deferens + seminal vesicles)
Epididymis
Ductus (vas) deferens
18
Q

what do the secretions from the seminal vesicles contain?

A
makes up 70% of semen:
Alkaline fluid
Fructose
Prostaglandins
Clotting factors
19
Q

function of alkaline fluid within the seminal vesicles?

A

neutralises the acidity of the male urethra and vagina in order to facilitate the survival of spermatazoa

20
Q

function of fructose within the seminal vesicles?

A

provides an energy source for spermatozoa - helps them keep on swimming

21
Q

function of prostaglandins within the seminal vesicles?

A

have a role in suppressing the female immune response to foreign semen

22
Q

function of clotting factors within the seminal vesicles?

A

designed to keep semen in the female reproductive tract post-ejaculation

23
Q

what is the remaining volume of semen made up of?

A

testicular spermatozoa, prostatic secretions and mucus from the bulbourethral gland

24
Q

where are the arteries to the seminal gland derived from?

A

the inferior vesicle, internal pudendal and middle rectal arteries

25
Q

where do the inferior vesicle, internal pudendal and middle rectal arteries all stem from?

A

internal iliac artery

26
Q

innervation to seminal vesicles?

A

same as all male genitalia: point + shoot (ANS)

sympathetic in origin

27
Q

lymphatic drainage of seminal vesicles?

A

external and internal iliac lymph nodes

28
Q

what can abscess formation in the seminal gland lead to?

A

can allow pus to enter the peritoneal cavity in the event of rupture

29
Q

how can swollen seminal vesicle glands can be detected?

A

through digital rectal examination (DRE)

30
Q

when can seminal glands be felt most easily?

A

through DRE, especially when the bladder is almost at full capacity

31
Q

what can the palpability of the seminal vesicles through DRE allow?

A

can allow the glands to be massaged to release their secretions, which can be collected and used for the microscopy of certain STIs such as gonnorhoe