MCPAP Pathology Week 12: Male Reproductive System

tunica vaginalis

smooth serosal sac with small amount of fluid allowing free movement of testicle

testes

gonad composed of seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissue

epididymis

posterior testis after seminiferous tubules, long coiled tube connecting to vas deferens, where sperm mature and are stored

vas deferens

narrow, stiff, heavily muscled tube over pelvic brim to merge with seminal vesicle duct

seminal vesicle

glands beside prostate and bladder, excrete nutrient fluid into semen, fluid with vesiculase to clot sperm

spermatic cord

vas deferens, blood vessels, nerves, tissues

ejaculation

sympathetic nervous system activated ejection of semen, mediated by muscular contractions

erectile dysfunction

inability to attain or sustain an erection firm enough for satisfactory intercourse, from slow arteries or fast veins of corpus cavernosum or from problem with any step/hormone/organ involved in erection; psych and anxiety hurt tooTx: testosterone, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, vein constrictors, intracavernous vasodilators, extenral vacuum pump

infertility

inability to contribute to conception, inability to conceive 1 year after trying; 35% from sperm disorders of impaired spermatogenesis, sperm emission; need semen analysis with specific parameters and endocrine evaluationClomiphene can increase sperm count

impaired spermatogenesis

low sperm count under 15 mil/mL; from hypothyroidism or endocrine abnormalities, testis or epididymis infection, varicocele, drugs

azoospermia

no sperm at all in the semen

testicular azoospermia

from testicular injury/trauma, infection, illness, cancer, cancer treatment

post-testicular or obstructive azoospermia

testicles produce sperm but sperm can't be released from blockage or surgery

pretesticular azoospermia

healthy testicles but hormone imbalance or some cancer treatments result in impairment of stimulatory signals

impaires sperm emission

spectrum of dysfunction from mild to complete lack of ejaculation; from retrograde ejaculation into bladder, emission failure, anorgasmia, diabetic neuropathy, prostatectomy, obstruction

hypospadias

congenital defect where urethral opening is not at tip of penis; elongated opening on distal ventrum of penis, 3 degreesassociate with incontinence, infection, obstruction, hernia

epispadias

urethral opening on dorsum of penis

phimosis

in uncircumcised males, inability to retract foreskin over the glans, cause erectile pain

physiologic phimosis

often younger males, result from adhesion between epithelial layers of inner prepuce and glans before puberty; spontaneously dissolve with intermittent retraction and erections

pathologic phimosis

phimosis in adults promoting poor hygiene, infection, inflammation, scarring, may predispose to carcinoma

paraphimosis

most acute complication of pathological phimosis, when forcibly retracted prepuce is trapped and cause glans congestion, edema, pain, obstruction, can be emergent is persist

balanitis

glans inflammation in uncircumcised men, from fungal or bacterial infection, can be STI; cause pain, redness, foul discharge under foreskin

balanitis xerotica obliterans

inflammatory disease with white, sclerotic patch at tip of glans with can constrict the urethral opening

condyloma acuminatum

sexually transmitted cauliflower like growth from HPV

Bowen disease

squamous carcinoma in situ in basement membrane; form gray-red patch on glans, can progress to invasive carcinoma

squamous carcinoma

most common invasive malignancy on or under foreskin; invade glans in uncircumcised adults, risk from poor hygiene or HPV

Peyronie disease

noncancerous condition from fibrous scar tissue of corpus cavernosum; distort erect penis causing pain and difficult intercourse; from repeated penile injury; surgery can worsen with more scar tissue

priapism

prolonged erection of the penis, not sexually stimulated or last a really long time; often impaired venous blood flow from inflammation or drug therapy; ischemic or nonischemic; tender/painful penis

urethritis

inflammation of urethra primarily caused by infection, often STI (N. gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia, Trichomonas, Ureaplasma), Tx with antibiotics, may spread to sperm tract, cause urethral scarring

inguinal hernia

protrusion of bowel into inguinal canal or scrotum through weak spot in abdominal muscles; cause pain with increased abdominal pressure; surgical treatment

tinea cruris

fungal infection causing red and itchy rash in warm, moist areas of the body; can inflame scrotum or inguinal skin; Tx with antifungals

varicocele

when veins are enlarged in scrotum, often congenital and present in puberty, often asymptomatic and cause low sperm count and quality and infertility, scrotal enlargement

hydrocele

accumulation of fluid in sac of tunica vaginalis around testis, can develop after scrotal injury, often painless

cryptorchidism

where testes not descend from abdomen, most common congenital abnormality, usually unilateral; if remain have high risk of malignancy; abdomen heat atrophy testes; Tx with surgery

orchitis

swelling from inflammation of the testes from infection or STI, mumps; supportive treatment

epididymitis

epididymis inflammation from retrograde infection from cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis; STI or urinary pathogen; cause swollen, red scrotum, pain/tenderness with gradual onset, severe pain and swelling; treat with antibiotic

spermatocele

cysts of epididymis containing sperm, when sperm builds up somewhere in epididymis from blockage or inflammation; enlarges with continues sperm production; noncancerous, painless with milky fluid; often small with few symptoms

testicular torsion

rotation of testicle resulting in twisting of spermatic cord; interrupt venous drainage causing congestion and hemorrhagic infarction; often associate with congenital abnormality; cause pain, swelling, nausea, vomiting; need immediate orchiplexy of both testicles-- 6 hour window before lose testicle

germ cell tumor

most common neoplasm between 15 and 40 years; risks with cryptorchidism; totipotent cells cause wide variety of tumors at any stage; contraindicate biopsy; need to remove entire testis to examine; testes inherently prevent malignancy, if breached have worse prognosisTx with surgery, radiation, chemo, hormones

teratoma

benign germ cell tumor of differentiated tissues like hair, skin, brain, thyroid tissue, causing mass of disorganized tissues associated together

seminoma

germ cell neoplasm retain features of primitive spermatocytes, most common testicular tumor; slow growing, late metastasis, limited by immune system; treat with surgery and radiation

sex chord/stromal tumors

arise from primitive embryologic sex chord stromal tumor; origin in supporting tissue, usually benign; painless mass but can have hormone production symptoms; Leydig in testicular stroma or Sertoli cell tumors in seminiferous tubules; Tx with surgery

prostate gland

encircle urethra with layer of fibromuscular tissue with 4 zones; produce seminal fluid to feed and transport sperm; contain prostate specific antigen

peripheral zone of prostate

70% glandular tissue, form posterior part of superior half, surround distal prostatic urethra

central zone of prostate

25% of glands and ducts sitting high in gland

transitional zone of prostate

surround proximal half of prostatic urethra with 5% tissue

anterior zone of prostate

fibromuscular stroma without glandular tissue

prostate specific antigen

enzyme in prostate gland that dissolves clotted semen to allow sperm to migrate upward into female genital tract

acute bacterial prostatitis

from E. coli or other fecal bacteria infecting through urine reflux or instrumentation; cause fever, chills, dysuria, pelvic discomfort, pain, swollen gland; Tx with antibiotics

digital rectal exam

routine procedure to examine lower rectum and other internal organs, can examine size of prostate

chronic bacterial prostatitis

may be asymptomatic or with low back pain, pelvic pain, discomfort, afebrile, positive urine culture, inflammatory cells in prostatic secretion; Tx with antibiotic, often reoccur

chronic nonbacterial prostatitis

chronic pelvic pain syndrome, common, similar to bacterial prostatitis with negative urine cultures with inflammatory cells in prostatic secretions; long term pain and urinary symptoms, no specific treatment

benign prostatic hyperplasia

from nodular hyperplasia of gland and supporting tissue, very common with age; unclear cause but associate with abnormal testosterone metabolism causing dysregulation of glandular and stromal tissue; enlarged, tense rubbery gland; obstruct urinary emptying, require catheterization, urinary symptoms, stasis, infection, pyelonephritisTx: fluid restriction, alpha blockers, block testosterone metabolism, surgery

prostatic carcinoma

prostate gland malignancy; most common malignancy, not as lethal; often asymptomatic; often androgen dependent; local spread cause obstructive symptoms, hematuria, lower urinary complaints, distant metastases to bone; use Gleason scaleTx depend on severity, often cause more damage, usually wait and observe

prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia

atypical cells contain some molecular changes in carcinoma, neoplastic growth of epithelial cells with preexisting benign prostatic acini or ducts; high grade is carcinoma in situ