Anatomic.us > Reproductive System

Seminal Vesicles

These are the pair of soft, elongated, sac like glands which are part of the accessory glands of the male reproductive system. Each vesicle is about 5 cm long and is covered by the endopelvic fascia (abundant extra peritoneal connective tissue). The sex differentiation and growth of seminal vesicles is highly dependent on androgen hormones in males.

It is located in the inferior most aspect of the peritoneum of the pelvis between urinary bladder (anterosuperior to the vesicle) and rectum (posterior to the vesicle)

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Female Reproductive|Male Reproductive

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Seminal Vesicles


ANATOMY

Each vesicle is made up of one large, highly coiled and convoluted tubule which is surrounded by connective tissue. These vesicles are blind pouches, directed upward and laterally, and are rounded superiorly while tapered inferiorly where they constrict to form the duct of the seminal vesicle that joins the ductus deferens to form the ejaculatory duct (actually, the short ducts of the seminal vesicles join the lateral aspects of the ductus deferens at an acute angle i.e. less than 90 degree, creating the ejaculatory duct at the base of the prostate gland where the ejaculatory duct enters into the prostate).Each vesicle makes an outpocketing(ball shape) on the wall of each ductus deferens.

 

HISTOLOGY

Seminal vesicles develop from the ductus deferens during embryological development that is why their histological organization resembles to some extent to the ductus deferens.

From inside out, the layers making the vesicle are:

  • Mucosa which is moist and folded (made up of pseudostratified columnar epithelium which is folded to increase the surface area)

  • Muscularis (consisting of inner circular layer and outer longitudinal layer of the smooth muscles)

  • Adventitia (consisting of thin layer of fibroelastic connective tissue)

 

BLOOD SUPPLY, NERVE SUPPLY AND LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE

The primary arterial supply is by 3 anterior divisions of the internal iliac artery, which are; inferior vesicle, internal pudendal and middle rectal arteries. The venous drainage is by the small veins that drain into the internal iliac vein.

The lymphatic drainage is into the internal iliac nodes.

The nerve supply is of sympathetic nervous system whose fibers innervating this gland originate from the inferior hypogastric plexuses.

 

FUNCTION

The main function of these glands is to produce liquid secretions that mixes with sperms later on to form the semen (fluid containing sperms passed by human males during ejaculation). Its secretions contain huge amount of fructose sugar and also some other components like prostaglandins, flavin, proteins, citric acid and other enzymes etc. These secretions have following important functions;

  • Maintains the consistency of semen.

  • Acts as major source of energy for the sperms (fructose).

  • Regulation of sperm motility.

  • Suppression of immune function in the female genital tract to avoid rejection of Spermatozoa for fertilization (that are foreign to female body thus have foreign antigens).

  • Makes semen alkaline that helps in neutralization of vaginal acidity to increase the sperm life span etc.

 

CLINICAL ASPECTS

Pain in left section of lower abdomen is an indicator that there is some problem with the seminal vesicle. Following are the common and major problem associated with the seminal vesicle;

  • Adenocarcinoma (cancer).

  • Obstruction of seminal vesicle (may be by birth or acquired later in life) due to inflammation, cysts, calcification, damage to the nerves supplying the vesicle or cystic fibrosis etc, leading to infertility in males.



ANATOMY

Each vesicle is made up of one large, highly coiled and convoluted tubule which is surrounded by connective tissue. These vesicles are blind pouches, directed upward and laterally, and are rounded superiorly while tapered inferiorly where they constrict to form the duct of the seminal vesicle that joins the ductus deferens to form the ejaculatory duct (actually, the short ducts of the seminal vesicles join the lateral aspects of the ductus deferens at an acute angle i.e. less than 90 degree, creating the ejaculatory duct at the base of the prostate gland where the ejaculatory duct enters into the prostate).Each vesicle makes an outpocketing(ball shape) on the wall of each ductus deferens.

 

HISTOLOGY

Seminal vesicles develop from the ductus deferens during embryological development that is why their histological organization resembles to some extent to the ductus deferens.

From inside out, the layers making the vesicle are:

  • Mucosa which is moist and folded (made up of pseudostratified columnar epithelium which is folded to increase the surface area)

  • Muscularis (consisting of inner circular layer and outer longitudinal layer of the smooth muscles)

  • Adventitia (consisting of thin layer of fibroelastic connective tissue)

 

BLOOD SUPPLY, NERVE SUPPLY AND LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE

The primary arterial supply is by 3 anterior divisions of the internal iliac artery, which are; inferior vesicle, internal pudendal and middle rectal arteries. The venous drainage is by the small veins that drain into the internal iliac vein.

The lymphatic drainage is into the internal iliac nodes.

The nerve supply is of sympathetic nervous system whose fibers innervating this gland originate from the inferior hypogastric plexuses.

 

FUNCTION

The main function of these glands is to produce liquid secretions that mixes with sperms later on to form the semen (fluid containing sperms passed by human males during ejaculation). Its secretions contain huge amount of fructose sugar and also some other components like prostaglandins, flavin, proteins, citric acid and other enzymes etc. These secretions have following important functions;

  • Maintains the consistency of semen.

  • Acts as major source of energy for the sperms (fructose).

  • Regulation of sperm motility.

  • Suppression of immune function in the female genital tract to avoid rejection of Spermatozoa for fertilization (that are foreign to female body thus have foreign antigens).

  • Makes semen alkaline that helps in neutralization of vaginal acidity to increase the sperm life span etc.

 

CLINICAL ASPECTS

Pain in left section of lower abdomen is an indicator that there is some problem with the seminal vesicle. Following are the common and major problem associated with the seminal vesicle;

  • Adenocarcinoma (cancer).

  • Obstruction of seminal vesicle (may be by birth or acquired later in life) due to inflammation, cysts, calcification, damage to the nerves supplying the vesicle or cystic fibrosis etc, leading to infertility in males.

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