ANATOMY OF MALE EJACULATORY DUCTS

ANATOMY OF MALE EJACULATORY DUCTS

The ejaculatory ducts are essential structures in the male reproductive system. They serve as the passageway for semen to travel from the seminal vesicles and prostate gland to the urethra during ejaculation.

LOCATION & STRUCTURE:

• The ejaculatory ducts are formed by the union of the ductus deferens (vas deferens) and the duct of the seminal vesicle.

• These ducts pass through the prostate gland and empty into the prostatic urethra.

DIMENSIONS:

• Each ejaculatory duct is typically 1.5 to 2 cm in length.

• They have a diameter of about 1–2 mm.

CLINICAL ANATOMY:

• The ejaculatory ducts are located within the posterior part of the prostate.

• They open into the prostatic urethra at the verumontanum, a raised area within the urethra.

• Blockage or infection of these ducts can lead to conditions like ejaculatory duct obstruction (EDO), which may cause infertility or painful ejaculation.

FUNCTION:

• The main function of the ejaculatory ducts is to transport semen, which includes sperm from the ductus deferens and seminal fluid from the seminal vesicles, into the urethra for eventual expulsion during ejaculation.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE:

• Ejaculatory duct obstruction (EDO) can result in a painful or absent ejaculation, and is often associated with infertility.

• Treatment of EDO may include procedures like transurethral resection or surgical drainage.

• These ducts are also involved in certain prostate-related conditions, such as prostatitis or prostate cancer.

MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURE:

• The ejaculatory duct is lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium, which facilitates the movement of semen during ejaculation.