Seminal Vesicle Development
Introduction
In humans, the male accessory glands are the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and the bulbourethral glands. The male gonad, the testis, differentiates embryonically initially under the influence of the Y chromosome. Later under the influence the gonad-derived fetal testosterone acting through androgen receptors, a region of the urogenital sinus (UGS) mesenchyme differentiates to form the primordial prostate buds. The buds then signal back to the overlying epithelium, inducing duct formation, this was one of the early studied (1970's) example of an mesenchymal-epithelial interaction in development. Interestingly, the female equivalent gland originally called Skene's gland, then paraurethral gland has now also been renamed the female prostate.
There are also currently separate pages describing Genital - Male Development | Spermatozoa Development | Testis Development | Prostate Development.
| Puberty
Some Recent Findings
Textbooks
- Human Embryology (2nd ed.) Larson Chapter 10 p261-306
- The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology (6th ed.) Moore and Persaud Chapter 13 p303-346
- Before We Are Born (5th ed.) Moore and Persaud Chapter 14 p289-326
- Essentials of Human Embryology, Larson Chapter 10 p173-205
- Human Embryology, Fitzgerald and Fitzgerald Chapter 21-22 p134-152
- Developmental Biology (6th ed.) Gilbert Chapter 14 Intermediate Mesoderm
Genital Development Overview
Three main stages during development, mesonephric/paramesonephric duct changes are one of the first male/female differences that occur in development, while external genitaila remain indeterminate in appearance for quite a while.
- Differentiation of gonad (Sex determination)
- Differentiation of internal genital organs
- Differentiation of external genital organs
The 2nd and 3rd stages dependent on endocrine gonad. Reproductive development has a long maturation timecourse, begining in the embryo and finishing in puberty. (More? Puberty Development)
Prostate Histology
Secretory Glands
Historic Images of Genital Changes
Urogenital indifferent | Urogenital male | Urogenital female |
Historic Gray's Anatomy - Seminal Vesicle
Anatomy
The vesiculæ seminales (Fig. 1152) are two lobulated membranous pouches, placed between the fundus of the bladder and the rectum, serving as reservoirs for the semen, and secreting a fluid to be added to the secretion of the testes. Each sac is somewhat pyramidal in form, the broad end being directed backward, upward and lateralward. It is usually about 7.5 cm. long, but varies in size, not only in different individuals, but also in the same individual on the two sides. The anterior surface is in contact with the fundus of the bladder, extending from near the termination of the ureter to the base of the prostate. The posterior surface rests upon the rectum, from which it is separated by the rectovesical fascia. The upper extremities of the two vesicles diverge from each other, and are in relation with the ductus deferentes and the terminations of the ureters, and are partly covered by peritoneum. The lower extremities are pointed, and converge toward the base of the prostate, where each joins with the corresponding ductus deferens to form the ejaculatory duct. Along the medial margin of each vesicle runs the ampulla of the ductus deferens.
Each vesicle consists of a single tube, coiled upon itself, and giving off several irregular cecal diverticula; the separate coils, as well as the diverticula, are connected together by fibrous tissue. When uncoiled, the tube is about the diameter of a quill, and varies in length from 10 to 15 cm.; it ends posteriorly in a cul-de-sac; its anterior extremity becomes constricted into a narrow straight duct, which joins with the corresponding ductus deferens to form the ejaculatory duct.
Structure
The vesiculæ seminales are composed of three coats: an external or areolar coat; a middle or muscular coat thinner than in the ductus deferens and arranged in two layers, an outer longitudinal and inner circular; an internal or mucous coat, which is pale, of a whitish brown color, and presents a delicate reticular structure. The epithelium is columnar, and in the diverticula goblet cells are present, the secretion of which increases the bulk of the seminal fluid.
Vessels and Nerves
The arteries supplying the vesiculæ seminales are derived from the middle and inferior vesical and middle hemorrhoidal. The veins and lymphatics accompany the arteries. The nerves are derived from the pelvic plexuses.
- Gray's Images: Development | Lymphatic | Neural | Vision | Hearing | Somatosensory | Integumentary | Respiratory | Gastrointestinal | Urogenital | Endocrine | Surface Anatomy | iBook | Historic Disclaimer
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Pages where the terms "Historic" (textbooks, papers, people, recommendations) appear on this site, and sections within pages where this disclaimer appears, indicate that the content and scientific understanding are specific to the time of publication. This means that while some scientific descriptions are still accurate, the terminology and interpretation of the developmental mechanisms reflect the understanding at the time of original publication and those of the preceding periods, these terms, interpretations and recommendations may not reflect our current scientific understanding. (More? Embryology History | Historic Embryology Papers) |
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Reference
Gray H. Anatomy of the human body. (1918) Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger.
Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, April 24) Embryology Seminal Vesicle Development. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Seminal_Vesicle_Development
- © Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G
Abnormalities
Single Seminal Vesicle
A very rare congenital malformation, that can be associated with associated with unilateral kidney agenesis.[2]
Seminal Vesicle Cyst
References
Reviews
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Articles
<pubmed>17579162</pubmed> <pubmed>16916376</pubmed> <pubmed>11356025 </pubmed>
Search PubMed
Search Pubmed: seminal vesicle Embryology | seminal vesicle Development
Additional Images
Terms
- 5-α-reductase - enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.
- androgen receptor - (AR)
- benign prostatic hyperplasia
- mesenchyme - embryonic connective tissue
- paraurethral gland - (Skene's gland) - female prostate gland is the correct nomenclature
- prostate gland - Greek, prostates = "one who stands before", "protector", a female prostate gland exists
- prostate cancer
- UGE - urogenital epithelium
- UGS - urogenital sinus
Glossary Links
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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, April 24) Embryology Seminal Vesicle Development. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Seminal_Vesicle_Development
- © Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G