Seminal vesicle

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The seminal vesicles (Latin: glandulae vesiculosae),

Seminal vesicle
vesicular glands,[1] or seminal glands, are a pair of simple
tubular glands posteroinferior to the urinary bladder of some
male mammals. Seminal vesicles are located within the
pelvis. They secrete fluid that partly composes the semen.

Contents
1 Structure Human Male Anatomy
1.1 Development
1.2 Histology
2 Function
3 Clinical significance
3.1 Inflammation
4 Evolution
5 Additional images
6 See also
7 References
8 External links

Structure
The seminal vesicles are a pair of glands that are positioned
Prostate with seminal vesicles and seminal ducts,
below the urinary bladder and lateral to the vas deferens.
viewed from in front and above.
Each vesicle consists of a single tube folded and coiled on
itself, with occasional diverticula in its wall.[2] Details
Precursor Wolffian duct
The excretory duct of each seminal gland unites with the
corresponding vas deferens to form the two ejaculatory Artery Inferior vesical artery, middle rectal
ducts, which immediately pass through the substance of the artery
prostate gland before opening separately into the Lymph External iliac lymph nodes, internal iliac
verumontanum of the prostatic urethra.[2][3] lymph nodes

Each seminal vesicle spans approximately 5 cm, though its Identifiers

full unfolded length is approximately 10 cm, but it is curled Latin Vesiculae seminales
up inside the gland's structure.
MeSH A05.360.444.713

Development FMA 19386

Anatomical terminology
Each vesicle forms as an outpocketing of the wall of the
ampulla of one vas deferens. The seminal vesicles develop as one of three structures of the male reproductive
system that develops at the junction between the urethra and vas deferens. The vas deferens is derived from the
mesonephric duct, a structure that develops from mesoderm.[4]

Histology
Under microscopy, the seminal vesicles can be seen to have a mucosa, consisting of a lining of interspersed
columnar cells and a lamina propria; and a thick muscular wall. The lumen of the glands is highly irregular and
stores secretions from the glands of the vesicles. In detail:[5]

The epithelia is pseudostratified columnar in character, similar to other tissues in the male reproductive
system.

The height of these columnar cells, and therefore activity, is dependent upon testosterone levels in the blood.

The lamina propria, containing underlying small blood vessels and lymphatics. Together with the
epithelia, this is called the mucosa, and is arranged into convoluted folds, increasing the overall surface
area
A muscular layer, consisting of an inner circular and outer longitudinal layer of smooth muscle, can also
be found.

Spermatozoa may occasionally be found within the lumen of the glands, even though the vesicles are blind-
ended in nature. This is thought to be because of slight reflux due to muscular contractions of the urethra during
ejaculation.[5]

Low magnification High magnification

micrograph of seminal micrograph of seminal
vesicle. H&E stain. vesicle. H&E stain.

Function
The seminal vesicles secrete a significant proportion of the fluid that ultimately becomes semen. Lipofuscin
granules from dead epithelial cells give the secretion its yellowish color. About 70-85%[6] of the seminal fluid
in humans originates from the seminal vesicles, but is not expelled in the first ejaculate fractions which are
dominated by spermatozoa and zinc-rich prostatic fluid. The excretory duct of each seminal gland opens into
the corresponding vas deferens as it enters the prostate gland. Seminal vesicle fluid is alkaline, resulting in
human semen having a mildly alkaline pH.[7] The alkalinity of semen helps neutralize the acidity of the vaginal
tract, prolonging the lifespan of sperm. Acidic ejaculate (pH <7.2) may be associated with ejaculatory duct
obstruction. The vesicles produce semenogelin, a protein that causes semen to become sticky and jelly-like
after ejaculation.

The thick secretions from the seminal vesicles contain proteins, enzymes, fructose, mucus, vitamin C, flavins,
phosphorylcholine and prostaglandins. The high fructose concentrations provide nutrient energy for the
spermatozoa when stored in semen in the laboratory.

In vitro studies have shown that sperm expelled together with seminal vesicular fluid show poor motility and
survival, and the sperm chromatin is less protected. Therefore, the exact physiological importance of seminal
vesicular fluid is not clear.
The development and maintenance of the seminal vesicles, as well as their secretion and size/weight, are highly
dependent on androgens.[8][9] The seminal vesicles contain 5-reductase, which metabolizes testosterone into
its much more potent metabolite, dihydrotestosterone (DHT).[9] The seminal vesicles have also been found to
contain luteinizing hormone receptors, and hence may also be regulated by the ligand of this receptor,
luteinizing hormone.[9]

Clinical significance
Physical examination of the seminal vesicles is difficult. Laboratory examination of seminal vesicle fluid
requires a semen sample, e.g. for semen culture or semen analysis. Fructose levels provide a measure of
seminal vesicle function and, if absent, bilateral agenesis or obstruction is suspected.[10]

Disorders of the seminal vesicles include seminal vesiculitis, acquired cysts, abscess, congenital anomalies
(such as agenesis, hypoplasia and cysts), amyloidosis, tuberculosis, schistosomiasis, hydatid cyst, calculi
(stones) and tumours.[10][11]

Primary adenocarcinoma of the seminal vesicles, although rare, constitutes the most common neoplasm of the
seminal vesicles; even rarer neoplasms include sarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma, yolk sac tumor,
neuroendocrine carcinoma, paraganglioma, epithelial stromal tumors and lymphoma.[12]

Inflammation

Seminal vesiculitis (also known as spermatocystitis) is an inflammation of the seminal vesicles, most often
caused by bacterial infection. Symptoms of seminal vesiculitis can include vague back or lower abdominal
pain; penile, scrotal, or perineal pain; painful ejaculation; hematospermia; irritative and obstructive voiding
symptoms; and impotence.[13]

It is usually treated by administration of antibiotics. In intractable cases, in case of patient discomfort,

transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy may be considered.[14][15]

Evolution
The evolution of seminal vesicles may have been influenced by sexual selection. They occur in many groups of
mammals, but are absent in marsupials, monotremes, and carnivorans.[16]

Additional images
Seminal vesicles seen Seminal vesicles seen Human male Seminal vesicles
on axial MRI scan on axial MRI scan reproductive system.

Coronal section of Male pelvic organs seen Fundus of the bladder Vesiculae seminales and
pelvis, showing from right side. with the vesiculae ampullae of ductus
arrangement of fasciae. seminales. deferentes, seen from
Viewed from behind. the front.

Vertical section of Cross section of

bladder, penis, and seminal vesicle through
urethra. a microscope.

See also
Male accessory gland infection (MAGI)
Male accessory glands

References

1. Rowen D. Frandson; W. Lee Wilke; Anna Dee Fails (2009). "Anatomy of the Male Reproductive
System" (https://books.google.com/books?id=I9ZZkwnFLN0C&pg=PT409). Anatomy and Physiology of
Farm Animals (7th ed.). John Wiley and Sons. p. 409. ISBN 0-8138-1394-8.
2. Michael H. Ross; Wojciech Pawlina (2010). "Male Reproductive System" (https://www.inkling.com/rea
d/histology-michael-ross-and-wojciech-pawlina-6th/chapter-22/plate-91-seminal-vesicle). Histology: A
Text and Atlas, with Correlated Cell and Molecular Biology (6th ed.). p. 828. ISBN 978-0781772006.
 3. Drake, Richard L.; Vogl, Wayne; Adam, W.M. Mitchell (2005). Gray's Anatomy for Students.
illustrations by Richard Tibbitts and Paul Richardson. Philadelphia: Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone.
pp. 407409. ISBN 978-0-8089-2306-0.
4. Gary C. Schoenwolf; Steven B. Bleyl; Philip R. Brauer; Philippa H. Francis-West (November 2014).
"Chapter 16: Development of the Reproductive System". Larsen's Human Embryology (5th ed.).
Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. ISBN 9781455706846.
5. Barbara Young; James S. Lowe; Alan Stevens; John W. Heath; Philip J. Deakin (2006). Wheater's
Functional Histology: A Text and Colour Atlas. drawings by Philip J. (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Churchill
Livingstone/Elsevier. p. 355. ISBN 978-0-443-06850-8.
6. Kierszenbaum, Abraham L.; Tres, Laura (2011). "Chapter 21: Sperm Transport and Maturation" (https://b
ooks.google.com/books?id=TFvZGAX8ItYC&pg=PT1483). Histology and Cell Biology: An
Introduction to Pathology (3rd ed.). St. Louis [u.a.]: Mosby. p. 624. ISBN 978-0323078429.
7. Charles Huggins; William W. Scott; J. Henry Heinen (1 May 1942). "Chemical composition of human
semen and of the secretions of the prostate and seminal vesicles" (http://ajplegacy.physiology.org/conten
t/ajplegacy/136/3/467). American Journal of Physiology. American Physiological Society. 136 (3): 467
473. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
8. B. Fey; F. Heni; A. Kuntz; D. F. McDonald; L. Quenu; L. G. jr. Wesson; C. Wilson (6 December 2012).
Physiologie und Pathologische Physiologie / Physiology and Pathological Physiology / Physiologie
Normale et Pathologique (https://books.google.com/books?id=X8DyCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA611). Springer
Science & Business Media. pp. 611. ISBN 978-3-642-46018-0.
9. Gonzales GF (2001). "Function of seminal vesicles and their role on male fertility". Asian J. Androl. 3
(4): 2518. PMID 11753468 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11753468).
10. El-Hakim, Assaad (13 November 2006). "Diagnosis and Treatment of Disorders of the Ejaculatory Ducts
and Seminal Vesicles" (https://books.google.com/books?id=Wo8cgdAsL-EC&pg=PA762). In Smith,
Arthur D. Smith's Textbook of Endourology (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 759766. ISBN 978-
1550093650.
11. "Seminal vesicle diseases" (http://www.gfmer.ch/selected_images_v2/level2_disease.php?cat1=14).
Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
12. Katafigiotis, Ioannis; Sfoungaristos, Stavros; Duvdevani, Mordechai; Mitsos, Panagiotis; Roumelioti,
Eleni; Stravodimos, Konstantinos; Anastasiou, Ioannis; Constantinides, Constantinos A. (31 March
2016). "Primary adenocarcinoma of the seminal vesicles. A review of the literature" (http://www.pagepre
ssjournals.org/index.php/aiua/article/download/aiua.2016.1.47/5055) (PDF). Archivio Italiano di
Urologia e Andrologia. 88 (1): 4751. ISSN 1124-3562 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1124-3562).
PMID 27072175 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27072175). doi:10.4081/aiua.2016.1.47 (https://
doi.org/10.4081%2Faiua.2016.1.47).
13. Zeitlin, S. I.; Bennett, C. J. (1 November 1999). "Chapter 25: Seminal vesiculitis" (https://books.google.c
o.uk/books?id=YiZz_xDk7rkC&pg=PA219). In Curtis Nickel, J. Textbook of Prostatitis. CRC Press.
pp. 219225. ISBN 9781901865042.
14. La Vignera S (October 2011). "Male accessory gland infection and sperm parameters" (http://onlinelibrar
y.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2605.2011.01200.x/abstract). International Journal of Andrology. 34
(5pt2): e33047. PMID 21696400 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21696400).
doi:10.1111/j.1365-2605.2011.01200.x (https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2605.2011.01200.x).
15. Bianjiang Liu; Jie Li; Pengchao Li; Jiexiu Zhang; Ninghong Song; Zengjun Wang; Changjun Yin
(February 2014). "Transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of intractable
seminal vesiculitis" (http://imr.sagepub.com/content/42/1/236.long). The Journal of International
Medical Research. 42 (1): 23642. PMID 24391141 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24391141).
doi:10.1177/0300060513509472 (https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0300060513509472).
16. Dixson, Alan F. "Sexual selection and evolution of the seminal vesicles in primates (https://www.research
gate.net/profile/Alan_Dixson/publication/13533816_Sexual_Selection_and_Evolution_of_the_Seminal_
Vesicles_in_Primates/links/54e14b5f0cf2953c22ba95c2/Sexual-Selection-and-Evolution-of-the-Seminal-
Vesicles-in-Primates.pdf)." Folia Primatologica 69.5 (1998): 300-306.

External links
Histology image: 17501loa Histology Learning System at Boston University - "Male Reproductive
System: prostate, seminal vesicle"
 Anatomy photo:44:04-0202 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The Male Pelvis: The Urinary
Bladder"
Anatomy photo:44:08-0103 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The Male Pelvis: Structures
Located Posterior to the Urinary Bladder"

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This page was last edited on 28 August 2017, at 01:34.

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