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Male Reproductive Tract - Horse Anatomy (view source)
Revision as of 13:57, 26 November 2012
, 13:57, 26 November 2012→Accessory Sex Glands
==Accessory Sex Glands==
==Accessory Sex Glands==
Accessory sex glands are all found along the length of the pelvic urethra. They produce secretions containing lots of different components many of which can be found also the blood. One of the most important substances is fructose which provides an energy source for sperm. Along with providing nutrition for spermatozoa sex gland secretions facilitate movement of the sperm as well as providing a physiological buffer against the acidic environment of the female tract. Development and function of the accessory sex glands is androgen dependant.
===Bulbourethral Glands===
The paired bulbourethral glands are found near the ischial arch either side of, and dorsal to, the urethra. They are approximately the size of a cherry. These are very dense glands containing a lot of fibrous connective tissue.
===Prostate Gland===
The prostate is a singular gland, found at the junction between the bladder and the urethra. The stallion has only the compact part of the prostate ('''corpus prostate'''), which is a compact body of tissue found external to the urethra.
===Ampullary Glands===
These paired glands are found lying on the dorsal neck of the bladder. They develop due to a glandular enlargement within the wall of the ductus deferens as it crosses the dorsal surface of the bladder. The glands are connected to the urethra via the '''ejaculatory duct'''.
==Vesicular Glands==
The paired vesicular glands are found dorsocranial to the pelvic urethra. In the horse, the '''excretory duct''' from the vesicular glands join the ductus deferens to form the '''ejaculatory duct'''. They are also relatively large in the horse and are hollow with a thick, muscular wall and smooth surface.