Prostatic utricle

Indentation in the prostatic urethra of human males

Prostatic utricle
Vesiculae seminales and ampullae of ductus deferentes, seen from the front.
The male urethra laid open on its anterior (upper) surface.
Details
Precursor	paramesonephric duct
Identifiers
Latin	utriculus prostaticus, utriculus masculinus, vagina masculina, sinus pocularis
TA98	A09.4.02.009
TA2	3449
FMA	19702
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The prostatic utricle (Latin for "small pouch of the prostate") is a small indentation in the prostatic urethra, at the apex of the urethral crest, on the seminal colliculus (verumontanum), laterally flanked by openings of the ejaculatory ducts. It is also known as the vagina masculina,^[a] uterus masculinus or (in older literature) vesicula prostatica.^[2]

Structure

It is often described as "blind", meaning that it is a duct that does not lead to any other structures.^[3] It tends to be about one cm in length.^[4] It can sometimes be enlarged.^[5]^[6] The utricle is deemed enlarged if it allows insertion of a cystoscope at least 2 cm deep.^[7] This is often associated with hypospadias.^[8]

Function

The prostatic utricle is a remnant that is homologous to the female uterus (including the cervix) and vagina, usually described as derived from the paramesonephric duct,^[9] although this is occasionally disputed.^[10]

In 1905, Robert William Taylor described the function of the utricle: "In coitus it so contracts that it draws upon the openings of the ejaculatory ducts, and thus renders them so patulous that the semen readily passes through."^[11]

Notes

^ Especially in cases with intersex men who have female internal organs.^[1]

References

^ S., Manjiri S.; Luthra, Kush; S.K., Padmalatha; Shetty, Jeevak; Patil, Neehar (9 December 2020). "Symptomatic prostatic utricle: various approaches for treatment". Annals of Pediatric Surgery. 16 (50). Springer Nature. doi:10.1186/s43159-020-00062-8.
^ Henry Thompson (1883). "vesicula+prostatica"+utricle&pg=PA13 The diseases of the prostate. J&A Churchill.
^ Butler, Paul; Mitchell, Adam W. M.; Ellis, Harold (1999). Applied Radiological Anatomy (illustrated ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 286. ISBN 9780521481106.
^ Cunningham, Daniel John (1968). Manual of Practical Anatomy: Thorax and abdomen. Vol. 2 (13th ed.). University of Michigan: Oxford University Press. p. 238.
^ Meisheri IV, Motiwale SS, Sawant VV (2000). "Surgical management of enlarged prostatic utricle". Pediatr. Surg. Int. 16 (3): 199–203. doi:10.1007/s003830050722. PMID 10786981. S2CID 194522.
^ Lopatina OA, Berry TT, Spottswood SE (2004). "Giant prostatic utricle (utriculus masculinis): diagnostic imaging and surgical implications". Pediatr Radiol. 34 (2): 156–159. doi:10.1007/s00247-003-1048-9. PMID 12961046. S2CID 37893438.
^ Kogan, S.J.; Hafez, E.S. (2012). Pediatric Andrology. Clinics in Andrology. Vol. 7 (illustrated ed.). Springer Science & Business Media. p. 188. ISBN 9789401037198.
^ Al-Salem, Ahmed H. (2016). An Illustrated Guide to Pediatric Urology. Springer. p. 446. ISBN 9783319441825.
^ Kawashima, A.; Sandler, C. M.; Wasserman, N. F.; LeRoy, A. J.; King, B. F.; Goldman, S. M. (1 October 2004). "Imaging of Urethral Disease: A Pictorial Review". Radiographics. 24 (suppl_1): S195–S216. doi:10.1148/rg.24si045504. PMID 15486241. S2CID 28296852.
^ Shapiro E, Huang H, McFadden DE, et al. (2004). "The prostatic utricle is not a Müllerian duct remnant: immunohistochemical evidence for a distinct urogenital sinus origin". J. Urol. 172 (4 Pt 2): 1753–1756, discussion 1756. doi:10.1097/01.ju.0000140267.46772.7d. PMID 15371806.
^ R. W. Taylor. "A practical treatise on sexual disorders of the male and female". New York and Philadelphia, 1897; 3rd edition, 1905. p. 48

External links

Anatomy photo:44:05-0204 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center – "The Male Pelvis: The Prostate Gland"
pelvis at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (malebladder)
figures/chapter_34/34-3.HTM: Basic Human Anatomy at Dartmouth Medical School

Male reproductive system

Internal

Seminal tract

Testicles	Layers Tunica vaginalis Tunica albuginea Tunica vasculosa Appendix Mediastinum Lobules Septa Leydig cells Sertoli cells Blood–testis barrier
Spermatogenesis	Spermatogonium Spermatocytogenesis Spermatocyte Spermatidogenesis Spermatid Spermiogenesis Spermatozoon
Other	Seminiferous tubules Tubuli seminiferi recti Retia testes Efferent ducts Epididymides Appendix Inferior ligaments Superior ligaments Stereocilia Paradidymides Spermatic cords Pampiniform plexus Vasa deferentia Ampullae Rectovesical pouch Ejaculatory ducts Testicular arteries Testicular veins

Accessory glands

Seminal vesicles
- Excretory duct
Prostate
- Urethral crest
- Seminal colliculus
- Ejaculatory ducts
- Sinus
- Ducts
- Utricle
Bulbourethral glands

External

Penis	Root Crura Bulb Fundiform ligament Suspensory ligament Body Corpora cavernosa Trabeculae of corpora cavernosa Corpus spongiosum Trabeculae of corpus spongiosum Glans Foreskin Frenulum Corona Septum glandis Fascia Superficial Deep Tunica albuginea Septum Raphe Arteries Arteries of bulb Dorsal arteries Deep arteries Internal pudendal artery Veins Dorsal veins Vein of bulb Internal pudendal veins Nerves Dorsal nerves Pudendal nerves Urethra Internal urethral sphincter Internal urethral orifice Pre-prostatic Prostatic Intermediate Spongy External sphincter muscle Navicular fossa Lacuna magna External urethral orifice Lacunae of Morgagni Urethral glands
Scrotum	Layers Skin Dartos fascia External spermatic fascia Cremaster Cremasteric fascia Internal spermatic fascia Ligament Raphe Septum Arteries Anterior scrotal arteries Posterior scrotal arteries Nerves Anterior scrotal nerves Posterior scrotal nerves Perineal nerve Posterior scrotal veins

Penis