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Chapter 9. THE ACCESSORY GENITAL GLANDS


PROSTATE GLAND

The prostate gland is a musculonlandular body that completely surrounds the neck of the bladder and the beginning of the urethra in the dog, or in other domesticated animals lies on the dorsal aspect of the neck of the bladder and surrounds the beginning of the urethra. The prostate which is encapsulated is ovoid in shaped in the dog and is divided ventrally by a shallow longitudinal furrow into right and left lobes. The prostate is the only genital accessory gland in the dog. In addition to the prostate gland, a bulbourethral gland is present in the cat.

 


POSITION OF PROSTATE GLAND

Depending on the degree of distention of the urinary bladder, the relationships of the prostate may vary. If the bladder is full, the gland may be in the abdominal region cranial to the pubis; or if the bladder is contracted, it may lie caudal to the brim of the pelvis. the dorsal surface of the prostate is separated from the ventral surface of the rectum by two layers of peritoneum which bound the potential rectogenital space. Ventrally, the prostate normally lies on the symphysis pelvis, partially separated from it by a double layer of peritoneum.
The numerous excretory ducts of the prostate open into the urethra in the vicinity of the colliculus seminalis. It is thought by some that prostatic secretion renders the spermatozoa actively mobile. Others believe that the prostate functions to thin and to increase the volume of semen.

 


ARTERIAL SUPPLY TO PENIS AND PREPUC IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS

The internal pudendal artery ("visceral branch") is the principal source of blood supply to the penis and prepuce in the dog and cat. It originates form the internal iliac artery.Its branches are: Prostatic ("urogenital") artery
- to ductus deferens as the ductus deferens artery;
- to caudal part of bladder as caudal vesicle artery;
- to caudal ureters as ureteral branch;
- to prostate gland; and
- to mid-rectum as middle rectal artery.
The continuation of the internal pudendal artery terminates as the urethral, ventral perineal and artery of the penis.
Urenthral artery - to pelvic urethra.
 
Ventral perineal - supplies the terminal rectum as the caudal rectal artery and the skin of the caudal scrotum as the caudal scrotal branch.
 
Artery of the penis - its branchyes are: ; artery to the bulb of the penis; deep artery of the penis; and dorsal artery of the penis.