Male accessory gland - Practice Questions & MCQ

• These are a pair of seminal vesicles, prostate gland and a pair of Cowper or bulbourethral glands.

Seminal Vesicle:

• A pair of the seminal vesicle is present at the base of the bladder.
• Their ducts join the vas deferens to form the ejaculatory duct.
• They are lined by pseudostratified epithelium.
• They provide seminal fluid, which is alkaline and viscous. 
• Seminal fluid contains fructose and prostaglandins. 
• Fructose provides energy to the sperms for swimming and prostaglandins stimulate vaginal contraction which helps in the fusion of gametes.
• Alkaline nature of the seminal fluid helps to neutralize the acidic environment of the male urethra as well as that of the female reproductive tract.

Prostate Gland:

• It is large and lobulated. 
• It pours alkaline secretion through 20-30 openings into the urethra. 
• This secretion contains lipids, bicarbonate ions, enzymes (phosphatases, amylase, pepsinogen) and a small amount of citric acid.

Pair of Cowper’s Gland:

• A pair of Cowper’s Gland is present on either side of the proximal part of the urethra.
• Its secretion helps in lubrication of the vagina for smooth movement of the penis during copulation.

Note: The secretion of these glands is called the seminal plasma. Along with the sperm, the seminal plasma constitutes the semen.