Ejaculatory duct

Ejaculation Ejaculation occurs in two stages, the emission stage and the expulsion stage. The emission stage involves the workings of several structures of the ejaculatory duct; contractions of the prostate gland, the seminal vesicles, the bulbourethral gland and the vas deferens push fluids into the prostatic urethra. Sperm are produced in the testes and enter the ejaculatory ducts via the vas deferens. As they pass by the seminal vesicles, a fluid rich in fructose combines with the sperm. This addition nourishes the sperm in order to keep them active and motile. Seminal fluid continues down the ejaculatory duct into the prostate gland, where an alkaline prostatic fluid is added. Ejaculation and orgasm may occur simultaneously, however they are not coupled, in that one may occur without the other. For example, a man may have a dry orgasm (termed retrograde ejaculation); there is no expulsion of ejaculate however the man still experiences orgasm. Also, paraplegics may ejaculate seminal fluid but not experience the sensation of orgasm. ==Clinical relevance==

Ejaculatory duct obstruction Ejaculatory duct obstruction is an acquired or congenital pathological condition in which one or both ejaculatory ducts are obstructed. In the case that both ejaculatory ducts are obstructed, this illness presents with the symptoms of aspermia and male infertility. Benign prostatic hyperplasia Surgery to correct benign prostatic hyperplasia may destroy these ducts resulting in retrograde ejaculation. Retrograde ejaculation empties the seminal fluid formed in the emission phase into the bladder of the male instead of expelling it through the urethra and out the tip of the penis. This results in a dry orgasm, where orgasm may still be experienced but without expulsion of semen from the ejaculatory ducts. ==Additional images==

File:Illu prostate lobes.jpg|Lobes of prostate File:Gray1156.png|Vertical section of bladder, penis and urethra File:Gray1160.png|Prostate with seminal vesicles and seminal ducts, viewed from in front and above File:Gray1228.png|Median sagittal section of male pelvis File:Prostatic urethra.svg|Dissection of prostate showing ejaculatory ducts opening into the prostatic urethra ==See also==