Accessory glands
The function of the accessory glands is to secrete SeminaIJIuids which:
Increase the volume of the ejaculate to aid the passage of sperm into the female tract Provide the correct environment for sperm survival
Neutralise the acidity of the urine w ithin the urethra.
There are two types of glands (Figs 11.1 and 11.2):
1. Prostate gland - the gland is bilobcd and lies on the floor of the pelvis, surrounding the urethra. In the dog. it is close to the neck of the bladder: in the cat. there is a short preprostatic urethra cranial to the gland (see Ch. 10). Enlargement of the prostate may obstruct the passage of faeces as they pass down the rectum, which Iiesdorsal to the gland writhin the pelvic cavity.
2. Bulbourethral glands - found only in (he tomcat.
They lie on either side of the urethra, cranial to the ischial arch (Fig. 11.2).