Male Genitalia
Allotted Time:
References:
Instructional Aids:
Terminal Learning Objective: To recognize potential problems and perform the needed exam.
Enabling Learning Objective:
- Identify different components of the male genitalia.
- Identify disorders of the male genitalia.
- Identify disorders of the anus and rectum.
- Penis
- Inspection
- skin: obvious scars, lesions, etc.
- foreskin: retract foreskin to detect chancres, carcinoma.
- Smegma: cheesy white material, accumulates under the foreskin. Sign of poor hygiene.
- Phimosis: tight prepuce that can not be retracted.
- Paraphimosis: tight prepuce that can be retracted but gets caught behind the glans and cannot be returned.
- Glans
- ulcers
- balanitis: inflammation of the glans
- balanoposthitis: inflammation of the glans and prepuce
- Base of penis
- excoriations
- check pubic region for nits, lice (crabs).
- Urethral Meatus:
- location
- hypospadias: Meatus displaced to inferior surface.
- epispadias: Meatus displaced to superior surface.
- Urethral Discharge
- Compress glans between thumb and index finger to express material.
- Gonococcal urethritis: usually profuse and yellow.
- Non-gonococcal urethritis: scanty, white or clear.
- Gram stain discharge.
- Palpation
- Palpate shaft of penis between thumb and first two fingers.
- Replace prepuce if retracted.
- Note presence of induration.
- The Scrotum:
- Inspection
- Contour for lumps or swelling.
- Scrotal skin for nodules, ulcers, excoriation or inflammation.
- Absent testicle.
- Identify each spermatic cord and follow course to the external inguinal ring.
- Transilluminate any scrotal swellings in dark room with strong light. Swelling contains serous fluid which transilluminates.
- Palpation of testicles should be smooth throughout surface. Testicles should be of equal size.
- Hernias:
- Inspection
- Observe inguinal and femoral areas for bulges while patient strains. This is suggestive of a hernia.
- Palpation
- Use right hand for patients right side and left hand for patients left side.
- Follow spermatic cord to external inguinal ring.
- Have the patient cough or strain.
- A mass that touches the examining finger indicates a hernia (inguinal type).
- Inspect/palpate anterior thigh in the region of the femoral canal noting tenderness/swelling.
- Differentiate large scrotal mass
- With patient lying down, palpate mass in scrotum.
- If reduces, suspect hernia.
- If you can get fingers around the mass suspect hydrocele.
- Bowel sounds auscultated, suspect hernia.
- Incarcerated hernia: contents cannot be returned to abdominal cavity.
- Strangulated hernia: blood supply is compromised.
- Disorders of the male genitalia
- Penis
- Syphilitic chancre: dark red, painless ulcer. Has no tender inguinal lymphadenopathy.
- Genital herpes: cluster of small vesicles, followed by shallow, painful, nonindurated ulcers on red bases.
- Venereal warts: Rapidly growing, excrescences that are moist and often malodorous.
- Carcinoma of the penis: indurated nodule or ulcer that is nontender. Limited almost always to non circumcised patients.
- Scrotum
- Varicocele: Varicose veins of the spermatic cord. Fells like a bag of worms.
- Hydrocele: non tender, fluid filled mass.
- Spermatocele: painless, mobile cyctic mass just above the testes.
- Cancer: painless nodule on testicle. Young active duty are high risk age group - teach self examination.
- Epidiymitis: Tender, swollen, epididymis. Scrotum may be red and swollen.
- Acute orchitis: inflamed, tender, swollen testes.
- Testicular torsion: Twisting of the testicle on the spermatic cord. Acutely painful, tender and swollen. This is a surgical emergency.
- Cryptorchidism: undeveloped scrotum. Palpate for both testicles. Refer to MO.
- Anus and Rectum
- Exam
- Position patient on left side with legs slightly flexed.
- Spread buttocks apart with left hand.
- Inspect perianal areas for lumps, ulcers, inflammation, rashes, or excoriations.
- Lubricate gloved index finger and insert gently toward umbilicus as patient relaxes sphincter.
- Turn hand to examine anterior surfaces and prostate, feel to top of gland.
- Note other masses.
- Withdraw fingers and test stool for occult blood.
- Abnormalities of anus and rectum
- Pilonidal cyst/sinus tract
- Midline superficial to coccyx or lower sacrum.
- Identified by opening of sinus tract.
- Erythema may be present and a small tuft of hair.
- Anorectal fistula
- Inflammatory tract from anus or rectum to skin.
- Anal fissure
- Painful oval shaped ulceration usually midline posterior.
- Sentinel skin tag associated with it.
- Hemorrhoids: varicose veins of the rectum.
- external - below anorectal line.
- May be uncomplicated, vary in size
- Thrombosed hemorrhiods are tender, bluish, shiny ovid masses at the anal margin.
- More discomfort may be present than internal.
- internal - above anorectal line/covered by mucosa.
- soft, swelling, identified mainly by palpation.
- Carcinoma of the rectum
- Firm nodular mass with central ulceration and rolled edges.
- Polypoid masses may be malignant.
- Carcinoma of prostrate
- Irregular, hard single, multiple, or enlarged rock hard nodular surface and /or fixed mass.
- Benign prostate hypertrophy
- Smooth, firm, symmetric enlargement
- Sometimes loss of palpable median sulcus
- Prostatitis:
- swollen, enlarged
- very tender
- "boggy" to palpation
- associated with fever
DIAGRAMS OF THE MALE & FEMALE GENITALIA
Hospital Corpsman Sickcall Screeners Handbook
Naval Hospital, Great Lakes
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