Editing Seminal vesicles (section)

{{Short description|Pair of simple tubular glands}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox anatomy
| Name        = Seminal vesicle
| Latin       = vesiculae seminales, glandulae vesiculosae
| Greek       =
| Image       = Male anatomy 1.png
| Caption     = Cross-section of the lower [[abdomen]] in a male, showing parts of the [[urinary tract]] and [[male reproductive system]], with the seminal vesicles seen top right
| Width       = 300
| Image2      = Gray1160.png
| Caption2    = The seminal vesicles seen near the [[prostate]], viewed from in front and above.
| Precursor   = [[Mesonephric duct]]s
| System      = [[Male reproductive system]]
| Artery      = [[Inferior vesical artery]], [[middle rectal artery]]
| Vein        =
| Nerve       =
| Lymph       = [[External iliac lymph nodes]], [[internal iliac lymph nodes]]
}}

The '''seminal vesicles''' (also called '''vesicular glands'''<ref Name="Wilke">{{cite book|title= Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals|author1=Rowen D. Frandson |author2=W. Lee Wilke |author3=Anna Dee Fails |year= 2009|publisher= John Wiley and Sons|isbn= 978-0-8138-1394-3|edition= 7th|chapter= Anatomy of the Male Reproductive System|page= 409|chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=I9ZZkwnFLN0C&pg=PT409}}</ref> or '''seminal glands''') are a pair of convoluted tubular [[Male accessory gland|accessory glands]] that lie behind the [[urinary bladder]] of [[Sexual reproduction#Male|male mammals]]. They secrete fluid that largely composes the [[semen]].

The vesicles are 5–10&nbsp;cm in size, 3–5&nbsp;cm in diameter, and are located between the [[urinary bladder|bladder]] and the [[rectum]]. They have multiple outpouchings, which contain secretory glands, which join together with the [[vas deferens|vasa deferentia]] at the [[ejaculatory duct]]s. They receive blood from the [[vesiculodeferential artery]], and drain into the vesiculodeferential veins. The glands are lined with [[columnar epithelium|column-shaped]] and [[cuboidal epithelium|cuboidal]] cells. The vesicles are present in many groups of mammals, but not marsupials, monotremes or carnivores.

Inflammation of the seminal vesicles is called seminal vesiculitis and most often is due to bacterial infection as a result of a [[sexually transmitted infection]] or following a surgical procedure. Seminal vesiculitis can cause pain in the lower abdomen, scrotum, penis or [[peritoneum]], painful [[ejaculation]], and [[haematospermia|blood in the semen]]. It is usually treated with antibiotics, although may require surgical drainage in complicated cases. Other conditions may affect the vesicles, including congenital abnormalities such as failure or incomplete formation, and, uncommonly, tumours.

The seminal vesicles have been described as early as the second century AD by [[Galen]], although the vesicles only received their name much later, as they were initially described using the term from which the word [[prostate]] is derived.