P

Scrotum : want to learn more about it?

Our engaging videos, interactive quizzes, in-depth articles and HD atlas

are here to get you top results faster.

What do you prefer to learn with?

VIDEOS

QUIZZES

BOTH

“I would honestly say that Kenhub cut my

study time in half.” – Read more.

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 Kim Bengochea, Regis University, Denver
P

Scrotum
Author: Carolyn Perry MSc, PhD • Reviewer: Dimitrios Mytilinaios MD, PhD y
Last reviewed: November 05, 2020
Reading time: 6 minutes

Very simply, the scrotum is a cutaneous sac that contains the testes, or testicles, and the lower parts of
the spermatic cord. Importantly, the scrotum allows the testes to be positioned outside of the body.

Key facts

Layers Skin, dartos fascia (dartos muscle)

Contents Testes, epididymis, vas deferens (spermatic cord)

Function Maintenance of proper temperature for spermatogenesis

Blood supply Posterior scrotal branches of the perineal artery, anterior scrotal branches of the superficial external pudendal
artery, cremasteric artery

Innervation Genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve, anterior scrotal nerves, posterior scrotal nerves, perineal branches
of the posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh

Clinical Cryptorchidism

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 To understand the significance of this anatomical structure and its location, this article will discuss the
development and anatomy of the scrotum, its contents and function, its blood and nerve supply, and the P
clinical significance of the scrotum, especially in infant males.

Contents

1. Development and anatomy

2. Contents
3. Function
+
4.Show all
Neurovascular supply

Development and anatomy

In the embryo, the scrotum develops from a pair of ridges or elevations, that form on either side of the
embryonic genital tubercle. The tubercle will later develop into the penis in the male, or the clitoris in
the female. The elevations on either side of the tubercle are known as labioscrotal swellings, as they
will later develop into either the scrotum in males, or into the labia majora in females. As the embryo
continues to develop and become a fetus, the separated pair of labioscrotal swellings will fuse at the
midline, creating one continuous sac, the scrotum. Towards the end of pregnancy, approximately 32
weeks, both testes have completed their descent from the posterior abdominal wall, through the
inguinal canal, to finally reach the scrotum.

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 P

Because of the pathway of descent through the anterior abdominal wall, the testes will be covered by
the layers of fascia and muscles (external and internal obliques, and transversus abdominis) associated
with the abdominal region. The scrotum however, has only two layers, because it develops separately
from the testes. Externally is the skin, and below the skin a layer of fascia known as dartos fascia. This
fascial layer is devoid of fat but does include smooth muscle fibers collectively known as the dartos
muscle. Since the fascial layer, including its muscle fibers, attaches to the overlying skin, when the
dartos muscle contracts it gives the scrotum its wrinkled appearance.

Dartos fascia (lateral-right view)

Internally, the dartos fascia will divide the scrotum into right and left compartments to house each of
the testes. This internal fascial septum, or wall, can be visualized externally as a ridge of skin known as
the scrotal raphe. The scrotal raphe indicates the line of fusion of the labioscrotal swellings in the
embryo.

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 Contents
P

As mentioned previously, the scrotum contains the testes and parts of the spermatic cord. The testes
are the site of sperm production, and as such, form the essential component of the male reproductive
system. Sperm leaves the testes via the epididymis, which then drains into the ductus or vas deferens.
The epididymis and lower portions of the ductus deferens are located within the scrotum. The ductus
deferens is joined by blood vessels supplying the testes, creating the contents of the spermatic cord.

Epididymis (lateral-right view)

Function

It is sperm production, or spermatogenesis, in the testes that highlights the essential function of the
scrotum. The production of sperm is most efficient within a small range of temperature. The presence
of the testes in the scrotum means they are located just outside of the body, allowing them to be
slightly cooler than the internal body temperature.

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 However, if the temperature of the testes drops, the dartos muscle of the scrotum, and the cremaster
muscle (one of the layers covering the testes), will contract, pulling the scrotum and the testes closer to P
the body. This will raise the temperature in the testes. On the other hand, if the temperature in the
testes is too high, the dartos and cremaster muscles can relax, lowering the scrotum and testes away
from the body, and consequently lowering the temperature of the testes.

Cremaster muscle (lateral-right view)

Neurovascular supply

Blood supply

Posterior scrotal branches of the perineal artery: Arise from the internal pudendal artery, which is a
branch on the internal iliac artery.
Anterior scrotal branches of the external pudendal artery: The external pudendal artery branches
directly from the femoral artery, a continuation of the external iliac artery.
Cremasteric artery: A branch of the inferior epigastric artery, which arises from the external iliac
artery.

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 Cremasteric artery (anterior view) P

Nerve supply

Genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve: Arising from the lumbar plexus, this branch (L1,2) supplies
the anterolateral surface of the scrotum.
Anterior scrotal nerves: These are branches of the ilioinguinal nerve (L1) from the lumbar plexus. They
supply the anterior surface of the scrotum.
Posterior scrotal nerves: Arise from the perineal branch of the pudendal nerve (S2-4) which forms
from the sacral plexus. They supply the posterior surface of the scrotum.
Perineal branches of the posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh: These branches arise from a nerve
from the sacral plexus, the posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh (S2,3). They supply the inferior
surface of the scrotum.

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 Posterior scrotal nerves (lateral-right view) P

Clinical notes

The presence of the scrotum and testes outside of the body is important for parents of newborn
male babies. In about 3% of full-term babies and 30% of premature infants, the testes do not
descend into the scrotum but remain inside the body. This irregular positioning of the testes is
called cryptorchidism and it is detectable because the scrotum is located outside of the body,
and can be palpated to check for the presence of both testes. This is an important check to
perform as cryptorchidism affects the fertility and also undescended testes are at a greater risk
of becoming malignant or cancerous.

Scrotum : want to learn more about it?

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 Our engaging videos, interactive quizzes, in-depth articles and HD atlas
are here to get you top results faster. P
What do you prefer to learn with?

VIDEOS

QUIZZES

BOTH

“I would honestly say that Kenhub cut my

study time in half.” – Read more.

Kim Bengochea, Regis University, Denver

a Show references

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 P

INFO

Pricing
License illustrations

ABOUT US

Team
Partners
Jobs
Contact
Imprint
Terms
Privacy

s G F

ANATOMY

Basics
U t it
Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 Upper extremity
Lower extremity P
Spine and back
Thorax
Abdomen and pelvis
Head and neck
Neuroanatomy
Cross sections

HISTOLOGY

General
Systems
Fetal tissues

MEDICAL IMAGING

Head and neck

Abdomen and pelvis
Upper extremity
Lower extremity
Thorax

HOW TO STUDY

Anatomy learning strategies

Free eBook
Labeling diagrams
Flashcard eBooks
Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 Benefits of Kenhub
Success stories
P

OUR QUALITY COMMITMENT

Grounded on academic literature and research, validated by experts, and trusted by more than 1 million users. Read
more.

Copyright © 2021 Kenhub. All rights reserved.

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD