scrotum

Anatomie des

Skrotums.

Scrotum •

Pampiniform plexus (Gray's illustration) - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

D'Souza, D. Pampiniform plexus (Gray's illustration). Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 21 Oct 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-36090 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Seminal

vesicle • Anatomy of the penis (Gray's illustration) - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Hacking, C. Anatomy of the penis (Gray's illustration). Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 21 Oct 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-81765 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Epididymis

• Testes and spermatic cord (Gray's illustration) - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Hacking, C. Testes and spermatic cord (Gray's illustration). Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 21 Oct 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-81749 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Radiopaedia • CC-by-nc-sa 3.0 • de

The scrotum (plural: scrota or scrotums) is a dual-chambered protuberance of skin and muscle that contains the testes, epididymides, and spermatic cord. It consists of two chambers separated by a septum. It is an extension of the perineum and is located between the penis and anus.

Gross anatomy

The scrotal wall is composed of several layers and normally measures 2-8 mm . It is composed of the following structures from superficial to deep :

pigmented skin with rugal folds
superficial fascia and dartos muscle
external spermatic fascia: continuation of external oblique abdominis muscle aponeurosis
cremasteric fascia: continuation of internal oblique abdominis muscle aponeurosis
internal spermatic fascia: continuation of transversus abdominis muscle aponeurosis (transversalis fascia)
tunica vaginalis
tunica albuginea which covers the testes

A mnemonic to recall these layers is:

Some Damn Englishman Called It The Testes

The tunica albuginea and tunica vaginalis respectively form the serous and fibrous layers around the testes, with a trace of fluid in between. Except for a small posterior area, the tunica vaginalis surrounds the testes .

Arterial supply

Scrotal blood supply is formed by posterior scrotal branches of the perineal artery (from the internal pudendal artery), anterior scrotal branches of the deep external pudendal artery (from the common femoral artery) and the cremasteric artery (from the inferior epigastric artery).

Venous drainage

A series of scrotal veins accompany the arteries. Numerous arteriovenous fistulae are common.

Lymphatic drainage

As scrotal lymphatics do not cross the septum, lymphatics drain to the ipsilateral superficial inguinal nodes.

Innervation

anterior 1/3: ilioinguinal and genitofemoral nerves (L1)
posterior 2/3: perineal and posterior femoral cutaneous nerves (S3)

Variant anatomy

congenital agenesis
penoscrotal transposition (scrotum located superior and anterior to penis)

History and etymology

"Scrotum" is directly borrowed from the same Latin word, itself thought to be a variant of the Latin "scortum" (skin/hide, or things made with leather, such as a purse or quiver).