Scrotum
Disclosures
- updated 19 Oct 2022:
Nothing to disclose
Updates to Article Attributes
Body
was changed:
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 1. It is composed of the following structures from superficial to deep 1:
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 transversalis fascia
)tunica albuginea which covers the testes
A mnemonic to recall these layers is:
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 1.
See also: testicular and scrotal ultrasound
Contents
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).
Related pathology
-
neoplastic
-
non-neoplastichydroceleFournier gangrenescrotal lymphedema (elephantiasis)
-
scrotal infectionsnon-neoplastic
-
others -
others
-<li>pigmented skin with rugal folds</li>-<li>superficial fascia and <a href="/articles/dartos-muscle">dartos</a> muscle</li>-<li>external spermatic fascia: continuation of <a href="/articles/external-oblique-muscle-eom">external oblique abdominis muscle</a> aponeurosis</li>-<li>cremasteric fascia: continuation of <a href="/articles/internal-oblique-muscle">internal oblique abdominis muscle</a> aponeurosis</li>-<li>internal spermatic fascia: continuation of <a href="/articles/transversus-abdominis-muscle">transversus abdominis muscle</a> aponeurosis (<a href="/articles/transversalis-fascia">transversalis fascia</a>)</li>-<li><a href="/articles/tunica-vaginalis-testis">tunica vaginalis</a></li>-<li>-<a href="/articles/tunica-albuginea-testis">tunica albuginea</a> which covers the testes</li>-</ul><p>A <strong>mnemonic</strong> to recall these layers is: </p><ul><li><a href="/articles/layers-of-the-scrotum-mnemonic">Some Damn Englishman Called It The Testes</a></li></ul><p>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 <sup>1</sup>.</p><p>See also: <a href="/articles/testicular-and-scrotal-ultrasound">testicular and scrotal ultrasound</a></p><h5>Contents</h5><ul>-<li><a href="/articles/testis-1">testes</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/epididymis">epididymides</a></li>-<li>-<a href="/articles/testicular-appendages">testicular</a> and <a href="/articles/testicular-appendages">epididymal appendages</a>-</li>-<li>distal <a href="/articles/spermatic-cord">spermatic cord</a>-</li>-</ul><h4>Arterial supply</h4><p>Scrotal blood supply is formed by <a title="posterior scrotal artery" href="/articles/posterior-scrotal-artery">posterior scrotal branches</a> of the <a title="Perineal artery" href="/articles/perineal-artery">perineal artery</a> (from the <a href="/articles/internal-pudendal-artery-1">internal pudendal artery</a>), anterior scrotal branches of the deep <a href="/articles/external-pudendal">external pudendal artery<strong> </strong></a>(from the <a href="/articles/femoral-artery">common femoral artery</a>) and the <a href="/articles/cremasteric-artery">cremasteric artery</a> (from the <a href="/articles/inferior-epigastric-artery">inferior epigastric artery</a>). </p><h4>Venous drainage</h4><p>A series of scrotal veins accompany the arteries. Numerous arteriovenous fistulae are common.</p><h4>Lymphatic drainage</h4><p>As scrotal lymphatics do not cross the septum, lymphatics drain to the ipsilateral <a href="/articles/superficial-inguinal-lymph-nodes">superficial inguinal nodes</a>.</p><h4>Innervation</h4><ul>-<li>anterior 1/3: <a href="/articles/ilioinguinal-nerve">ilioinguinal</a> and <a href="/articles/genitofemoral-nerve">genitofemoral nerves</a> (L1)</li>-<li>posterior 2/3: <a href="/articles/perineal-nerve">perineal</a> and <a href="/articles/posterior-femoral-cutaneous-nerve">posterior femoral cutaneous nerves</a> (S3)</li>- +<li><p>pigmented skin with rugal folds</p></li>
- +<li><p>superficial fascia and <a href="/articles/dartos-muscle">dartos</a> muscle</p></li>
- +<li><p>external spermatic fascia: continuation of <a href="/articles/external-oblique-muscle-eom">external oblique abdominis muscle</a> aponeurosis</p></li>
- +<li><p>cremasteric fascia: continuation of <a href="/articles/internal-oblique-muscle">internal oblique abdominis muscle</a> aponeurosis</p></li>
- +<li><p>internal spermatic fascia: continuation of <a href="/articles/transversalis-fascia" title="Transversalis fascia">transversalis fascia</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/tunica-vaginalis-testis">tunica vaginalis</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/tunica-albuginea-testis">tunica albuginea</a> which covers the testes</p></li>
- +</ul><p>A <strong>mnemonic</strong> to recall these layers is: </p><ul><li><p><a href="/articles/layers-of-the-scrotum-mnemonic">Some Damn Englishman Called It The Testes</a></p></li></ul><p>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 <sup>1</sup>.</p><p>See also: <a href="/articles/testicular-and-scrotal-ultrasound">testicular and scrotal ultrasound</a></p><h5>Contents</h5><ul>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/testis-1">testes</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/epididymis">epididymides</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/testicular-appendages">testicular</a> and <a href="/articles/testicular-appendages">epididymal appendages</a></p></li>
- +<li><p>distal <a href="/articles/spermatic-cord">spermatic cord</a></p></li>
- +</ul><h4>Arterial supply</h4><p>Scrotal blood supply is formed by <a href="/articles/posterior-scrotal-artery" title="posterior scrotal artery">posterior scrotal branches</a> of the <a href="/articles/perineal-artery" title="Perineal artery">perineal artery</a> (from the <a href="/articles/internal-pudendal-artery-1">internal pudendal artery</a>), anterior scrotal branches of the deep <a href="/articles/external-pudendal">external pudendal artery<strong> </strong></a>(from the <a href="/articles/femoral-artery">common femoral artery</a>) and the <a href="/articles/cremasteric-artery">cremasteric artery</a> (from the <a href="/articles/inferior-epigastric-artery">inferior epigastric artery</a>). </p><h4>Venous drainage</h4><p>A series of scrotal veins accompany the arteries. Numerous arteriovenous fistulae are common.</p><h4>Lymphatic drainage</h4><p>As scrotal lymphatics do not cross the septum, lymphatics drain to the ipsilateral <a href="/articles/superficial-inguinal-lymph-nodes">superficial inguinal nodes</a>.</p><h4>Innervation</h4><ul>
- +<li><p>anterior 1/3: <a href="/articles/ilioinguinal-nerve">ilioinguinal</a> and <a href="/articles/genitofemoral-nerve">genitofemoral nerves</a> (L1)</p></li>
- +<li><p>posterior 2/3: <a href="/articles/perineal-nerve">perineal</a> and <a href="/articles/posterior-femoral-cutaneous-nerve">posterior femoral cutaneous nerves</a> (S3)</p></li>
-<li>congenital agenesis</li>-<li>penoscrotal transposition (scrotum located superior and anterior to penis)</li>- +<li><p>congenital agenesis</p></li>
- +<li><p>penoscrotal transposition (scrotum located superior and anterior to penis)</p></li>
-<li>neoplastic<ul>-<li><a href="/articles/fibrous-pseudotumour-of-the-scrotum">fibrous pseudotumour of the scrotum</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/angiomyofibroblastoma-like-tumour-of-scrotum-1">angiomyofibroblastoma-like tumour of the scrotum</a></li>- +<li>
- +<p>neoplastic</p>
- +<ul>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/fibrous-pseudotumour-of-the-scrotum">fibrous pseudotumour of the scrotum</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/angiomyofibroblastoma-like-tumour-of-scrotum-1">angiomyofibroblastoma-like tumour of the scrotum</a></p></li>
-<li>non-neoplastic<ul>-<li><a href="/articles/hydrocele-2">hydrocele</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/fournier-gangrene">Fournier gangrene</a></li>-<li>scrotal lymphedema (elephantiasis)</li>- +<li>
- +<p>non-neoplastic</p>
- +<ul>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/hydrocele-2">hydrocele</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/fournier-gangrene">Fournier gangrene</a></p></li>
- +<li><p>scrotal lymphoedema (elephantiasis)</p></li>
-<a href="/articles/scrotal-infections">scrotal infections</a><ul>-<li><a href="/articles/scrotal-filariasis">scrotal filariasis</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/scrotal-cellulitis">scrotal cellulitis</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/scrotal-abscess">scrotal abscess</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/fournier-gangrene">Fournier gangrene</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/epididymitis">epididymitis</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/epididymo-orchitis">epididymo-orchitis</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/orchitis">orchitis</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/testicular-abscess">testicular abscess</a></li>- +<p><a href="/articles/scrotal-infections">scrotal infections</a></p>
- +<ul>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/scrotal-filariasis">scrotal filariasis</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/scrotal-cellulitis">scrotal cellulitis</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/scrotal-abscess">scrotal abscess</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/fournier-gangrene">Fournier gangrene</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/epididymitis">epididymitis</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/epididymo-orchitis">epididymo-orchitis</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/orchitis">orchitis</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/testicular-abscess">testicular abscess</a></p></li>
-<li>others<ul>-<li><a href="/articles/scrotolith">scrotolith</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/idiopathic-scrotal-calcinosis">idiopathic scrotal calcinosis</a></li>- +<li>
- +<p>others</p>
- +<ul>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/scrotolith">scrotolith</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/idiopathic-scrotal-calcinosis">idiopathic scrotal calcinosis</a></p></li>
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