Spermatic cord
| Spermatic cord | |
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| Anatomy of the human male reproductive system | |
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| The spermatic cord in the inguinal canal. (Label for spermatic cord in lower right.) | |
| Latin | funiculus spermaticus |
| Gray's | subject #258 1239 |
| MeSH | Spermatic+Cord |
The spermatic cord is the name given to the cord-like structure in males formed by the ductus deferens and surrounding tissue that run from the abdomen down to each testicle.
Contents |
[edit] Contents of spermatic cord
- arteries: testicular artery, deferential artery, cremasteric artery
- nerves: nerve to cremaster (genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve), testicular nerves (sympathetic nerves)
- vas deferens (ductus deferens)
- pampiniform plexus
- lymphatic vessels
- tunica vaginalis (remains of the processus vaginalis)
The pampiniform plexus, testicular artery, artery of the ductus deferens, lymphatic vessels, testicular nerves, and ductus deferens all run deep to the internal spermatic fascia.[1] The genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve,[1] cremasteric artery, and ilioinguinal nerve all run on the superficial surface of the external spermatic fascia.
[edit] Coverings
The spermatic cord is ensheathed in three layers of tissue:
- external spermatic fascia, an extension of the innominate fascia that overlies the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle
- cremasteric muscle and fascia, formed from a continuation of the internal oblique muscle and its fascia
- internal spermatic fascia, continuous with the transversalis fascia
[edit] Clinical significance
The spermatic cord is sensitive to torsion, in which the testicle rotates within its sac and kinks off its own blood supply. Testicular torsion may result in irreversible damage to the testicle within hours.
The contents of the abdominal cavity may protrude into the inguinal canal, producing an indirect inguinal hernia.
[edit] Additional images
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The left femoral triangle
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The scrotum.
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The right testis, exposed by laying open the tunica vaginalis
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Spermatic cord
[edit] References
- ^ a b Shadbolt, Clair; Stefan B. J. Heinze, Rosalind B. Dietrich (2001). "Imaging of Groin Masses: Inguinal Anatomy and Pathologic Conditions Revisited". RadioGraphics. http://radiographics.rsna.org/content/21/suppl_1/S261.full. Retrieved 13 September 2010. Figure 3.
[edit] External links
- SUNY Figs 36:01-00 - "The inguinal canal and derivation of the layers of the spermatic cord."
- SUNY Anatomy Image 7509
- Cross section at UV pembody/body18b
- Cross section at UV pelvis/pelvis-e12-15
- inguinalregion at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (spermaticcord)
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