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)
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| Details | |
| Latin | Funiculus spermaticus |
| Identifiers | |
| MeSH | A05.360.444.777 |
| TA | Lua error in Module:Wikidata at line 744: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| TH | {{#property:P1694}} |
| TE | {{#property:P1693}} |
| FMA | {{#property:P1402}} |
| Anatomical terminology
[[[d:Lua error in Module:Wikidata at line 863: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).|edit on Wikidata]]]
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The spermatic cord is the cord-like structure in males formed by the vas deferens (ductus deferens) and surrounding tissue that runs from the deep inguinal ring down to each testicle. Its serosal covering, the tunica vaginalis, is an extension of the peritoneum that passes through the transversalis fascia.
Contents
Structure
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
Function
Contents
- Arteries: testicular artery, deferential artery, cremasteric artery
- Nerves: nerve to cremaster (genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve), testicular nerves (sympathetic nerves) and the ilio-inguinal nerve- Ilio-inguinal nerve not inside spermatic cord, but runs along the outside.
- 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.
Clinical significance
The spermatic cord is sensitive to torsion, in which the testicle rotates within its sac and blocks its own blood supply. Testicular torsion may result in irreversible damage to the testicle within hours. A collection of serous fluid in the spermatic cord is named 'funiculocele'.
The contents of the abdominal cavity may protrude into the inguinal canal, producing an indirect inguinal hernia.
Varicose veins of the spermatic cord are referred to as varicocele. Though often asymptomatic, about one in four people with varicocele have negatively affected fertility.[2]
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
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Spermatic cord
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Superficial veins oflower limb.Superficial dissection.Anterior view.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Figure 3.
- ↑ https://www.varicocelehealing.com/info.html
External links
- Anatomy figure: 36:01-00 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The inguinal canal and derivation of the layers of the spermatic cord."
- Anatomy image:7509 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Cross section image: pembody/body18b - Plastination Laboratory at the Medical University of Vienna
- Cross section image: pelvis/pelvis-e12-15 - Plastination Laboratory at the Medical University of Vienna
- inguinalregion at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (spermaticcord)
