Spermatic cord
| Spermatic cord | |
|---|---|
| File:Male anatomy.png Anatomy of the human male reproductive system | |
 The spermatic cord in the inguinal canal. (Label for spermatic cord in lower right.) | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | funiculus spermaticus |
| MeSH | D013085 |
| TA98 | A09.3.04.001 |
| TA2 | 3615 |
| FMA | 19937 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The spermatic cord is the name given to the cord-like structure in males formed by the vas deferens and surrounding tissue that run from the abdomen down to each testicle.
Contents of spermatic cord
- arteries: testicular artery, deferential artery, cremasteric artery
- nerves: nerve to cremaster (genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve) , sympathetic nerves
- vas deferens (ductus deferens)
- pampiniform plexus
- lymphatic vessels
- processus vaginalis (remains of)
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
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 spermatic cord, producing an indirect inguinal hernia.
Additional images
-
The left femoral triangle. -
The scrotum. -
The right testis, exposed by laying open the tunica vaginalis.
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)
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