Editing Scrotum & Spermatic Cord

== Gross Structure ==

* '''Median raphe'''
** Runs longitudinally in the midline from the urethral meatus to the anus
** '''The arteries, veins, lymphatics, and nerves of the scrotum do not cross the raphe'''
** Deep to the raphe, the scrotum is divided by a septum into two compartments, each containing a testis.
* '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Layers of the scrotum (superficial to deep): <span style="color:#0000ff">Some Damn Englishman Called It The Tidy Testis</span>'''
*# '''<span style="color:#0000ff">S</span><span style="color:#ff0000">kin</span>'''
*# '''<span style="color:#0000ff">D</span><span style="color:#ff0000">artos</span>'''
*# '''<span style="color:#0000ff">E</span><span style="color:#ff0000">xternal spermatic fascia</span>'''
*# '''<span style="color:#0000ff">C</span><span style="color:#ff0000">remaster</span>'''
*# '''<span style="color:#0000ff">I</span><span style="color:#ff0000">nternal spermatic fascia</span>'''
*# '''<span style="color:#0000ff">T</span><span style="color:#ff0000">unica vaginalis</span>'''
*# '''<span style="color:#0000ff">T</span><span style="color:#ff0000">unica albuginea</span>'''
*# '''<span style="color:#0000ff">T</span><span style="color:#ff0000">unica vasculosa</span>'''
*# '''<span style="color:#0000ff">T</span><span style="color:#ff0000">esticle</span>'''
* '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Layers of the anterior abdominal wall extend to form parts of the scrotal wall:'''
** '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Scarpa fascia extends to form the dartos smooth muscle (and the dartos fascia of the penis)'''
***'''<span style="color:#ff0000">Also continuous with Colle’s fascia'''
****Clinical implication: [[Fournier's Gangrene]] can involve the dartos smooth muscle of the scrotum and spread to involve the scarpa fascia of the abdominal wall. However, the spread to the anal margin is limited posteriorly by the attachment of the Colles' fascia to the perineal body.
** '''<span style="color:#ff0000">External oblique extends to form the external spermatic fascia</span>'''
***Clinical implication: During debridement for Fournier's Gangrene, the external spermatic fascia of the scrotum and the external oblique muscle can usually be spared.
** '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Internal oblique extends to form the cremaster muscle</span>''' 
** '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Transversalis fascia extends to form the the internal spermatic fascia</span>'''
* '''The parietal and visceral tunica vaginalis are peritoneal derivatives that surrounds the testis''' with a mesothelium-lined pouch.
** '''The tunica vaginalis is continuous with the testis posterolaterally at its mesentery, where it is attached to the scrotal wall.'''
* '''The gubernaculum fixes the testis at its inferior pole'''
* '''Absence of gubernaculum and testicular mesentery is known as Bell-Clapper deformity and predisposes testicle to torsion'''

== Vasculature ==

=== Arterial supply ===

* '''The external pudendal arteries supply the anterior wall of the scrotum'''. The arteries run parallel to the rugae
* The posterior aspect of the scrotum has arterial supply from perineal branches.
* '''The testicles and internal/external spermatic fascia can be preserved during debridement of a Fournier’s gangrene because of different blood supply than scrotum. Only the skin and dartos need to be taken'''

=== Venous drainage ===

* '''The external pudendal veins drain the anterior scrotal wall'''. The veins run parallel to the rugae

== Lymphatic Drainage ==

* '''Scrotal lymphatics do not cross the median raphe'''
* '''Drain into the superficial inguinal nodes on the ipsilateral side.'''

== Innervation ==

* '''Anterior scrotal wall: branches of the ilioinguinal (L1) and genital branch of the genitofemoral (L1-L2) nerves'''. The nerves run parallel to the rugae
* '''Posterior scrotal wall: branches of the perineal (derived from pudendal nerve) and posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (S3)'''

== Spermatic cord ==

* '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Contents:</span>'''
*# '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Vas deferens (found posteriorly)</span>'''
*# '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Testicular artery [and deferential and cremestaric arteries?]</span>'''
*# '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Pampiniform plexus and testicular vein</span>'''
*# '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Spermatic fascia and cremasterics</span>'''
*# '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Lymphatics</span>'''
*# '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Genital branch of genitofemoral nerve</span>'''
* '''<span style="color:#ff0000">The ilio-inguinal nerve is not located inside the spermatic cord</span>, but runs along the outside of it, in the inguinal canal. The ilioinguinal nerve runs in the cremaster layer and can be effectively spared by opening the cremaster and separating it from the remainder of the cord. The nerve does not have to be individually dissected.'''

== Questions ==

# What are the layers of the scrotum?
# Which layers of the abdomen contribute layers to the spermatic fascia?
# Which defects comprise the “Bell-Clapper” deformity?
# What provides innervation to the anterior scrotum?

== Answers ==

# What are the layers of the scrotum?
## Skin
## Dartos
## External spermatic fascia
## Cremaster
## Internal spermatic cascia
## Tunica vaginalis
## Tunica albuginea
## Tunica vasculosa
## Testis
# Which layers of the abdomen contribute layers to the spermatic fascia?
#* External spermatic fascia – External oblique
#* Cremaster – internal oblique
#* Internal spermatic fascia – transversalis fascia
# Which defects comprise the “Bell-Clapper” deformity?
#* Absence of gubernaculum and posterior fixation of testicle
# What provides innervation to the anterior scrotum?
## Ilioinguinal (L1)
## Genital branch of genitofemoral (L1, L2)

== References ==

* Wein AJ, Kavoussi LR, Partin AW, Peters CA (eds): CAMPBELL-WALSH UROLOGY, ed 11. Philadelphia, Elsevier, 2015, chap 21