Scrotum: Difference between revisions
m added section Function from WP |
m adjusted interwiki link |
||
| (5 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
The '''scrotum''' is found in most male mammals, including humans. It is the sack that contains the testes. In humans the scrotum hangs just below the [[penis]]. It is described as follows: | The '''scrotum''' is found in most male mammals, including humans. It is the sack that contains the testes. In humans the scrotum hangs just below the [[penis]]. It is described as follows: | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
the pouch that contains the testes and their accessory organs. It is composed of skin, the tunica dartos, fascia, and the tunica vaginalis testis. Each testis is connected to a cremaster muscle descending from the abdominal wall. During cold weather these muscles draw the testes closer to the body to maintain their temperature, and in hot weather the reverse occurs; the scrotum usually follows this movement.<ref>{{REFweb | the pouch that contains the testes and their accessory organs. It is composed of [[skin]], the tunica dartos, fascia, and the tunica vaginalis testis. Each testis is connected to a cremaster muscle descending from the abdominal wall. During cold weather these muscles draw the testes closer to the body to maintain their temperature, and in hot weather the reverse occurs; the scrotum usually follows this movement.<ref>{{REFweb | ||
|url=https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/scrotum | |url=https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/scrotum | ||
|title=Scrotum | |title=Scrotum | ||
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
|location=Dubuque, {{USSC|IA}} | |location=Dubuque, {{USSC|IA}} | ||
|publisher=William C. Brown Publishers | |publisher=William C. Brown Publishers | ||
| | |ISBN=978-0697056757 | ||
|date=1989 | |date=1989 | ||
|pages=935-6 | |pages=935-6 | ||
}}</ref>. Temperature control is accomplished by the smooth muscles of the scrotum moving the testicles either closer to or further away from the abdomen dependent upon the ambient temperature. This is accomplished by the cremaster muscle in the abdomen and the [[dartos]] fascia (muscular tissue under the skin).<ref name="Van de Graaff 1989"/> | }}</ref>. Temperature control is accomplished by the smooth muscles of the scrotum moving the testicles either closer to or further away from the abdomen dependent upon the ambient temperature. This is accomplished by the cremaster muscle in the abdomen and the [[dartos]] fascia (muscular tissue under the [[skin]]).<ref name="Van de Graaff 1989"/> | ||
Having the scrotum and testicles situated outside the abdominal cavity may provide additional advantages. The external scrotum is not affected by abdominal pressure. This may prevent the emptying of the testes before the sperm were matured sufficiently for fertilization<ref name="Van de Graaff 1989"/>. Another advantage is it protects the testes from jolts and compressions associated with an active lifestyle. Animals that move at a steady pace – such as elephants, whales, and marsupial moles – have internal testes and no scrotum.<ref>{{REFweb | Having the scrotum and testicles situated outside the abdominal cavity may provide additional advantages. The external scrotum is not affected by abdominal pressure. This may prevent the emptying of the testes before the sperm were matured sufficiently for fertilization<ref name="Van de Graaff 1989"/>. Another advantage is it protects the testes from jolts and compressions associated with an active lifestyle. Animals that move at a steady pace – such as elephants, whales, and marsupial moles – have internal testes and no scrotum.<ref>{{REFweb | ||
| Line 45: | Line 45: | ||
|title=Reproductive Physiology of Marsupials | |title=Reproductive Physiology of Marsupials | ||
|publisher=Cambridge University Press | |publisher=Cambridge University Press | ||
| | |ISBN=978-0-521-33792-2 | ||
}}</ref><ref>{{REFbook | }}</ref><ref>{{REFbook | ||
|last=Hyman | |last=Hyman | ||
| Line 55: | Line 55: | ||
|publisher=University of Chicago Press | |publisher=University of Chicago Press | ||
|pages=583– | |pages=583– | ||
| | |ISBN=978-0-226-87013-7 | ||
}}</ref><ref>{{REFbook | }}</ref><ref>{{REFbook | ||
|last=Jones | |last=Jones | ||
| Line 69: | Line 69: | ||
|title=Predators with Pouches: The Biology of Carnivorous Marsupials | |title=Predators with Pouches: The Biology of Carnivorous Marsupials | ||
|publisher=Csiro Publishing | |publisher=Csiro Publishing | ||
| | |ISBN=978-0-643-06634-2 | ||
}}</ref><ref>{{REFbook | }}</ref><ref>{{REFbook | ||
|last=Saunders | |last=Saunders | ||
| Line 80: | Line 80: | ||
|title=Marsupial Biology: Recent Research, New Perspectives | |title=Marsupial Biology: Recent Research, New Perspectives | ||
|publisher=UNSW Press | |publisher=UNSW Press | ||
| | |ISBN=978-0-86840-311-3 | ||
}}</ref> which is not homologous to the scrotum of placental mammals,<ref>{{REFbook | }}</ref> which is not homologous to the scrotum of placental mammals,<ref>{{REFbook | ||
|last=Armati | |last=Armati | ||
| Line 95: | Line 95: | ||
|title=Marsupials | |title=Marsupials | ||
|publisher=Cambridge University Press | |publisher=Cambridge University Press | ||
| | |ISBN=978-1-139-45742-2 | ||
}}</ref> | }}</ref> | ||
although there are several marsupial species without an external scrotum.<ref>{{REFbook | although there are several marsupial species without an external scrotum.<ref>{{REFbook | ||
| Line 104: | Line 104: | ||
|title=Life of Marsupials | |title=Life of Marsupials | ||
|publisher=Csiro Publishing | |publisher=Csiro Publishing | ||
| | |ISBN=978-0-643-06257-3 | ||
}}</ref> In humans, the scrotum may provide some friction during intercourse, helping to enhance the activity.<ref>{{REFbook | }}</ref> In humans, the scrotum may provide some friction during intercourse, helping to enhance the activity.<ref>{{REFbook | ||
|last=Jones | |last=Jones | ||
| Line 113: | Line 113: | ||
|publisher=Academic Press | |publisher=Academic Press | ||
|page=74 | |page=74 | ||
| | |ISBN=9780123821850 | ||
|quote=The rear-entry position of mating may allow the scrotum to stimulate the clitoris and, in this way, may produce an orgasm ... | |quote=The rear-entry position of mating may allow the scrotum to stimulate the clitoris and, in this way, may produce an orgasm ... | ||
}}</ref> | }}</ref> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
==Scrotal injury== | |||
Bar-Yosef et al. (2019) reported twelve cases of [[circumcision]] injuries which involved the scrotum during [[Brit Milah| ritual circumcision]]. The injuries were described as "mostly superficial", however six required treatment under anaesthesia or in the emergency department.<ref name="bar-yosef2019">{{REFjournal | |||
|last=Ban-Yosef | |||
|first= | |||
|init=Y | |||
|author-link= | |||
|last2=Dekalo | |||
|first2= | |||
|init2=S | |||
|author2-link= | |||
|last3=Bar-Yaakov | |||
|first3= | |||
|init3=N | |||
|author3-link= | |||
|last4=Binyamini | |||
|first4= | |||
|init4=J6 | |||
|author4-link= | |||
|last5=Sofer | |||
|first5= | |||
|init5=M | |||
|author5-link= | |||
|last6=Ben-Chaim | |||
|first6= | |||
|init6=J | |||
|author6-link= | |||
|last7= | |||
|first7= | |||
|init7= | |||
|author7-link= | |||
|last8= | |||
|first8= | |||
|init8= | |||
|author8-link= | |||
|last9= | |||
|first9= | |||
|init9= | |||
|author9-link= | |||
|etal=yes | |||
|title=Scrotal injuries during neonatal circumcision | |||
|trans-title= | |||
|language= | |||
|journal=J Pediatr Urol | |||
|location= | |||
|date=2019-02 | |||
|volume=15 | |||
|issue=1 | |||
|article= | |||
|page= | |||
|pages=69e1-e3 | |||
|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1477513118304248 | |||
|archived= | |||
|quote= | |||
|pubmedID=30449678 | |||
|pubmedCID= | |||
|DOI=10.1016/j.jpurol.2018.10.009 | |||
|accessdate=2022-01-18 | |||
}}</ref> | |||
{{REF}} | {{REF}} | ||
[[Category:Penile anatomy]] | |||
[[de:Skrotum]] | |||