Changes

|data10 = [[Artery of Duffy]]{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}}

|data12 = [[Genital branch of genitofemoral nerve]]

The '''dartos fascia''' or simply '''dartos''' is a layer of connective tissue found in the [[shaft skin|skin]] of the penile shaft]], [[foreskin]], and [[scrotum]].<ref name=Campbell10>{{REFbook

}}</ref> The penile portion is referred to as the '''superficial fascia of penis''' or the '''subcutaneous tissue of penis''',<ref>[http://www.unifr.ch/ifaa/Public/EntryPage/TA98%20Tree/Entity%20TA98%20EN/09.4.01.027%20Entity%20TA98%20EN.htm Terminologica Anatomica 98]</ref> while the scrotal part is the dartos proper. In addition to being continuous with itself between the [[scrotum ]] and the [[penis]], it is also continuous with Colles fascia of the perineum and Scarpa's fascia of the abdomen.<ref name=Campbell10 />

In the [[scrotum]], it consists mostly of smooth muscle.<ref>Gray's 16th Edition</ref> The tone of this smooth muscle is responsible for the wrinkled (rugose) appearance of the scrotum.<ref name=Campbell10 />

In the [[penis]], the loose attachment of the dartos fascia to [[Buck's fascia ]] is responsible for the high degree of mobility of the penile [[penile skin]] over the underlying tissue.<ref name=Campbell10 /> It is also responsible for carrying the blood supply of the penile [[penile skin]], a longitudinally-coursing anastomotic network of vessels that arise from the external pudendal vessels.<ref name=Campbell10 />

In the [[scrotum]], the tunica dartos acts to regulate the temperature of the testicles, which promotes spermatogenesis. It does this by expanding or contracting to wrinkle the [[scrotal skin]].

The dartos fascia keeps the [[foreskin ]] close to the [[glans penis ]] throughout life.<ref>{{REFjournal

}}</ref> In infancy, the dartos fascia operates as a one-way check valve at the tip of the [[foreskin]], allowing [[urine]] to pass out, but prohibiting the entry of foreign matter and pathogens.<ref><!--{{FleissP HodgesF VanHoweRS 1998 |quote=The sphincter action of the preputial orifice functions like a one way valve, blocking the entry of contaminants while allowing the passage of [[urine]].}}-->{{REFjournal

|quote=The sphincter action of the preputial orifice functions like a one way valve, blocking the entry of contaminants and pathogens while allowing the passage of [[urine]].