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In females, the same muscle fibers are less well developed and termed ''dartos muliebris,'' lying beneath the skin of the [[vulva|labia majora]]. It receives innervation from postganglionic sympathetic nerve fibers arriving via the [[ilioinguinal nerve]] and the [[posterior scrotal nerves|posterior scrotal nerve]].
Add reference; clean up article.
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The '''dartos fascia''' or simply '''dartos''' is a layer of connective tissue found in the [[skin of the penile shaft]], [[foreskin]], and [[scrotum]].<ref name=Campbell10>{{REFbook
|last=Campbell
|first=
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|note=
}}</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 />
It lies just below the skin, which places it just superficial to the external spermatic fascia in the scrotum and to [[Buck's fascia]] in the penile shaft.
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 />
==Function==
* Conversely, expansion increases the surface area, promoting heat loss and thus cooling the testicles.
The dartos muscle works in conjunction with the [[cremaster muscle]] to elevate the [[testis]] but should not be confused with the [[cremasteric reflex]].
The dartos fascia keeps the foreskin close to the glans penis throughout life. 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>{{REFjournal | last=Fleiss | first=PM | coauthors=Hodges FM, Van Howe RS | title=Immunological functions of the human prepuce | journal=Sex Trans Inf | date=1998-10 | volume=74 | issue=5 | pages=364-7 | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1758142/pdf/v074p00364.pdf | 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." | pubmedID=10195034 | pubmedCID= | DOI= | accessdate=2019-10-01}}</ref>
There is an increase in elastic fibers with increasing maturity that allows the foreskin to become retractable by adulthood and glide freely back and forth.
Etymology:
: Derived from the Greek δέρνω/derno (beat, flog) and/or δέρμα/derma (skin), meaning "that which is skinned or flayed", possibly due to its appearance.<ref>{{REFweb |url=http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/resources/etymology/Abdominal_wall.htm |title=Etymology of Abdominal Wall and Inguinal Terms |trans-title= |language= |last=Catlin |first=B |publisher= |website=Darmouth |date=2008 |accessdate=2019-10-01 |format= |quote=}}</ref>
Some dartos-related terms: