scrotum - Function, Health issues, Additional images

The pouch which in most male mammals holds the testes. It is necessary for normal germ cell production because the temperature of the deeper part of the body is high enough to damage the developing germ cells. Some mammals however, notably the elephant, have testes which remain within the abdominal cavity and do not descend to lie superficially in a scrotum.

In some male mammals, the scrotum is a bag of skin and muscle containing the testicles.

In humans, and some other mammals, the base of the scrotum becomes covered with pubic hair at puberty.

The area behind the scrotum is the perineum.

Function

The function of the scrotum appears to be to keep the testicles at a temperature slightly lower than that of the rest of the body.

In most men, the cremaster muscle itself cannot be controlled voluntarily. The testicles are not directly attached to the skin of the scrotum, so this dartos contraction results in their sliding toward the abdomen.

Although the ideal temperature for sperm growth varies between species, it usually appears, in warm-blooded species, to be a bit cooler than internal body temperature, necessitating the scrotum.

Health issues

A common problem of the scrotum is the development of masses. Common scrotal masses include

sebaceous cyst, also called an epidermal cyst hydrocele hematocele spermatocele varicocele

Other conditions include:

contact dermatitis: may cause redness, swelling, and itching of the entire scrotum. inguinal hernia yeast infection swelling resulting from conditions external to the scrotum, including: heart failure kidney or liver disease

Additional images

Structure of the penis

The superficial branches of the internal pudendal artery.

Vertical section of bladder, penis, and urethra.