Spermatic Cord

Spermatic cord suspends the testis in the scrotum. It contains structures running to and from the testis to the abdominal cavity. Spermatic cord begins at the deep inguinal ring lateral to the inferior epigastric artery, passes through inguinal canal, exits at superficial inguinal ring and ends in the scrotum at posterior border of testis.

Follow up:

The cord is surrounded by fascial coverings derived from the anterolateral abdominal wall during prenatal development.
Covering of the cord from outside to inside

  • The external spermatic fascia: derived from external abdominal oblique aponeurosis.
  • The cremasteric fascia: it is made up of cremaster muscle and the intervening areolar tissue. The cremasteric fascia is derived from the internal oblique muscle and transverses abdominis muscles. The cremaster muscle reflexly contracts when it is cold and draws testis superiorly in the scrotum and relaxes when it is warm so that testis descends deeply in the scrotum. This mechanism help to maintain constant temperature of the testis for spermatogenesis which is one degree lower than core temperature.
  • The internal spermatic fascia: derived from the transversalis fascia.

The contents of spermatic cord

  1. Ductus
    • Ductus Deferens: It is thick-walled muscular tube (which gives it a cordlike consistency) that conveys spermatozoa from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct. The duct can be palpated in the upper part of the scrotum
  2. Arteries, Veins & Lymphatics
    • Testicular artery: direct branch of aorta, supplies testis and epididymis
    • Cremasteric artery: branch of inferior epigastric artery which in turn branch of external iliac artery.
    • Artery of the ductus deferens: branch of inferior vesical artery (from internal iliac artery)
    • Pampiniform plexus of veins: It is plexus of veins, unite at the superficial inguinal ring to form the four veins, at deep inguinal ring to form two veins and higher up forms one testicular vein on each side. The left testicular vein drain to the renal vein and the right testicular vein drains to the inferior vena cava.
    • Lymphatic vessels: drain testis and closely associated structures and passing to lumbar lymph nodes
  3. Nerves
    • Autonomic nerves: sympathetic fibers which run with the testicular artery from the renal plexus together with afferent sensory fibers.
    • Genital branch of genitofemoral nerve – supplies cremaster muscle
  4. Other structures
    The remains of the processus vaginalis

Clinical significance: Hydrocele of the cord

spermatic cord