Cremaster muscle
| Cremaster muscle | |
|---|---|
The cremaster muscle appears as a thin layer just superficial to the tunica vaginalis.
|
|
| Details | |
| Latin | musculus cremaster |
| Origin | Internal Oblique |
| Insertion | Tunica vaginalis |
| Cremasteric artery | |
| Genital branch of genitofemoral nerve | |
| Actions | raise and lower the scrotum |
| Identifiers | |
| TA | Lua error in Module:Wikidata at line 744: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| TH | {{#property:P1694}} |
| TE | {{#property:P1693}} |
| FMA | {{#property:P1402}} |
| Anatomical terms of muscle
[[[d:Lua error in Module:Wikidata at line 863: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).|edit on Wikidata]]]
|
|
The cremaster muscle is a muscle that covers the testis and the spermatic cord.
Contents
Structure
In human males, the cremaster muscle is a thin layer of striated muscle found in the inguinal canal and scrotum between the external and internal layers of spermatic fascia, surrounding the testis and spermatic cord. The cremaster muscle is a paired structure, there being one on each side of the body.
Anatomically, the lateral cremaster muscle originates from the internal oblique muscle, just superior to the inguinal canal, and the middle of the inguinal ligament. The medial cremaster muscle, which sometimes is absent, originates from the pubic tubercle and sometimes the lateral pubic crest. Both insert into the tunica vaginalis underneath the testis.
Blood supply
The cremaster muscle is supplied by the cremasteric artery which is a branch of inferior epigastric artery.
Nerve supply
The cremaster muscle is innervated from the genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve. It receives distinctly different innervation and vascular supply in comparison to the internal oblique.
Development
The cremaster develops to its full extent only in males; in females it is represented by only a few muscle loops.
In female humans, the cremaster muscle is smaller and is found on the round ligament.
In rats, it has been shown that cremaster muscles developed from the gubernacular bulb.[1]
Function
Retraction
The cremaster muscle's function is to raise and lower the testes in order to regulate scrotal temperature for optimal spermatogenesis and survival of the resultant spermatozoa. It does this by increasing or decreasing the exposed surface area of the surrounding tissue, allowing faster or slower dissipation of body heat.
The cremaster muscle is an involuntary muscle and contraction can occur during arousal which can prevent injury to the testicles during sex.[citation needed] Contraction also occurs during ejaculation.[2]
Retraction can also occur during moments of extreme fear, possibly to help avoid injuring the testes while dealing with a fight or flight situation.[citation needed]
Clinically, a reflex arc termed the cremasteric reflex can be demonstrated by lightly stroking the skin of the inner thigh downwards from the hip towards the knee. This stimulates the sensory fibers of the ilioinguinal nerve, which enters the spinal cord at L1. The sensory fibers stimulate the motor fibers of the genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve (also at spinal level L1), which provides innervation to the cremaster muscles causing the contraction of the muscle and elevation of the testes. This causes the cremaster muscle on the same side to rapidly contract, raising the testicle.[citation needed]
The cremaster can also be contracted voluntarily, by performing Kegels (which somehow contracts the cremaster), or by flexing and tightening the abdominal muscles.[citation needed]
Clinical significance
The cremaster muscle occasionally experiences painful spasms or cramps in adult males which can be chronic and debilitating. Treatment for these spasms ranges from minor surgery to injection with botulinum-a toxin to the regular application of heat to relax the muscle. Surgery, including the excision of the cremaster muscle, has apparently been able to provide complete relief from this condition without significant side effects.[3][4]
History
The name of the cremaster muscle is derived from the Ancient Greek transitive verb "I hang" (Greek: κρεμάννυμι).
Additional images
-
Musculus cremaster.png
The scrotum.
-
The right testis, exposed by laying open the tunica vaginalis.
References
External links
- Anatomy photo:36:07-0102 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Inguinal Region, Scrotum and Testes: Layers of the Spermatic Cord"
