10/9: Inguinal Canal & Spermatic Cord Flashcards
Where does the male reproductive system begin and end?
Outside the body cavity, but must pass through the abdominal cavity at some point between
Where does the spermatic cord travel through?
Inguinal canal
What does the spermatic cord contain?
Ductas/vas deferens, testicular artery and vein, genitofemoral nerve, autonomic nerves, lymphatics
When does the inguinal hole form?
Straight shot
Earlier in development
When does the inguinal canal form?
With time and growth of body cavity
What is the gubernaculum?
Strand of connective tissue that helps migrate gonad from posterior lumbar region to gene localized anterior position
What is the gubernaculum attached to externally?
Deep surface of the skin in the groin area
If the embryo is a male, what does the gubernaculum end at?
The scrotum dermis
If the embryo is a female, what does the gubernaculum correspond to?
Labia majora dermis
What does the gubernaculum pass through and lie?
All abdominal wall layers; between transversalis fascia and parietal peritoneum
What is the gubernaculum attached to posteriorly?
Gonads
What happens to the gubernaculum with time?
Shortens until it pulls gonads down to necessary position, depending on gender
What is the gubernaculum attach to?
Partietal peritoneum
What pulls and proceeds the testis down to the scrotum?
Processus vaginalis (fluid filled sheath, remains empty)
What does the processus vaginalis dissapear and become?
Tunica vaginalis in adults
What does the tunica vaginalis help with?
Frictionless environment
What does the gubernaculum develop into?
Small few mm tendenous attachment to scrotum dermis
Where does the gubernaculum pull the testis?
Through inguinal hole
What happens to the transversalis fascia?
Thins out as testis is pulled through and forms a thin sleeve called internal spermatic fascia
What is the one muscle layer that doesn’t continue to the formation of spermatic cord?
Transversus abdominis
What does the internal abdominal oblique stretch out to form?
Cremaster muscle
What does the external abdominal oblique form?
Thinnest layer called external spermatic fascia
What is the deep inguinal ring from?
TF
What is the middle inguinal ring from?
IAO
What is the superficial inguinal ring from?
EAO
What is the deep inguinal ring?
Where spermatic cord contents open up to the abdominal cavity
Where is the deep inguinal ring found?
Half way along the inguinal ligament (above the ligament and between anterior superior iliac spine and pubis)
What is the middle inguinal ring?
Where internal oblique gets stretched out into cremaster muscle
What is the superficial inguinal ring?
Found where superficial inguinal ring attaches to the pubis medially
Where does the spermatic cord start?
When inguinal canal stops at superficial inguinal ring (even though contents are the same)
What is the funciton of the cremaster muscle?
Helps regulate temperature by contracting or relaxing scrotum
What happens to the cremaster muscle when cold?
Contracts, pulls testis up
What happens to the cremaster muscle when warm?
Relax, testis drop
What nerve is the motor innervation of the cremaster muscle?
Genitofemoral nerve
What nerve is the sensory innervation of the cremaster muscle?
Genitofemoral nerve, skin over thigh right alongside scrotum
How does the cremaster reflex occur?
By scratching the area on the the alongside scrotum
How to determine if the L1-L2 is working properly?
In a non-verbal patient by checking the cremaster reflex
