Scrotum
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In male animals, the scrotum is an external bag of skin and muscle containing the testicles. It is an extension of the abdomen, and is located between the penis and anus. The female homologue during fetal development is the labia majora.
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. For the human, a temperature around 34.4 degrees Celsius (94 degrees Fahrenheit) appears to be ideal; 36.7 degrees Celsius (98 degree Fahrenheit) may be damaging to sperm count. The temperature is controlled by making the scrotum tighter, hence moving the testicles closer to the abdomen, when it is cold, and conversely, through the cremasteric reflex, the gradual tightening and loosening of the cremaster muscle in the abdomen and the dartos fascia (muscular tissue under the skin) in the scrotum.
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. Since this leaves essential gonads vulnerable in many species, there is some debate on the evolutionary advantage of such a system. One theory is that making sperm highly sensitive to elevated body temperature prevents impregnation of females who are ill.
Health issues
A common problem of the scrotum is the development of masses. Common scrotal masses include
- sebaceous cyst, also called a epidermal cyst
- hydrocele
- hematocele
- spermatocele
- varicocele
Other conditions include:
- contact dermititis: may cause redness, swelling, and itching of the entire scrotum. Can result from soaps, solvents, detergents, and natural irritants such as poison ivy.
- inguinal hernia
- yeast infection
- swelling resulting from conditions external to the scrotum, including:
- heart failure
- kidney or liver disease