Funiculitis or inflammation of the spermatic cord can have very serious consequences for a man, one of which is infertility. The complex structure of the organ makes it one of the most vulnerable in the male body.
Functions of the spermatic cord
Anatomically, the spermatic cords (this is a paired organ) are strands in the muscular membrane that support the testicles in a suspended state. The initial section of the organ is located in the scrotum, then it stretches to the deep inguinal ring, located in the pubic region. The length of the spermatic cords is from 15 to 20 cm, they have an inner and two outer shells - visceral and parietal.
The spermatic cords are tubes made up of connective tissue and muscle fibers. They perform several important functions. The vas deferens passes through them, in their tissues there are lymphatic vessels, a venous node, and arteries.
The spermatic cord carries out lymphatic and venous outflow and blood supply to the testicles. Nerve plexuses provide innervation to the appendages, testicles and seminal vesicles in men.
According to the 10th International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), funiculitis is an independent disease (code 49.1). This is an inflammation of the spermatic cord itself and its surrounding tissues.
In the photo, the location of the spermatic cord
Causes and types of funiculitis
As a rule, inflammation of the spermatic cords is secondary (urological). It develops against the background of other diseases - related or not related to the male genital area.
Etiology (origin) of funiculitis:
- infection brought from other organs with blood flow;
- kidney disease;
- prostatitis, balanoposthitis;
- infection from the urethra;
- sexual infections.
In urology, the causes of inflammation of the spermatic cord are divided into two groups:
- Specific causes include infection with "radiant fungi" (actinomycetes) and tuberculosis mycobacteria. But this etiology is rare.
- Nonspecific causes of inflammation are infection with pathogens of sexual and non-venereal infections - chlamydia, gonococci, Trichomonas, Escherichia coli, streptococci and similar bacterial infections that enter the spermatic cord from other infected urinary organs through the urethra.
Risk factors for men are testicular trauma, hypothermia, and surgery (eg, vasectomy). In this case, they speak of primary (surgical) inflammation.
Symptoms of inflammation of the spermatic cord depend on the course of the disease.
The acute form is characterized by the following symptoms:
- pain syndrome radiating to the lumbar region;
- the scrotum becomes hyperemic and edematous;
- general weakness and fatigue are felt;
- intoxication - muscle and joint pain, fever;
- there is discharge from the urethra.
During self-examination, a thickened, painful band is felt on the back of the testicle.
The chronic form proceeds without such sharp symptoms:
- pain in the scrotum is moderate;
- temperature rise is possible;
- soreness and tightness of the cord to the touch are less pronounced;
- if the inflammation is caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis, palpation on the spermatic cord palpates seals and tubercles.
A man experiences constant discomfort in the scrotum, urination is difficult and painful.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of inflammation of the spermatic cord begins with a physical examination of the patient - examination and history taking.
- Ultrasound examination shows the stage of development of the inflammatory process and reveals the pathology that caused it.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) will determine the type of infection. It allows you to isolate the DNA of the pathogen.
- The analysis of semen and secretions from the urethra is carried out to determine the types of pathogens and the selection of the antibiotic to which they are sensitive.
Treatment
At the time of treatment should stop all sexual contact. In acute form, bed rest is recommended for the first days. To support the scrotum, a special bandage is used - this will prevent swelling. In general, therapy includes drug treatment, diet therapy, traditional medicine, and surgery.
Medical
Preparations for the treatment of funiculitis are divided into several groups:
It is advisable to apply ice to the sore spot several times a day (no more than 5 minutes). In the future, after the infiltrate has resolved, dry heat can be used.
Your doctor may prescribe the following treatments:
- laser;
- magnet;
- phonophoresis with anesthesia;
- balneological procedures;
- electrophoresis.
Physiotherapy is more often used to treat the chronic form of the disease.
Folk remedies and diet
Treatment with folk remedies does not replace medical and other methods of treatment, but only complements them. Home remedies can relieve pain, prevent or reduce swelling. Herbal preparations based on chamomile, St. John's wort, calendula, oak bark and yarrow are used.
If inflammation of the spermatic cord occurs as a result of balanoposthitis, salt baths are recommended. They prevent the further development of pathogenic bacteria.
Chocolate, spicy and salty dishes, seafood are excluded from the diet. It is useful to eat food containing many vitamins and minerals for general strengthening of the body.
Surgical intervention
Surgery to remove the spermatic cord is resorted to only when therapeutic methods have failed. It is also carried out in case of complications - phlegmon, cysts and other serious pathologies.
The indication for surgery is also severe pain and the transition of inflammation to the tissues of the scrotum. In this case, part of the spermatic cord is removed, which prevents ejaculation disorders and infertility.
Forecast and prevention
If timely treatment of inflammation of the spermatic cord is not started, complications develop in the form of (inflammation of the testicle), funicocele (cyst in the thickness of the spermatic cord), infertility due to inflammatory infection of the lumen of the spermatic cord. One of the most unpleasant consequences is impotence.
Preventive measures are compliance with the rules of intimate hygiene, intelligibility in sexual relations, timely treatment of infections of the pelvic organs. If there was even a slight injury to the groin, you should consult a doctor to rule out damage to the spermatic cord.
With adequate treatment, the prognosis for the treatment of funiculitis is favorable.
The work of the male reproductive system depends on the coherence of the functioning of all its organs, which can be conditionally divided into internal and external. External are the penis and scrotum, and internal are the seminal glands with their appendages, vas deferens, prostate gland, seminal vesicles and cord.
The spermatic cord is a paired anatomical organ resembling threads. These connective tissue "strands" are located between the inguinal ring and the testicle.
The internal elements of the spermatic cord are rather complicated.
Anatomical structure
The composition of the male paired organ includes the following elements:
- vas deferens;
- muscle fibers that pull the testicle into the inguinal canal for its normal location in the scrotum;
- blood vessels of the testis and vas deferens;
- capillaries and vessels of the lymphatic system;
- part of the nervous system that is responsible for supplying nerves to the vas deferens, testes (testicles) and seminal vesicles;
- the share of the vaginal process protruding from the peritoneum through the inguinal canal into the scrotum;
- fiber that fills the gaps and connects all other elements.
Everything that is inside the spermatic cord creates a mass surrounded by shells. At the same time, the fascia of the cord and all its internal elements are connected with the fascia of the testicles. The internal seminal muscle is responsible for raising the testicles and is a continuation in the groin of the transverse abdominal muscle.
The appearance of the spermatic cord occurs due to the process of lowering the testicles into the scrotum, which were previously in the abdominal cavity. This process occurs during intrauterine development of the fetus in the last weeks of pregnancy. However, there are also cases of testicular prolapse in boys under one year old.
The testicles are in limbo precisely because of the spermatic cord, the length of which is no more than 20 millimeters, and the size depends on the age of the person. The anatomical formation connects the testicles to the seminal vesicles.
The cord is represented by the scrotal and inguinal regions and begins to form at the level of the deep inguinal ring, where the vessels, the vas deferens and the nerves of the lumbar plexus converge.
The seminiferous arteries originate from the outer walls of the aorta, which are below the anatomical position of the renal arteries. It is there that the vessels of the cord begin, and the place of entry into the inferior vena cava and left renal vein can be considered their end.
The vas deferens start from the small pelvis and reach the internal inguinal ring. They cross the ureters and iliac blood vessels.
The components of the cord are closely connected with the superficial membranes of the peritoneum. In the inguinal canal, they attach to themselves the cremaster (the muscle responsible for raising the testicle). Together with the fascia of this muscle, everything is combined with the nerve of the lumbar plexus.
The anatomy of the membranes of the cord and testicles is represented by such layers as: 
- epithelial tissue (directly skin);
- smooth muscle tissue;
- outer shell;
- the fascia of the muscle that elevates the testicle;
- cremaster (the muscle itself);
- inner shell;
- vaginal layer.
The main shell is considered to be muscular, the structure of which is located under the skin. It continues the thickness of the connective tissue of the groin and perineum. Smooth muscle tissue forms the basis of the fascia of the spermatic cord and creates separate sacs for the male sex glands. They are connected in the middle, forming a partition.
This is followed by the outer seminal fascia and the sheath of the cremaster. At the same time, this muscle begins to increase markedly after the puberty of a man. Under it is the inner shell that surrounds the components of the cord.
The vaginal layer of threads is considered the most important. He participates in the formation of the sinus of the epididymis.
Functions of the spermatic cord
This anatomical structure occupies an important place in the work of the male reproductive system. The spermatic cord performs two functions necessary for the genital organs:
- Conducts semen from the epididymis to the seminal ducts. Ejaculation occurs in two stages. First, sperm from the epididymis enters the vas deferens by contraction of the smooth muscles of the seminiferous tubules. Then it moves to the seminal vesicles, where it mixes with their constituents. The second stage of ejaculation is the ejection of sperm through the urethral canal to the outside by contractile movements of the bulbospongiosus muscle. This process is considered the beginning of orgasm.
- Feeds the testicles with blood. The paired organ receives blood with all the nutrients from the artery passing through it, which departs from the anterior peritoneal aorta, as well as from the arteries of the vas deferens and the cremaster fascia. Having united among themselves, the vessels fill the testicle, its appendages and all the membranes with blood. The veins form a plexus, which then rebuilds into the internal spermatic vein, on the right it connects to the inferior vena cava, and on the other side to the left renal vein. Part of the blood enters the iliac veins. The capillary lymphatic system of the testicles passes into the vessels that drain the lymph.
The correct functioning of the male reproductive system depends on external factors and internal health. To prevent the occurrence of many pathological conditions, it is always necessary to carry out preventive measures. This includes a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition and without the presence of bad habits, which are among the first to become the root causes of various diseases. Also, a man needs to avoid injuries in the genital area, especially the scrotum and perineum.
In the event of any manifestations of any painful conditions or dysfunctions of the reproductive system, a man must definitely seek qualified medical help for the diagnosis and treatment of pathology. This is the only way to avoid the further spread of the disease and the appearance of complications.
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The membranes of the testis and spermatic cord, counting from the outside, are as follows: skin, tunica dartos, fascia spermatica externa, fascia cremasterica, m. cremaster, fascia spermatica interna, tunica vaginalis testis. Such a large number of testicular membranes corresponds to certain layers of the anterior abdominal wall. The testicle, when it is displaced from the abdominal cavity, as it were, drags along the peritoneum and fascia of the abdominal muscles and turns out to be shrouded in them.
1. Skin of the scrotum thin and darker than other parts of the body. It is supplied with numerous large sebaceous glands, the secret of which has a special characteristic odor.
2. Tunica dartos, fleshy shell, located just under the skin. It is a continuation of the subcutaneous connective tissue from the groin and perineum, but is devoid of fat. It contains a significant amount of smooth muscle tissue. Tunica dartos forms one separate sac for each testis, connected to each other along the midline, so that a septum, septum scroti, is obtained, attached along the raphe line.
3. Fascia spermatica externa- continuation of the superficial fascia of the abdomen.
4. Fascia cremasterica is a continuation fascia intercruralis extending from the edges of the superficial inguinal ring; she covers m. cremaster, which is why it is called fascia cremasterica.
5. M. cremaster consists of bundles of striated muscle fibers, which are a continuation m. transverse abdominis(see "Miology"). With the contraction of t. cremaster, the testicle is pulled up.
6. Fascia spermatica interna, internal seminal fascia, located immediately under m. cremaster. It is a continuation fascia transversalis, covers all the components of the spermatic cord around and in the testicle area is adjacent to the outer surface of its serous cover.
7. Tunica vaginalis testis, vaginal membrane of the testis, happens due to processus vaginalis peritoneum and forms a closed serous sac, consisting of two plates: lamina parietalis- wall plate and lamina visceralis- visceral plate. The visceral plate is closely fused with the albuginea of the testicle and also passes to the epididymis. Between the lateral surface of the testicle and the middle part of the epididymis (body), the visceral plate enters the slit-like space between them, forming the sinus epididymidis. Along the posterior edge of the testicle, at the place where the vessels exit, the visceral plate passes into the parietal plate. Between the surfaces of the parietal and visceral plates facing each other there is slit-like space - cavum vaginale, in which, in pathological cases, a large amount of serous fluid can accumulate and cause dropsy of the testicle.
The spermatic cord is a pair of fibrous filaments of connective tissue. This is an anatomical formation located between the inguinal ring and the male testicle, which is considered by specialists to be one of the internal genital organs.
The spermatic cords are threads of a rounded shape, soft, having an average length of 14 to 25 mm (the norm in newborn boys and adult men, respectively). The composition of these strands includes various elements - from the vas deferens, nerve bundles to elements of the circulatory and lymphatic systems. It is the complexity of the location of these formations that provides a diverse number of pathologies associated with their development and functioning. Therefore, let's figure out what the spermatic cord is in the male reproductive system - its anatomy, composition and membranes.
General about the spermatic cord
The spermatic cord is a pair of rounded fibrous thread-strand, to which the testicle is "attached", coming from the deep (internal) inguinal ring. This is a paired organ that connects the appendages of the gonads (testicles) with the canals of the seminal vesicles. The main functions of the spermatic cords are the blood supply to the testicles, as well as the conduction of seminal fluid from the appendages to the vas deferens.
Thanks to this formation, which, among other things, also contains the gonadal levator muscle, the testicle is pulled up to the inguinal canal, which ensures its position in the scrotum. In addition to muscle fibers, the cord includes:
- vas deferens;
- blood vessels - the testicular artery, which is released from the aorta, the pampiniform plexus of veins with the transition to the testicular and further connection with the lower vena cava on the right and with the left renal vein on the left, as well as the vessels that feed the vas deferens;
- vessels of the lymphatic system;
- a section of the autonomic nervous system that innervates the vas deferens with testicles and seminal vesicles;
- a piece of the vaginal process connecting the groin with the peritoneum;
- loose fiber that fills the space and binds all the "components".
All the internal parts of the spermatic cord form an accumulation enclosed in shells common to both the cord itself and the testicle attached to it. The inner sheet (which is the inguinal continuation of the superficial transverse fascia of the abdomen) is called the internal seminal fascia, and it is on it that the muscle responsible for raising the testicle is located. The cord consists of two sections, the scrotal (consisting of the same layers and additionally having a sheath called the external seminal fascia) and inguinal. Thanks to the latter, the spermatic cord is partially located in the scrotum, leaving it from the inguinal ring (superficial).
Anatomical features of education
Elements of the spermatic cord begin to form in the deep inguinal ring, in the area of its confluence, where the internal seminal blood vessels, the vas deferens and the plexus of the femoral-genital nerves connect. The beginning of the seminal blood arteries is the lateral walls of the aorta, located just below the place of the beginning of the renal arteries, their completion is the place where they flow into the inferior vena cava (right seminal) and into the left renal (left seminal) vein. The location of the vas deferens is the space from the small pelvis to the internal inguinal ring with the intersection of the ureters and external iliac vessels. All the elements that are part of the spermatic cord at the junction are tightly connected with the membranes of the peritoneum, and after passing through the inner ring directly into the inguinal canal, they also “acquire” the raising testicle muscle, as well as the muscle membrane for it, are connected to the iliac -inguinal nerve and with the genital branch of the femoral-genital nerve.
Sheaths of the funiculus and associated testis
It has already been mentioned above that the shells of the testis and the spermatic cord are one, and now it is worth dwelling in more detail on each layer of these formations. If we count from the outer layer, the following shells should be named:
- skin covering;
- a layer of smooth muscle tissue;
- seminal fascia external;
- fascia of the levator testicular muscle;
- muscle that lifts the testicle;
- seminal fascia internal;
- vaginal membrane of the testicles.
The fact that the male gonad and the cord attached to it surrounds so many layers of tissues has an explanation: all the membranes correspond to tissue sections that make up the anterior abdominal wall. And this is already due to the anatomical structure of the male genital organs - the testicle, in the process of descending into the scrotum, is displaced from the abdominal cavity, additionally “pulling” the layers of the peritoneum and abdominal muscles behind it, in order to end up being wrapped by them.
The main membrane surrounding the spermatic cord is the muscular membrane, which is located directly under the skin and is a continuation of the layer of subcutaneous connective tissue of the perineum and groin. This sheath of the spermatic cord consists of smooth muscle tissue, from which a separate “pouch” is formed for each testicle, connected to the paired one along the midline to form a kind of septum.
The next shells are the external seminal fascia, which is the superficial fascia of the abdomen, the fascia of the muscle extending from the edge of the external inguinal ring and is responsible for pulling the testicle up by its own contraction, and then this muscle itself, consisting of bundles of muscle fibers. Even deeper is the internal seminal fascia, which surrounds all the "components" in the cord, in the testicles, passing to the outer layer of the serous cover.
The last of the most important, from an anatomical point of view, the membranes of the spermatic cord is the vaginal membrane, common to the testicle, formed by the continuation of the vaginal peritoneum sheet and forming a dense serous sac from the parietal and visceral, fused with the testicle albuginea, plates. The visceral plate also extends to the epididymis, and passing between the lateral surface of the testicle and the body of the epididymis, it forms the sinus of the epididymis, through which, under certain pathologies, serous fluid enters the cavity of the male gonads. If it accumulates in sufficient quantities, it will lead to dropsy of the testicle - one of the common lesions of the male reproductive system.
Among the most common diseases of the male reproductive system is testicular torsion.
The most common ailments
The constituent parts of the spermatic cord in the male body are one of the most vulnerable "details" that can be easily damaged. Among the most common diseases of the male reproductive system are precisely the damage to this paired formation, for example, the above hydrocele, as well as torsion, an acute lesion of the scrotum, which develops when the neurovascular bundle of the testis and the vas deferens are twisted around its axis. This ailment develops due to a strong contraction of the muscle tightening the testicle, which occurs due to strong physical stress or trauma to the genital organs, as well as pathological insufficiency of connective tissue (a congenital ailment, usually found in young boys).
The second common "reproductive" disease is varicocele (an enlargement of the varicose veins of the spermatic cord), which can develop due to the fact that these thread formations are a kind of tubes in which blood vessels are located that connect the testicle with the main veins (inferior vena cava and left renal ). For various reasons - both anatomically congenital and pathologically acquired - the valves that prevent the backflow of blood cease to perform their functions, as a result of which the diameter of the veins expands abnormally, and their walls become thinner.
Also, the elements of the spermatic cord and self-education in general can suffer from inflammatory processes that rarely occur on their own, but often become a consequence of inflammatory lesions of the genitourinary system.
Have you already tried many remedies and nothing helped? These symptoms are familiar to you firsthand:
- sluggish erection;
- lack of desire;
- sexual dysfunction.
The only way is surgery? Wait, and don't act radically. It is POSSIBLE to increase the potency! Follow the link and find out how experts recommend treating...
- (funiculus spermaticus) in its composition has the following formations: fascia cremasterica or fascia Cooperi, m. cremaster and tunica vaginalis communis, to paradise contains the vessels and nerves of the testis surrounded by loose adipose and connective tissue ... Big Medical Encyclopedia
spermatic cord- (funiculus spermaticus, PNA, BNA, JNA) an anatomical formation located in the scrotum and inguinal canal, which is the vas deferens running parallel to each other, its arteries and veins, testicular artery and vein, which carry out ... ... Big Medical Dictionary
spermatic cord- (Funiculus spermaticus) a bundle of vessels and nerves on which the testes (testes) of mammals are suspended. The bundle is clothed, like the testes, on top with a fibrous common vaginal membrane (tunica vaginalis communis). The seed duct also passes through it (see) ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron
spermatic cord- I The spermatic cord (funiculus spermaticus) is a paired anatomical formation between the internal inguinal ring and the testicle; refers to the internal male genital organs. It is a round cord with a length of 150-200 mm and a thickness of 14 mm or more at ... ... Medical Encyclopedia
spermatic cord- in men, a muscular-vascular cord that goes to the testicle through the inguinal canal. Includes the vas deferens, testicular blood vessels, muscle, and nerves. (Source: Dictionary of Sexual Terms) … Sexological Encyclopedia
SEMINAL- SEED, seed, seed. 1. adj. to the seed in 1 val. seed fund. seed loan. || Intended for sowing, left to seed. Seed potatoes. Seed clover. Seed cutting area. 2. Seed-growing, producing seeds (bread ... ... Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov
spermatic cord- (funiculus spermaticus) round strand about 20 cm long, which includes the vas deferens, testicular artery, pampiniform venous plexus, lymphatic vessels and nerves. From the testicle, the spermatic cord rises, enters ... ... Glossary of terms and concepts on human anatomy
Seed Cord (Spermatic Cord)- a round cord located in the inguinal canal; contains the vas deferens, nerves and blood vessels that go from the abdominal cavity to the testicles located in the scrotum, as well as lymphatic vessels. The inguinal canal through which the seminal... medical terms
CORD SEED- (spermatic cord) round strand located in the inguinal canal; contains the vas deferens, nerves and blood vessels that go from the abdominal cavity to the testicles located in the scrotum, as well as lymphatic vessels. The inguinal canal, through which ... ... Explanatory Dictionary of Medicine
Cord- 1. A set of fibers that form any of the three columns of the white matter of the spinal cord. 2. A bundle of sheathed nerve fibers; beam. 3. (Obsolete) spermatic or umbilical cord. 4. (Funis) (in anatomy) any chord-like structure, in ... medical terms