Question

The testes in humans are situated outside the abdominal cavity inside a pouch called scrotum. The purpose served is for?
A. Escaping any possible compression by the visceral organs
B. Providing more space for growth of epididymis
C. Providing a secondary sexual feature foe exhibiting the male sex
D. Maintaining the scrotal temperature lower than the internal body temperature

Answer 1

Scrotum is a sac of skin that hangs from the body at the front of the pelvis in males. It is situated next to the upper thighs and just below the penis.

Complete Answer:
- The scrotum is an anatomical male reproductive structure situated adjacent to the penis and it consists of a suspended double-chambered sack of skin and smooth muscle. It is mainly seen in most terrestrial male mammals. The scrotum consists of the external spermatic fascia, testes, epididymis, and ductus deferens.
- The main function of the scrotum is to regulate the temperature of the testes and maintain it at 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) i.e. two or three degrees below the body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Higher temperatures affect the process of spermatogenesis. Temperature control is done by the smooth muscles of the scrotum moving the testicles either close to or further away from the abdomen dependent upon the preferred temperature.
- Scrotum also helps to protect the testicle and major blood vessels and also the tubes that release the sperm.
- Scrotal masses are abnormalities that affect the scrotum. The scrotum mainly contains the testicles and related structures that produce, store, and transport sperm and male sex hormones.
- Scrotal masses may be an accumulation of fluids, the growth of abnormal tissue, or just normal contents of the scrotum that have become swollen, inflamed, or hardened. And the symptoms include an unusual lump, sudden pain, dull aching pain or feeling of heaviness in the scrotum, pain that radiates throughout the groin, abdomen, or lower back, tender swollen or hardened testicle, swelling in the scrotum, Redness of the skin of the scrotum, nausea or vomiting, etc.

Hence, the correct option is D, “Maintaining the scrotal temperature lower than the internal body temperature”.

Note: Scrotum is a muscular sac that contains and protects the testicles, blood vessels, and part of the spermatic cord. It protects the testes and helps in thermoregulation that is necessary for the spermatogenesis as the sperm cannot form at temperatures as high as those in the body core.