142 



THE CREMASTER. 



Fig. 157.* and partly by interstitial growth, 



as the testicle proceeded in its 

 descent. Hence when it is de- 

 scribed as a distinct muscle, the 

 origin and insertion of the cre- 

 master are given the same as that 

 of the inferior fibres of the inter- 

 nal oblique. It arises from Pou- 

 part's ligament, passes down on 

 the outer side of the tunica vagi- 

 nalis communis of the cord and 

 testicle, and passes up on the in- 

 ner side to be inserted into the 

 pubis. It gives a complete red- 

 dish coloring to these parts, called 

 tunica elythroida.^ 



Its redness disappears in emaciated or dropsical subjects, and 



in cases of hernia the distention causes it to separate apparently 



into two bundles of fibres, internal and external. 



Its action is to draw the testicle upwards and support it : it is 



distinct from that of the dartos.l 



Fig. 157, from Sir A. Cooper's work on the testis, is a good 



illustration of its structure. 



* Fig. 157. <z, d, Rectus abdominis. b, Superficial fascia of the cord, and 

 tendon of external oblique, c, Internal oblique, e, Descending fibres of inter- 

 nal oblique, or origin of cremaster muscle from Poupart's ligament. /, Inser- 

 tion of cremaster muscle on the pubis. g, g, Descending and ascending fibres. 

 h, The loops which are produced in the cremaster by the descent of the testicle. 

 i, Testis, covered by the tunica vaginalis to which is attached, by a sort of in- 

 sertion, the loops of the cremaster. 



f From EAulpy, a sheath. 



$: Mr. Curling explains the development of the cremaster in a different man- 

 ner. He considers it the muscle of the gubernaculum, and states that it follows 

 this cord up into the abdomen to be attached to the lower end of the testicle be- 

 fore the descent of this organ, and that by its lower end the muscle is connected 

 by three separate attachments to the pubis, to Poupart's ligament and to the 

 bottom of the scrotum. The contraction of these separate bands, is the means 

 he believes by which the testicle is made to descend. This description of Mr. 

 Curling is however by no means conclusive or satisfactory. It is difficult to 

 conceive, how the same muscle, can at one time have for its office that of draw- 

 ing the testicle down, and at another as is always the case after birth, that of 

 raising it up in the scrotum. p. 



