Expansion
Three arteries, three nerves, three other structures
Mnemonic
The rule of three: three arteries, three nerves, three other structures.
Three arteries:
- Testicular artery
- Artery to the vas (deferential)
- Cremasteric artery
Three nerves:
- Genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve
- Ilioinguinal nerve, which runs on top of the cord rather than in it
- Autonomic fibres
Three others:
- Vas deferens
- Pampiniform plexus
- Lymphatics
Three coverings, acquired as the testis descends: external spermatic fascia from external oblique, cremasteric fascia from internal oblique, internal spermatic fascia from transversalis fascia.
Expansion
Three arteries
- Testicular artery
- Artery to the vas deferens (from the inferior vesical)
- Cremasteric artery (from the inferior epigastric)
Three nerves
- Genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve
- Sympathetic fibres
- Ilioinguinal nerve - strictly on the cord rather than in it
Three other structures
- Vas deferens
- Pampiniform venous plexus
- Lymphatics
The pampiniform plexus wraps around the testicular artery as a countercurrent heat exchanger, cooling arterial blood and keeping the testis a few degrees below core temperature.