The cremasteric artery (external spermatic artery) is a branch of the

inferior epigastric artery In human anatomy, inferior epigastric artery refers to the artery that arises from the external iliac artery. It anastomoses with the superior epigastric artery. Along its course, it is accompanied by a similarly named vein, the inferior epig ...

which accompanies the

spermatic cord The spermatic cord is the cord-like structure in males formed by the vas deferens (''ductus deferens'') and surrounding tissue that runs from the deep inguinal ring down to each testicle. Its serosal covering, the tunica vaginalis, is an exten ...

to supply the

cremaster muscle The cremaster muscle is a paired structure made of thin layers of striated and smooth muscle that covers the testis and the spermatic cord in human males. It consists of the lateral and medial parts. Cremaster is an involuntary muscle, responsibl ...

as well as other coverings of the spermatic cord in the male (whereas in the female, the cremasteric artery is very small and accompanies the round ligament).

Anatomy

Course

The cremasteric artery enters the

inguinal canal The inguinal canals are the two passages in the anterior abdominal wall of humans and animals which in males convey the spermatic cords and in females the round ligament of the uterus. The inguinal canals are larger and more prominent in males. T ...

at the

deep inguinal ring The inguinal canals are the two passages in the anterior abdominal wall of humans and animals which in males convey the spermatic cords and in females the round ligament of the uterus. The inguinal canals are larger and more prominent in males. ...

to traverse the length of the

alongside the

testicular artery The testicular artery (the male gonadal artery, also called the internal spermatic arteries in older texts) is a branch of the abdominal aorta that supplies blood to the testis. It is a paired artery, with one for each of the testes. It is the ...

. Within the spermatic cord, the cremasteric artery travels within the

external spermatic fascia The external spermatic fascia (intercrural or intercolumnar fascia) is a thin membrane, prolonged downward around the surface of the spermatic cord and testis. It is separated from the dartos tunic by loose areolar tissue. It is occasionally referr ...

, but outside the

internal spermatic fascia The internal spermatic fascia (infundibuliform fascia, or Le deuxième fascia de Webster) is a thin layer, which loosely invests the spermatic cord. Structure The internal spermatic fascia is derived from the transversalis fascia. It is acquir ...

Anastomoses

The cremasteric artery participates in the formation of a rich arterial anastomotic network within in the scrotum at the tail of the epidydimis with the

, epididymal artery, and the artery to the ductus deferens.

References

Arteries of the abdomen {{circulatory-stub