| Septum of scrotum | |
| Latin: | septum scroti |
The septum of scrotum or scrotal septum[1] is an incomplete vertical wall (septum) that divides the scrotum into two compartments –each containing a single testis. It consists of flexible connective tissue and nonstriated muscle (dartos fascia).[2] The site of the median septum is apparent on the surface of the scrotum along a median longitudinal ridge called the scrotal raphe. The perineal raphe further extends forward to the undersurface of the penis and backward to the anal opening. The purpose of the median septum is to compartmentalize each testis in order to prevent friction or trauma.
The scrotal skin is vascularized via the two external pudental arteries and the internal pudental artery. The central territory of the scrotum receives blood through the terminal branches (septal arteries) of the two main scrotal arteries, themselves extensions of the pudental and perineal arteries, that run deeply on both sides of the scrotal septum. A separate branch of the perineal artery has also been shown to vascularize the scrotal raphe.
The nerves on the ventral side of the proximal penis and scrotum originate mainly from the perineal nerves, which in turn arises from the pudental nerves. At the penoscrotal junction, nerves on both sides of the ventral penis coalesce to be directed into the interscrotal septum. The scrotal septum is shown to be densely innervated, with both hemiscrota receiving innervation separately by horizontally distributed nerves arising from the septum.
The scrotal septum is used in reconstructive surgery to restore tissue and/or reproductive organs injured or severed by trauma.[3]