Scrotum

/skɹˈə‍ʊtəm/

/skɹˈoʊɾəm/

[noun]

Scrotum

[NOUN]

a pouch of skin that houses the testicles in the male reproductive system

What is "scrotum"?

The scrotum is a sac-like structure located behind the penis in the male reproductive system. It contains and protects the testicles, epididymis, and part of the spermatic cord. The scrotum is made up of skin and muscle tissue, and its primary function is to regulate the temperature of the testicles. It can contract or relax to bring the testicles closer to the body for warmth or allow them to hang lower to dissipate heat. The scrotum plays a crucial role in maintaining the optimal conditions for sperm production and overall reproductive function.

Examples

1. Sorry, Pom Poko raccoon scrotums, but you lost out.

2. Sea lions do have scrotums, but they can be a bit flexible about the degree of dangling.

3. They’re able to tuck their testicles up and in, and only poke them out into their scrotums as needed to cool off or during the breeding season.

4. One of the first times doctors did this was back in 1775, when a London surgeon named Percivall Pott noticed an alarming number of former chimney sweeps developing skin cancer on their scrotums.