The tunica vaginalis is a closed, two-layered sac of serous membrane covering the front and sides of the testis. It is a pinched-off remnant of the peritoneum (processus vaginalis) that the testis drags down during its descent. A thin film of fluid between its layers lets the testis move freely in the scrotum.
| Location | Within the scrotum, surrounding the anterior and lateral surfaces of the testis and epididymis |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve |
| Blood Supply | Testicular artery; Cremasteric artery |
| Venous drainage | |
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Provides a smooth lubricated space allowing the testis to move within the scrotum.
Fluid building up between the two layers forms a hydrocele, a painless swelling that glows when a light is shone through it. If the processus vaginalis fails to close, abdominal fluid or bowel can pass into the scrotum, causing a communicating hydrocele or indirect inguinal hernia. A high attachment of the tunica (the 'bell clapper' deformity) lets the testis spin and predisposes to torsion.
A collection of fluid within the tunica vaginalis causing painless scrotal swelling that transilluminates.
An abnormally high investment of the tunica vaginalis that leaves the testis free to twist, the main cause of testicular torsion.
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