ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Tunica dartos
;
Scrotum of man
;
Smooth musculature
;
Adrenergic innervation
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The human tunica dartos has been investigated by light, fluorescence and electron microscopy. It consists of solid bundles of smooth musculature in the subcutis, and small bundles or single muscle cells in the corium. Smooth muscle bundles in both the subcutis and corium are composed of ordinary smooth muscle cells. Single muscle cells of the corium resemble myofibroblasts showing features of fibrocytes and smooth muscle cells. As revealed in single smooth muscle cells, each cell appears to be surrounded by a coat of interweaving microfilaments which penetrate neighbouring bundles of collagen fibres and show inclusions of elastin. Part of the microfilaments extend into the specialized subepithelial connective tissue layer and may insert at the basement membrane. Only ordinary smooth muscle cells have an adrenergic innervation, which indicates their involvement in sympathetic thermoregulatory reflexes.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00223730
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