What is the cause of scrotal swelling?

In the male scrotum, there is a pair of testicles. The scrotum is an important male gonad of the testicles and the birthplace of sperm. Once the scrotum is swollen and painful, you should actively seek treatment, otherwise infertility will occur. In our lives, we must have some understanding of scrotal swelling and know what the causes of scrotal swelling are.

1. What is the cause of scrotal swelling?

The scrotal wall or tunica vaginalis, testis, epididymis and spermatic cord scrotal contents, because of infiltration of acute and chronic inflammation, parasites, organic changes of the tumor itself can make the scrotal pathological swelling, increase or inflammatory exudate, edema and effusion. If the peritoneal processus vaginalis is not closed or not completely closed after birth, the contents of the abdomen can enter the scrotum.

Clinically, the location and nature of scrotal enlargement can be determined through medical history inquiry and physical examinations such as local palpation and transillumination test, so as to make a correct diagnosis.

Clinically, the location and nature of scrotal enlargement can be determined by taking medical history and physical examinations such as local palpation and transillumination test.

2. Classification of causes of scrotal enlargement

According to the lesions that cause scrotal enlargement, they can be divided into three categories:

(I) Scrotal wall lesions

Such as scrotal wall edema, scrotal wall hematoma, scrotal wall elephantiasis after filariasis, erysipelas skin necrosis, cellulitis, urinary infiltration, benign scrotal wall tumor, sebaceous tumor, hemangioma X malignant tumor of scrotal wall.

(II) Pathological changes of scrotal contents

1. Hydrocele, hemocele, purulent cerebellum, and chylous cerebellum.

2. Acute and chronic epididymitis, epididymal blood stasis after disinfection, epididymal filariasis, epididymal tuberculosis, spermatocele.

3. Testicular orchitis, testicular tuberculosis, testicular syphilis, testicular tumor.

4. Varicose cord, spermatic cord hydrocele, spermatic cord varicocele, spermatic cord torsion, spermatic cord hemofilaria nodule, spermatic cord hematoma, painful nodule of vas deferens after sterilization, sperm granuloma after sterilization.

(III) Abdominal contents enter the scrotum

Such as ascites or inguinal hernia (small intestine, bladder contents omentum) into the scrotum.

3. The mechanism of scrotal enlargement

The scrotum is a continuation of the abdominal wall. Its structural layers are consistent with the layers of the anterior wall. The tissues of each layer are extremely loose and elastic, and the gaps between the tissues can accommodate more fluid. Therefore, the scrotum can be significantly enlarged in conditions such as inflammation and edema.

There are two layers of tunica vaginalis between the scrotal wall and the contents. The one attached to the scrotal wall is called the parietal tunica vaginalis, and the one attached to the testicles and epididymis is called the visceral tunica vaginalis. The space between the two layers is the tunica vaginalis, which contains a small amount of plasma. When the tunica vaginalis becomes diseased and secretes a large amount of fluid or bleeds, the tunica vaginalis has great elasticity, which allows it to accommodate a large amount of fluid, resulting in an extremely swollen scrotum.

The testicular tunica vaginalis originates from the processus vaginalis of the peritoneum in the embryo. When the testicle descends to the scrotum, the part of the processus vaginalis that communicates with the peritoneal cavity closes to form a sheath-like ligament. If the processus vaginalis of the peritoneum does not close or closes incompletely after birth and is still connected to the abdominal cavity, when the abdominal cavity accumulates fluid, the ascites can flow into the scrotum. The abdominal contents such as the small intestine, bladder, and greater omentum can also be herniated into the scrotum by the intra-abdominal pressure, causing the scrotum to swell.

The scrotal septum formed by the scrotal fascia divides the scrotum into two scrotal cavities, left and right. If the scrotal contents (testis, epididymis, etc.) are diseased and do not invade the scrotal wall, the disease may be limited to one side, manifested as unilateral swelling of the scrotum; when the scrotum is diseased or there is systemic edema, the entire scrotum often swells.