The intercrural fibers (intercolumnar fibers) are a series of curved tendinous fibers, which arch across the lower part of the
aponeurosis of the
Obliquus externus, describing curves with the convexities downward.
They have received their name from stretching across between the two crura of the
subcutaneous inguinal ring
The inguinal canals are the two passages in the anterior abdominal wall of humans and animals which in males convey the spermatic cords and in females the round ligament of the uterus. The inguinal canals are larger and more prominent in males. Th ...
, and they are much thicker and stronger at the
inferior crus
The superficial inguinal ring is bounded below by the crest of the pubis; on either side by the margins of the opening in the aponeurosis, which are called the crura of the ring; and above, by a series of curved intercrural fibers.
* The inferio ...
, where they are connected to the
inguinal ligament, than superiorly, where they are inserted into the
linea alba.
The intercrural fibers increase the strength of the lower part of the aponeurosis, and prevent the divergence of the crura from one another; they are more strongly developed in the
male
Male (symbol: ♂) is the sex of an organism that produces the gamete (sex cell) known as sperm, which fuses with the larger female gamete, or ovum, in the process of fertilization.
A male organism cannot reproduce sexually without access to ...
than in the
female
Female ( symbol: ♀) is the sex of an organism that produces the large non-motile ova (egg cells), the type of gamete (sex cell) that fuses with the male gamete during sexual reproduction.
A female has larger gametes than a male. Females ...
.
Intercrural fascia
As they pass across the subcutaneous inguinal ring, they are connected together by delicate fibrous tissue, forming a
fascia, called the ''intercrural fascia''.
This intercrural fascia is continued down as a tubular prolongation around the
spermatic cord
The spermatic cord is the cord-like structure in males formed by the vas deferens (''ductus deferens'') and surrounding tissue that runs from the deep inguinal ring down to each testicle. Its serosal covering, the tunica vaginalis, is an exten ...
and
testis
A testicle or testis (plural testes) is the male reproductive gland or gonad in all bilaterians, including humans. It is homologous to the female ovary. The functions of the testes are to produce both sperm and androgens, primarily testostero ...
, and encloses them in a sheath; hence it is also called the ''external spermatic fascia''.
The subcutaneous inguinal ring is seen as a distinct
aperture
In optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels. More specifically, the aperture and focal length of an optical system determine the cone angle of a bundle of rays that come to a focus in the image plane.
An ...
only after the intercrural fascia has been removed.
See also
*
Superficial inguinal ring
References
External links
* - "Ring, inguinal superficial"
*
Abdomen
{{musculoskeletal-stub