Cooper's Fascia

COOPER'S FASCIA (fascia Cooperi or cremasterica), a thin but dense fibrous sheet covering the m. cremaster. This fascia originates from the edges of the external opening of the inguinal canal and, descending, simultaneously envelops both the m. cremaster and the spermatic cord (Figure 2). Descending further, the fascial sheet, following the muscle fibers, thickens and becomes denser (Braus). Tracing the spermatic cord and m. cremaster upward through the inguinal canal, one can observe how the C. f. gradually thins and completely disappears upon exiting the inguinal canal. At the edge of the external opening of the inguinal canal, a close connection of Cooper's fascia with the fascia and aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle of the abdomen (m. obliquus abdom. ext.) and the superficial fascia of the abdomen (fascia superfic. abdom.; Figure 1) is revealed (Rauber-Kopsch, Spalteholz).

The C. f. plays a certain functional role for the cremaster muscle: closely enveloping the mentioned muscle in the form of a sheath, it serves as a support for the action of the cremaster in terms of its lifting function (Hyrtl).

Figure 2. Fascia cremasterica (2, 4 and 6); 1-m. cremaster; 3-tun. vagin. comm. test, et funic. sperm.; 5-fascia superf. abdom. (According to Spalteholz.) The C. f. is innervated through the n. genito-cruralis, n. spermaticus ext. from the lumbar plexus.