A surgeon repairing an indirect inguinal hernia mobilises the cremaster muscle fibres around the cord. The cremaster muscle is derived from which layer of the abdominal wall?
- A Internal oblique muscle ✓
- B External oblique aponeurosis
- C Transversus abdominis muscle
- D Transversalis fascia
Correct answer: A. Internal oblique muscle
Explanation
The cremaster muscle arises from the lower fibres of the internal oblique and its aponeurosis, looping over the spermatic cord as the cremasteric fascia. This matches the embryological descent pattern, since the cord drags these fibres down with it. External oblique contributes the external spermatic fascia and transversalis fascia contributes the internal spermatic fascia, which kills both fascial distractors.
Reference: Gray's Anatomy for Students, 4th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.