Final answer:
The dartos muscle is a muscle found in the scrotum that helps regulate testicular temperature. It contracts to tighten the scrotum and bring the testes closer to the body to retain heat, and relaxes to loosen the scrotum and promote heat loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dartos muscle is a muscle found in the scrotum. Its main function is to assist in the regulation of testicular temperature.
When the dartos muscle contracts, it causes the scrotum to tighten, bringing the testes closer to the body and helping to retain heat. This is important because the testes need to be kept at a slightly lower temperature than the rest of the body for optimal sperm production.
Conversely, when the dartos muscle relaxes, the scrotum loosens, moving the testes farther away from the body and increasing the surface area of the scrotum to promote heat loss.