[3] The tone of this smooth muscle is responsible for the wrinkled (rugose) appearance of the scrotum.

[1] In females, the same muscle fibers are less well developed and termed dartos muliebris, lying beneath the skin of the labia majora.

[1] In the scrotum, the dartos fascia acts to regulate the temperature of the testicles, which promotes spermatogenesis.

The dartos fascia keeps the foreskin close to the glans penis throughout life.

In infancy, the dartos fascia operates as a one-way check valve at the tip of the foreskin, allowing urine to pass out, but prohibiting the entry of foreign matter and pathogens.