Human testicular arterial supply: gross anatomy, corrosion cast, and radiologic study

Objective

To study human testicular arterial supply.

Design

Prospective.

Setting

Academic setting.

Patient(s)

Forty fresh male cadavers.

Intervention(s)

Gross anatomy of 20 cadavers, corrosion casting of 10, and radiography of 10.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Testicular vascular supply, course, branching, and anastomosis.

Result(s)

The testicular artery descends bilaterally in a straight course (85%) and in a convoluted course (15%). There were three sites of terminations: along the upper pole of the mediastinum testis (78.8%), giving terminal branches (16.2%) or descends without division (5%). Four patterns of termination were found, but in the majority (69.7%) it terminates as upper and lower polar branches. The cremasteric artery arises from the inferior epigastric artery and terminates close to the lower end of the testis, anastomosing with the lower polar branch of the testicular artery. The artery of the vas arises from the inferior vesical artery, terminates by several capsular branches close to the mediastinum testis, anastomosing with branches of the testicular artery along the mediastinum testis.

Conclusion(s)

The testis gets its arterial supply mainly from the testicular artery supplemented with the cremastric artery and the artery of the vas. The testis has rich vascular areas in the upper polar, mediastinum testis, and posterolateral segments.

Key Words: Testis, testicular artery, corrosion cast, cremasteric artery, anatomy