Testicular vein
Encyclopedia
The testicular vein the male gonadal vein
, carries deoxygenated blood from its corresponding testis to the inferior vena cava
or one of its tributaries. It is the male equivalent of the ovarian vein
, and is the venous counterpart of the testicular artery
.
It is a paired vein, with one supplying each testis:
The veins emerge from the back of the testis, and receive tributaries from the epididymis
; they unite and form a convoluted plexus, called the pampiniform plexus
, which constitutes the greater mass of the spermatic cord
; the vessels composing this plexus are very numerous, and ascend along the cord, in front of the ductus deferens.
Below the subcutaneous inguinal ring
, they unite to form three or four veins, which pass along the inguinal canal
, and, entering the abdomen through the abdominal inguinal ring, coalesce to form two veins, which ascend on the Psoas major, behind the peritoneum
, lying one on either side of the internal spermatic artery.
These unite to form a single vein, which opens, on the right side, into the inferior vena cava
(at an acute angle), on the left side into the left renal vein (at a right angle).
The spermatic veins are provided with valves.
The left spermatic vein passes behind the iliac colon
and is thus exposed to pressure from the contents of that part of the bowel.
before it empties, this results in a higher tendency for the left testicle to develop varicocele
because of the gravity working on the column of blood in this vein. Moreover, the left renal vein passes between the abdominal aorta
and the superior mesenteric artery
en route to the inferior vena cava, and is often compressed by an enlarged superior mesenteric artery.
Gonadal vein
In medicine, gonadal vein refers to the blood vessel that carrying blood away from the gonad toward the heart.* Females : ovarian vein* Males : testicular vein...
, carries deoxygenated blood from its corresponding testis to the inferior vena cava
Inferior vena cava
The inferior vena cava , also known as the posterior vena cava, is the large vein that carries de-oxygenated blood from the lower half of the body into the right atrium of the heart....
or one of its tributaries. It is the male equivalent of the ovarian vein
Ovarian vein
The ovarian vein, the female gonadal vein, carries deoxygenated blood from its corresponding ovary to inferior vena cava or one of its tributaries. It is the female equivalent of the testicular vein, and is the venous counterpart of the ovarian artery...
, and is the venous counterpart of the testicular artery
Testicular artery
The testicular artery is a branch of the abdominal aorta that supplies blood to the testis. It is a paired artery, with one for each of the testes....
.
It is a paired vein, with one supplying each testis:
- the right testicular vein generally joins the inferior vena cavaInferior vena cavaThe inferior vena cava , also known as the posterior vena cava, is the large vein that carries de-oxygenated blood from the lower half of the body into the right atrium of the heart....
; - the left testicular vein, unlike the right one, joins the left renal veinRenal veinThe renal veins are veins that drain the kidney. They connect the kidney to the inferior vena cava.It is usually singular to each kidney, except in the condition "multiple renal veins".It also divides into 2 divisions upon entering the kidney:...
instead of the inferior vena cava.
The veins emerge from the back of the testis, and receive tributaries from the epididymis
Epididymis
The epididymis is part of the male reproductive system and is present in all male amniotes. It is a narrow, tightly-coiled tube connecting the efferent ducts from the rear of each testicle to its vas deferens. A similar, but probably non-homologous, structure is found in cartilaginous...
; they unite and form a convoluted plexus, called the pampiniform plexus
Pampiniform plexus
The pampiniform plexus is a network of many small veins found in the human male spermatic cord. It is formed by the union of multiple spermatic veins from the back of the testis and tributaries from the epididymis....
, which constitutes the greater mass of the spermatic cord
Spermatic cord
The spermatic cord is the name given to the cord-like structure in males formed by the ductus deferens and surrounding tissue that run from the abdomen down to each testicle.-Contents of spermatic cord:...
; the vessels composing this plexus are very numerous, and ascend along the cord, in front of the ductus deferens.
Below the subcutaneous inguinal ring
Superficial inguinal ring
The superficial inguinal ring is an anatomical structure in the anterior wall of the human abdomen. It is a triangular opening that forms the exit of the inguinal canal, which houses the ilioinguinal nerve, the genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve, and the spermatic cord or the round ligament...
, they unite to form three or four veins, which pass along the inguinal canal
Inguinal canal
The inguinal canal is a passage in the anterior abdominal wall which in men conveys the spermatic cord and in women the round ligament. The inguinal canal is larger and more prominent in men.-Site:...
, and, entering the abdomen through the abdominal inguinal ring, coalesce to form two veins, which ascend on the Psoas major, behind the peritoneum
Peritoneum
The peritoneum is the serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity or the coelom — it covers most of the intra-abdominal organs — in amniotes and some invertebrates...
, lying one on either side of the internal spermatic artery.
These unite to form a single vein, which opens, on the right side, into the inferior vena cava
Inferior vena cava
The inferior vena cava , also known as the posterior vena cava, is the large vein that carries de-oxygenated blood from the lower half of the body into the right atrium of the heart....
(at an acute angle), on the left side into the left renal vein (at a right angle).
The spermatic veins are provided with valves.
The left spermatic vein passes behind the iliac colon
Iliac colon
The iliac colon is situated in the left iliac fossa, and is about 12 to 15 cm. long.It begins at the level of the iliac crest, where it is continuous with the descending colon, and ends in the sigmoid colon at the superior aperture of the lesser pelvis....
and is thus exposed to pressure from the contents of that part of the bowel.
Pathology
Since the left testicular vein goes all the way up to the left renal veinRenal vein
The renal veins are veins that drain the kidney. They connect the kidney to the inferior vena cava.It is usually singular to each kidney, except in the condition "multiple renal veins".It also divides into 2 divisions upon entering the kidney:...
before it empties, this results in a higher tendency for the left testicle to develop varicocele
Varicocele
Varicocele , also known as varicoscele or varicose seal, is an abnormal enlargement of the vein that is in the scrotum draining the testicles. The testicular blood vessels originate in the abdomen and course down through the inguinal canal as part of the spermatic cord on their way to the testis...
because of the gravity working on the column of blood in this vein. Moreover, the left renal vein passes between the abdominal aorta
Abdominal aorta
The abdominal aorta is the largest artery in the abdominal cavity. As part of the aorta, it is a direct continuation of the descending aorta .-Path:...
and the superior mesenteric artery
Superior mesenteric artery
In human anatomy, the superior mesenteric artery arises from the anterior surface of the abdominal aorta, just inferior to the origin of the celiac trunk, and supplies the intestine from the lower part of the duodenum through two-thirds of the transverse colon, as well as the pancreas.-Location...
en route to the inferior vena cava, and is often compressed by an enlarged superior mesenteric artery.