Testicular arteries
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Sajith Karunasena had no recorded disclosures.
View Sajith Karunasena's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Ammar Ashraf had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Ammar Ashraf's current disclosures- Testicular artery
- Spermatic artery
The testicular arteries (also known as the spermatic arteries) are the long, small-diameter gonadal arteries in the male that supply the testis alongside the cremasteric artery and the artery to the ductus deferens.
Gross anatomy
Origin
As paired structures they arise symmetrically, slightly anteriorly from the aorta below the renal arteries (between L2 and L3).
Course
The arteries pass inferolaterally deep to the parietal peritoneum over psoas major. The right testicular artery lies anterior to the inferior vena cava and posterior to the horizontal part of the duodenum. The left testicular artery lies posterior to the inferior mesenteric vein and the lower part of the descending colon. Each testicular artery crosses in front of the respective genitofemoral nerve and ureter to pass into the deep inguinal ring and enter the spermatic cords. Along with the other contents of the cord, they enter the scrotum via the inguinal canal.
Termination
In the vascular layer of the testis, the testicular artery commonly bifurcates into two major terminal branches, the superior and inferior polar arteries. As these vessels course toward their targets, they give rise to centripetal branches which dive into the interlobular septa to supply the testicular parenchyma 2.
Supply
The terminal branches enter over the tunica albuginea to supply the testes and superior epididymis. Along their extended course, the testicular arteries also supply perirenal fat, the ureteric and iliac lymph nodes, and may supply the cremaster muscle in the inguinal canal.
References
- 1. Gray's Anatomy. Churchill Livingstone. (2011) ISBN:0443066841. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Mostafa T, Labib I, El-Khayat Y, El-Rahman El-Shahat A, Gadallah A. Human Testicular Arterial Supply: Gross Anatomy, Corrosion Cast, and Radiologic Study. Fertil Steril. 2008;90(6):2226-30. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.10.013 - Pubmed
Incoming Links
Related articles: Anatomy: Abdominopelvic
- skeleton of the abdomen and pelvis
- muscles of the abdomen and pelvis
- spaces of the abdomen and pelvis
- anterior abdominal wall
- posterior abdominal wall
- abdominal cavity
- pelvic cavity
- perineum
- abdominal and pelvic viscera
- gastrointestinal tract
- spleen
- hepatobiliary system
-
endocrine system
-
adrenal gland
- adrenal vessels
- chromaffin cells
- variants
- pancreas
- organs of Zuckerkandl
-
adrenal gland
-
urinary system
-
kidney
- renal pelvis
- renal sinus
- avascular plane of Brodel
-
variants
- number
- fusion
- location
- shape
- ureter
- urinary bladder
- urethra
- embryology
-
kidney
- male reproductive system
-
female reproductive system
- vulva
- vagina
- uterus
- adnexa
- Fallopian tubes
- ovaries
- broad ligament (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
- embryology
- blood supply of the abdomen and pelvis
- arteries
-
abdominal aorta
- inferior phrenic artery
- celiac artery
- superior mesenteric artery
- middle suprarenal artery
- renal artery (variant anatomy)
- gonadal artery (ovarian artery | testicular artery)
- inferior mesenteric artery
- lumbar arteries
- median sacral artery
-
common iliac artery
- external iliac artery
-
internal iliac artery (mnemonic)
- anterior division
- umbilical artery
- superior vesical artery
- obturator artery
- vaginal artery
- inferior vesical artery
- uterine artery
- middle rectal artery
-
internal pudendal artery
- inferior rectal artery
-
perineal artery
- posterior scrotal artery
- transverse perineal artery
- artery to the bulb
- deep artery of the penis/clitoris
- dorsal artery of the penis/clitoris
- inferior gluteal artery
- posterior division (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
- anterior division
-
abdominal aorta
- portal venous system
- veins
- anastomoses
- arterioarterial anastomoses
- portal-systemic venous collateral pathways
- watershed areas
- arteries
- lymphatics
- innervation of the abdomen and pelvis
- thoracic splanchnic nerves
- lumbar plexus
-
sacral plexus
- lumbosacral trunk
- sciatic nerve
- superior gluteal nerve
- inferior gluteal nerve
- nerve to piriformis
- perforating cutaneous nerve
- posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
- parasympathetic pelvic splanchnic nerves
- pudendal nerve
- nerve to quadratus femoris and inferior gemellus muscles
- nerve to internal obturator and superior gemellus muscles
- autonomic ganglia and plexuses