Angioarchitecture of the Human Spermatic Cord

Abstract

In the spermatic cord of all species investigated a tightly organized venous network around the testicular artery has been described, with certain species-specific differences (Hess et al., 1984; Noordhuizen-Stassen et al., 1985; Rerkamnuaychoke et al., 1991 a). Several functions have been assigned to this intimate association between the testicular artery and the pampiniform plexus. These include as the regulation of temperature and arterial pulse in the testis as well as exchange of gas and hormones between the testicular artery and the pampiniform plexus (Waites and Moule, 1961; Jacks and Setchell, 1973; Hess et al., 1984). However, our knowledge about the vascular organization of the human pampiniform plexus is not sufficient to explain the mechanistic aspects of hormonal exchange between the testicular artery and pampiniform plexus.