Corpus: Testicular artery

The testicular artery is an artery that emerges from the aorta below the renal artery and is specific to males, supplying blood to the testicles. In females, the corresponding vessel is the ovarian artery, which supplies the ovaries.

During fetal development, the testicular artery follows the testicle as it descends from the abdomen into the scrotum, resulting in its relatively long course.

The testicular artery descends caudally along the psoas major muscle within a serosal fold known as the plica vasculosa or proximal mesorchium, crossing over the ureter. It is accompanied by the testicular vein. Upon reaching the pelvis, the artery enters the inguinal anulus profundus and proceeds through the inguinal canal as part of the spermatic cord.

As it continues, the testicular artery travels alongside the ductus deferens to reach the testicle. In the distal part of the spermatic cord, the artery forms a tangle-like intertwining with the pampiniform plexus, known as a tendril convolute. The artery then follows the margo epididymalis to the extremitas caudata (lower pole) of the testicle, before looping back towards the extremitas capitata (head end) along the margo liber.

The artery's numerous terminal branches penetrate the tunica albuginea of the testicle and proceed centripetally towards the central connective tissue zone of the testicle, the mediastinum testis. At this point, their direction changes to centrifugal, with the vessels eventually branching into capillary networks surrounding the seminiferous tubules.

• Rami ureterici: Supplies the ureter.
• Rami epididymales: Supplies the epididymis.
• Rami ductus deferentialis: Supplies the vas deferens.

The testicular artery is responsible for supplying arterial blood to the testicles and epididymis.

The blood in the testicular arteries is cooled by the countercurrent exchange system, where the warmer arterial blood is cooled by the cooler venous blood in the pampiniform plexus returning from the testicles. This cooling mechanism is crucial for maintaining the optimal temperature for spermatogenesis.