Applied anatomic study of testicular veins in adult cadavers and in human fetuses

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Analyze the anatomic variations of the testicular veins in human cadavers and fetuses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred male adult cadavers and 24 fetuses were studied. Four anatomic aspects were considered 1) Number of testicular veins, 2) The local of vein termination, 3) Type and number of collaterals present and 4) Testicular vein termination angle. RESULTS: Cadavers - Right side - One testicular vein occurred in 85 percent and 2 veins in 5 percent of the cases. There were communicating veins with the colon in 21 percent of the cases. Left side - One testicular vein occurred in 82 percent, two veins in 15 percent, three veins in 2 percent and four veins in 1 percent of the cases. There were communicating veins with the colon in 31 percent of the cases. Fetuses - Right side -One testicular vein occurred in all cases. This vein drained to the vena cava in 83.3 percent of the cases, to the junction of the vena cava with the renal vein in 12.5 percent and to the renal vein in 4.2 percent. There were communicating veins with the colon in 25 percent of the cases. Left side - One testicular vein occurred in 66.6 percent of the cases, and 2 veins in occurred 33.3 percent. Communicating veins with the colon were found in 41.6 percent of the cases. CONCLUSION: The testicular vein presents numeric variations and also variations in its local of termination. In approximately 30 percent of the cases, there are collaterals that communicate the testicular vein with retroperitoneal veins. These anatomic findings can help understanding the origin of varicocele and its recurrence after surgical interventions.