A case of an accessory testicular artery

Abstract

Dissection of an adult male cadaver revealed the presence of an accessory left testicular artery in addition to the normal right and left testicular arteries. In this case the accessory left testicular artery originated from the ventrolateral wall of the descending aorta. The origin was located between the superior mesenteric artery and the left renal vein. The accessory artery continued to course from the aorta laterally toward the superior ventral portion of the left kidney and then passed ventrally to the kidney on its course inferiorly to the pelvic region. Communication was observed between the accessory left testicular artery and the left renal artery. This variation of gonadal vasculature is of interest from the point of view of its embryogenesis, and possible clinical significance.