Testicular artery

The testicular arteries (internal spermatic arteries) are distributed to the testes.

The testicular arteries are two slender vessels of considerable length, and arise from the front of the aorta a little below the renal arteries. Each testicular artery passes obliquely downward and lateralward behind the peritoneum, resting on the Psoas major, the right testicular artery lying in front of the inferior vena cava and behind the middle colic and ileocolic arteries and the terminal part of the ileum, the left testicular artery behind the left colic and sigmoid arteries and the iliac colon.

Each testicular artery crosses obliquely over the ureter and the lower part of the external iliac artery to reach the abdominal inguinal ring, through which it passes, and accompanies the other constituents of the spermatic cord along the inguinal canal to the scrotum, where it becomes tortuous, and divides into several branches. Two or three of these accompany the ductus deferens, and supply the epididymis (epididymal branches), anastomosing with the artery of the ductus deferens; others pierce the back part of the tunica albuginea, and supply the substance of the testis.

The testicular artery supplies one or two small branches to the ureter, and in the inguinal canal gives one or two twigs to the Cremaster.