The aim of the study was to compare the blood vessel network of the human
and bovine male gonads, paying special attention to differences resulting from
mediastinum testis localisation.
Two groups of specimens were compared. Each group consisted of 50 corrosive
die casts of the testicular and spermatic cord vessels of bovine and human
gonads respectively. In each group 20 gonads had only the arterial vessels
injected, another 20 only the veins, while in 10 gonads both arteries and veins
were injected. The die casts were examined with a stereoscopic binocular as
well as an optic microscope.
The different testicular vascular patterns in humans and bulls were observed. In
humans the intratesticular arteries branch off the arterial network of the tunica
albuginea and mediastinum testis. The former runs centripetally, the latter centrifugally.
Analogically, the intratesticular veins emptying into the tunica albuginea
venous network run centrifugally and those emptying into the mediastinum
testis plexus run centripetally. In bulls the arterial vessels run centripetally,
later forming a helical, screw-like layer to give off centrifugal branches. Venous
vessels run centrifugally and empty into the venous plexus of the tunica albuginea
