ARTERIAL SUPPLY OF THE HUMAN FETAL TESTIS DURING ITS MIGRATION

PURPOSE: Irrespective of the surgical technique chosen to treat high undescended testis, preservation of an adequate arterial supply for the testis is crucial for successful orchiopexy with maintenance of normal testicular size and texture. To provide an anatomical background for such a procedure, we performed a systematic study on the number and origin of arteries supplying the fetal testis during its migration from the abdomen to the scrotum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied bilaterally 64 testes from 32 fresh human fetuses 13 to 33 weeks after conception. The fetuses were injected through the thoracic aorta with a microvascular silicone rubber red resin to fill in the arterial tree, thereby enabling identification and dissection of all arteries supplying the testes. RESULTS: Of the 64 testes 3 arteries (testicular, deferential and cremasteric) were found in 46 (71.9%), 2 (testicular and deferential) in 15 (23.4%) and 4 in 3 (4.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The fetal testis is always supplied by at least 2 arteries (testicular and deferential arteries) and by 3 or 4 arteries in nearly 80% of the cases.