Unusual drainage of the testicular veins.
An unusual drainage of the testicular veins was found during routine cadaveric dissection. Specifically, the lateral division of each testicular vein on both left and right sides was found to drain into the subcostal veins. No other anomalies of the veins of the abdomen were found. Knowledge of the many anomalies that can potentially occur in the abdominal region is necessary in interpretation of images of this anatomical area. Additionally, knowledge of these variations is important surgically; for example, anomalous veins that ought to be ligated during surgery for varicocele go unnoticed and result in recurrence of the varicocele.
Tubbs
R Shane
RS
Department of Cell Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, USA. rstubbs@uab.edu
Salter
E George
EG
Oakes
W Jerry
WJ
D002102:Cadaver; D003097:Collateral Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply*; D014680:Veins / Q000002:abnormalities*