The testicular artery and its veins-the pampiniform plexus-lie in front of the spermatic duct. The veins of this plexus are often varicose, constituting a varicocele. These veins have no valves, except for a pair usually present at the entrance of the right vein into the vena cava. The left plexus of veins is more frequently affected. Various anatomical reasons are given for this phenomenon, the most common ones being that the left spermatic vein is much longer and its course more vertical than the right; that it empties into the left renal vein at a right angle, while the right vein empties at an acute angle into the inferior vena cava, and running beneath the sigmoid flexure, it is constantly subjected to compression from accumulated fecal matter. The blood supply of the testicle is derived from the testicular artery. Its veins empty into the pampiniform plexus, the veins of which unite to form the testicular vein.

Plexus pampiniformis

Plexus venosus pampiniformis

Plexus pampiniforme