928 THE VASCULAK SYSTEM. 



female ovarian arteries. In each sex they are long slender vessels which spring 

 from the front of the aorta a short distance below the origins of the renal arteries. 

 3. The Testicular Arteries. Each testicular artery runs downwards and 

 forwards, on the anterior surface of the psoas major, to the abdominal inguinal ring, 

 where it comes into relation with the ductus deferens. It accompanies the ductus 

 deferens through the inguinal canal to the testis, to which it is distributed. 



Relations Posterior. The right artery passes in front of the inferior vena cava, : 

 and as each artery descends, on the anterior surface of the psoas major, it passes in front 

 of the corresponding genito-femoral nerve and the ureter. 



Anterior. Each artery is in relation anteriorly with the peritoneum to which it is 

 attached ; but crossing in front of the right artery and intervening between it and the 

 peritoneum are the third or transverse part of the duodenum, the right colic- and the 

 ileo-colic arteries, the terminal part of the superior mesenteric artery/ and the caecum 

 Crossing anterior to the left artery are the left colic and sigmoid branches of the 

 inferior mesenteric artery and the iliac colon. 



In the lower part of the abdominal portion of its course each testicular artery is 

 accompanied by two veins, which issue from the pampiniform plexus in the inguina 

 canal and enter the abdomen through the abdominal inguinal ring, but at a higher leve ' 

 the two veins usually fuse into a single stem. 



As it enters the inguinal canal each testicular artery passes in front of the inferio 

 epigastric artery, and the lower end of the external iliac artery ; and as it runs down 

 wards and medially, in the canal, it is accompanied by the ductus deferens, and is more o \ 

 less enclosed in the meshes of the pampiniform venous plexus. At the lower end of th 

 canal it passes through the subcutaneous inguinal ring and descends in the scrotum, lyin< ' 

 antero-lateral to the ductus deferens and in close association with the anterior group o j 

 testicular veins. At the upper end of the testis it breaks up into branches, some cj 

 which are distributed to the testis and others to the epididymis. 



Branches. In the abdominal part of its course each testicular artery gives off : 

 (a) Ureteral branches, to the abdominal part of the ureter. 

 (6) Peri-nephric twigs, to the peri-nephric fat. 



(c) Peritoneal branches, which are distributed to the peritoneum. 



(d) Glandular branches, which supply blood to the lumbar lymph glands. 



Its terminal branches are the testicular and epididymal twigs already mentioned. 



3b. Ovarian Arteries. The course and the relations of each ovarian artery, a 

 far as the level of the brim of the pelvis minor, are the same as the relations c 

 the corresponding testicular artery ; but at the level of the upper end of th 

 external iliac artery each ovarian artery turns medially, crosses anterior to the uppe 

 end of the corresponding external iliac artery and vein, and enters the upper part < 

 the broad ligament of the uterus. In the broad ligament it runs medially, belo- 

 the uterine tube, to the level of the ovary. There it turns backwards and passt 

 between the layers of the mesovarium, where it breaks up into terminal branch( 

 which enter the ovary through the hilum in its anterior border. As it lies in tl 

 broad ligament each ovarian artery is accompanied by the pampiniform plexus <! 

 ovarian veins. In the lower portion of the abdominal part of its course it 

 accompanied by two veins, which issue from the pampiniform plexus at the bri: 

 of the pelvis minor, and unite at a higher level into a single trunk. 



Branches. (a) In the abdominal part of its course the branches of the ovarian artery a 

 the same as those of the testicular artery. 



In the pelvic part of its course it gives off : 



(a) Tubal branches, to the walls of the uterine tube. 



(6) Branches to the round ligament of the uterus. 



(c) Uterine branches, which pass towards the uterus to anastomose with the branches of t 

 uterine artery. 



THE UNPAIRED OR SINGLE VISCERAL BRANCHES OF THE ABDOMINAL AORTA. 



1. Arteria Cceliaca. The cceliac artery (Figs. 771 and 773) arises from t 

 front of the abdominal aorta, immediately below the aortic orifice of the diaphrag 

 and between its crura. It is a short but wide vessel which runs almost horizontal 

 forwards, for a distance of about 12 mm. (half an inch), and it terminates by dividi] 

 into three branches the left gastric, the hepatic, and the splenic. 



