392 ABDOMEN 



to the suprarenal gland, and also numerous fine twigs to 

 the connective tissue around the kidney, and to the upper 

 part of the ureter. 



The renal veins join the inferior vena cava. The vein of 

 the left side is the longer of the two. It lies behind the 

 pancreas and crosses in front of the aorta immediately below 

 the root of the superior mesenteric artery. It receives a 

 tributary from the left suprarenal gland; it is joined also 

 by the left internal spermatic or ovarian vein. 



The Internal Spermatic Arteries are two long slender 

 vessels which spring from the front of the abdominal aorta, 

 a short way below the renal arteries. Diverging from its 

 fellow, each artery passes obliquely downwards and laterally, 

 behind the peritoneum, to the abdominal inguinal ring, 

 where it joins the other factors of the spermatic cord. As 

 it descends it rests upon the psoas major, and crosses 

 anterior to the ureter and the lower end of the external iliac 

 artery. On the right side the internal spermatic artery 

 passes in front of the vena cava inferior and behind the 

 terminal part of the ileum. On the left side it proceeds 

 downwards behind the iliac colon (Fig. 156). 



In the female the corresponding arteries go to the ovaries, 

 and are consequently termed the ovarian arteries. Within 

 the abdomen proper they have the same relations as the 

 spermatic arteries, except that they cross the upper ends of 

 the external iliac arteries. In the dissection of the female 

 pelvis minor they will be followed to their destination. 



The right internal spermatic vein joins the inferior vena cava 

 directly, whilst the left vein terminates in the left renal vein. 

 The ovarian veins end in the same manner. 



The Lumbar Arteries are four in number on each side, 

 and they spring from the posterior aspect of the ab- 

 dominal aorta, in series with the intercostal arteries. At 

 present only portions of them are visible. They proceed 

 laterally upon the bodies of the upper four lumbar vertebrae, 

 behind the gangliated trunk of the sympathetic, and then 

 disappear under cover of the psoas major muscle and of the 

 series of fibrous arches from which the muscle arises. The 

 upper two arteries pass behind the crura of the diaphragm 

 also, and on the right side all pass behind the inferior vena 

 cava. 



The lumbar veins join the inferior vena cava, those of the 



