674 



THE BLOOD-VASCULAR SYSTEM 



(3) The spermatic veins [vv. spermaticae] (fig. 529) return the blood from the testis. They 

 begin by the confluence of small branches from the body of the testis and epididymis. As 

 they proceed up the spermatic cord, in front of the internal spermatic artery and ductus 

 deferens, they become dilated and plexiform, constituting the pampiniform plexus [plexus 

 pampiniformis] (fig. 541). After passing through the subcutaneous inguinal ring, the inguinal 

 canal, and the abdominal inguinal ring, the plexus communicates with the inferior epigastric 

 vein and is continued as two veins. Along with the artery the veins pass up beneath the 

 peritoneum, and on the left side also beneath the sigmoid colon, across the psoas muscle and 

 ureter. They receive small tributaries from the ureter and peritoneum, and proceed as a single 

 trunk, on the right side to the vena cava inferior, and on the left side to the left renal vein. 

 There are commonly a number of imperfect valves in the spermatic plexus and a perfect pair 

 at the termination of each spermatic vein. On the left side, however, the terminal valve may 

 be wanting. 



Fig. 530. — The Veins of the Female Pelvis. (After Toldt, "Atlas of Human Anatomy," 



Rebman, London and New York.) 



Left common iliac artery and vein 



Hypogastric artery and vein 



Ovarian vein 



Left external iliac artery and vein 



Right common iliac artery and vein 

 Right external iliac artery 

 Edge of the suspensory ligament 

 of the ovary 



Uterine 

 veins 



Uterine' 

 artery 



Vaginal artery ^a 



Pelvic diaphragm 



\ Sacrotu- 

 berous 

 y ligament 



'• Obturator in- | 



ternus muscle I 



Utero-vaginal plexus I 



Internal pudendal artery 

 and vein 

 Veins behind the bulbus vestibuli 



Vagina 



The ovarian veins [vv. ovaricaj] begin at the plexus pampiniformis near the ovary, 

 between the layers of the broad ligament. This plexus is larger than in the male and com- 

 municates freely with the utero-vaginal i)lexuH of veins, and with the plexus of veins which ex- 

 tends from the hilus of the ovary into the ovarian ligament (fig. 486). After passing from 

 between the layers of the broad ligament, the plexus unites to form at first two and then a 

 single vessel, which accomi)ani('s the ovarian artery, following a course similar to that of the 

 spermatic veins in the male. The right ovarian veins open into the vena cava inferior, the left 

 into the left renal. They u.sually contain inii)crfoct valves in tlioir plexiform part, and a perfect 

 valve where they join the vena civaand renal vein respectively. 



