The pampiniform plexus (from Latin ''pampinus'', a tendril, + ''forma'', form) is a

venous plexus In vertebrates, a venous plexus is a normal congregation anywhere in the body of multiple veins. A list of venous plexuses: * Basilar plexus * Batson venous plexus * Internal vertebral venous plexuses * Pterygoid plexus * Submucosal venous ple ...

– a network of many small

vein Veins are blood vessels in humans and most other animals that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary and umbilical veins, both of which carry oxygenated ...

s found in the human male

spermatic cord The spermatic cord is the cord-like structure in males formed by the vas deferens (''ductus deferens'') and surrounding tissue that runs from the deep inguinal ring down to each testicle. Its serosal covering, the tunica vaginalis, is an exten ...

, and the suspensory ligament of the

ovary The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm. There is an ovary () found on each side of the body. ...

. In the male, it is formed by the union of multiple testicular veins from the back of the

testis A testicle or testis (plural testes) is the male reproductive gland or gonad in all bilaterians, including humans. It is homologous to the female ovary. The functions of the testes are to produce both sperm and androgens, primarily testostero ...

and tributaries from the

epididymis The epididymis (; plural: epididymides or ) is a tube that connects a testicle to a vas deferens in the male reproductive system. It is a single, narrow, tightly-coiled tube in adult humans, in length. It serves as an interconnection between the ...

In the male

The veins of the plexus ascend along the

in front of the

vas deferens The vas deferens or ductus deferens is part of the male reproductive system of many vertebrates. The ducts transport sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory ducts in anticipation of ejaculation. The vas deferens is a partially coiled tube ...

. Below the

superficial inguinal ring The inguinal canals are the two passages in the anterior abdominal wall of humans and animals which in males convey the spermatic cords and in females the round ligament of the uterus. The inguinal canals are larger and more prominent in males. Th ...

they unite to form three or four veins, which pass along the

inguinal canal The inguinal canals are the two passages in the anterior abdominal wall of humans and animals which in males convey the spermatic cords and in females the round ligament of the uterus. The inguinal canals are larger and more prominent in males. ...

, and, entering the abdomen through the

deep inguinal ring The inguinal canals are the two passages in the anterior abdominal wall of humans and animals which in males convey the spermatic cords and in females the round ligament of the uterus. The inguinal canals are larger and more prominent in males. ...

, coalesce to form two veins. These again unite to form a single vein, the testicular vein, which opens on the right side into the

inferior vena cava The inferior vena cava is a large vein that carries the deoxygenated blood from the lower and middle body into the right atrium of the heart. It is formed by the joining of the right and the left common iliac veins, usually at the level of th ...

, at an acute angle, and on the left side into the left

renal vein The renal veins are large-calibre veins that drain blood filtered by the kidneys into the inferior vena cava. There is one renal vein draining each kidney. Because the inferior vena cava is on the right half of the body, the left renal vein is lo ...

, at a right angle. The pampiniform plexus forms the chief mass of the cord. In addition to its function in venous return from the testes, the pampiniform plexus also plays a role in the temperature regulation of the testes. It acts as a countercurrent

heat exchanger A heat exchanger is a system used to transfer heat between a source and a working fluid. Heat exchangers are used in both cooling and heating processes. The fluids may be separated by a solid wall to prevent mixing or they may be in direct conta ...

, cooling blood in adjacent arteries. An abnormal enlargement of the pampiniform plexus is a medical condition called

varicocele varicocele is an abnormal enlargement of the pampiniform venous plexus in the scrotum. This plexus of veins drains blood from the testicles back to the heart. The vessels originate in the abdomen and course down through the inguinal canal as p ...

In the female

In females, the pampiniform plexus drains the ovaries. The right ovary drains from the plexus to the ovarian vein and then to the inferior vena cava. However, the left ovary drains from the plexus to the left ovarian vein, and from there drains to the left renal vein before emptying into the inferior vena cava.First Aid for the USMLE Step 1, 2013.

References

External links

* - "Inguinal Region, Scrotum and Testes: Veins" * - "Male Reproductive System: spermatic cord, pampiniform plexus" * - "Spermatic cord" * * ()
Diagram
at

Rutgers Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's College, and w ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pampiniform Venous Plexus Veins of the torso Scrotum

In the male

In the female

See also

References

External links