Left testicular artery arching over the ipsilateral renal vein

Aim:To report two cases of the left testicular artery arching over the left renal vein(LRV)before running downward to the testis.Methods:The subjects were obtained from two Japanese cadavers.During the student course of gross-anatomical dissection,the anatomical relationship between the testicular vessels and the renal vein was specifi- cally observed.Results:The arching left testicular artery arose from the aorta below the LRV and made a loop around the LRV,which appeared to be mildly compressed between the arching artery and the psoas major muscle. Conclusion:Clinically,compression of the LRV between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery occasionally induces LRV hypertension,resulting in varicocele,orthostatic protenuria and hematuria.Considering that the incidence of a left arching testicular artery is higher than that of a right one,an arching left artery could be an additional cause of LRV hypertension.(Asian J Androl 2006 Jan;8:107-110)