Testicles - Vascular Pathology

• VASCULAR DISTURBANCES

Testicular blood supply is vulnerable to trauma - arterial supply and venous return are restricted within the spermatic cord and at the inguinal rings; and the tunica albuginea is relatively inelastic and cannot adjust to sudden increases in intra-testicular pressure.

Aetiology:

1. General septicaemia and toxaemia:petechiation and focal atrophy or degeneration.
2. Ischaemia:coagulative necrosis, following compression of the spermatic cord (e.g. Burdizzo castration).
3. Anoxia or stagnation hypoxia:coagulative necrosis, e.g. Torsion of spermatic cord (arterial occlusion) or venous thrombosis with/without haematoma following trauma.

Information by kind permission of Professor R W Else