[Anatomical variants of the lymphatic bed of the human epididymis]

In a series of 59 male subjects aged between 1 to 86 years, the human epididymis intraorgan lymphatic bed was studied using subserosal injection of Herot's mass. It is shown that the epididymal lymphatic bed consists of the surface- and intraorgan plexuses of lymphatic vessels. The surface plexus is represented by subserosal, surface and deep intracapsular networks of lymphatic vessels. The development of the surface plexus is at its greatest on the dorsal surface of the proximal segment of the organ. The intraorgan plexus of lymphatic vessels resembling baskets braids the segments of the duct and cones of the small seminal ducts. One is supposed to know and take into account the topography of lymphatic vessels in performing surgical interventions on the epididymis in order that it might be possible to prevent their injury and reduce the incidence of complications related to disturbances in the lymphatic drainage.