Bma Illustrated Medical Dictionary

testis, ectopicA testisthat is absent

from the scrotumbecause it has descen-

ded into an abnormal position, usually

in the groin or at the base of the penis.

The condition is most often discovered

soon after birth during a routine physical

examination. It is treated by orchidopexy.

(See also testis, undescended.)

testis, pain in thePain in a testismay

be caused by mild injury, a tear in the

wall of the testis due to a direct blow,

orchitis, epididymo-orchitis, and torsion

of the testis (seetestis, torsion of). Some-

times, no cause is found and the pain

disappears without treatment. If the wall

of the testis is torn, an operation to

repair it may be needed.

testis, retractile A

testisthat is drawn up

high into the groin by

a pronounced muscle

reflex in response to

cold or touch. A retrac-

tile testis is normal in

young children, but it

usually disappears by

puberty.

testis, swollenSwel-

ling of the testisor the

surrounding tissues in

the scrotum. Harmless

and painless swellings

include epididymal cysts,

hydroceles, varicoceles,

and spermatoceles. Can-

cer of the testis (see

testis, cancer of) is rare

but may be a cause of

painless swelling. Swel-

ling that is painful may be caused by a

direct blow, torsion of the testis (see

testis, torsion of), orchitis, epididymo-

orchitis, or, in very rare cases, cancer of

the testis. Any swelling of the testes

should be assessed promptly by a doctor.

testis, torsion ofTwisting of the sper-

matic cordthat causes severe pain and

swelling of the testis. The pain develops

rapidly and is sometimes accompanied

by abdominal pain and nausea. The tes-

tis becomes swollen and very tender,

and the skin of the scrotumbecomes

discoloured. Unless the torsion is treated

within a few hours, permanent damage

to the testis results. The condition is

cancerous change in later life, and ther-

apy with oestrogen drugs. An affected

person is not fertile but can live a nor-

mal life as a woman.

testisOne of 2 male sexual organs, also

called testicles, that produce spermand

the hormone testosterone. The testes

develop in the fetus within the abdomen

and usually descend into the scrotum

by birth or within the next few months.

Each testis contains seminiferous tubu-

les that produce sperm. Cells between

the seminiferous tubules produce testos-

terone.Each testis is suspended by the

spermatic cord, composed of the vas def-

erens, blood vessels, and nerves. (See

also testis, undescended.)

testis, cancer ofA rare, cancerous

tumour of the testis. Testicular cancer is

most common in young to middle-aged

men, and the risk increases in indi-

viduals with a history of undescended

testis (see testis, undescended). The

most common types of testicular cancer

are seminomas, which are made up of

only 1 type of cell, and teratomas. The

cancer usually appears as a firm, pain-

less swelling of 1 testis. There may also

be pain and inflammation. Biopsy, fol-

lowed by orchidectomy, is the usual

treatment, and may be combined with

chemotherapy. The tumours usually

respond well to treatment.

TESTIS

TESTIS TESTIS, TORSION OF

T

Urethra

Penis

Bladder Vas

deferens

Scrotum

Testis Epididymis

LOCATION

STRUCTURE OF A TESTIS

Seminiferous

tubule

Epididymis

Vas

deferens

Spermatic

cord