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Testes:
The male glands known as the testes are also sometimes
called the testicles, Latin for "little testes." The singular
for testes is testis. The testes are the male reproductive
glands, or gonads (GOH-nads), corresponding to the ovaries in
women.
Size and location The testes are somewhat smaller than chicken
eggs and roughly egg shaped. They are normally found in a
pouch of skin beneath the base of the penis called the scrotum.
Role The testes have two important products: the male hormone
testosterone and sperm. Testosterone is an endocrine hormone
released into the bloodstream. Sperm are produced in the testes
and stored in a sac in the body.
Conditions that affect the testes Sometimes, most often by
deliberate mutilation, a person is deprived of both testes;
this is called castration. If a boy is castrated before
puberty, he does not go through the changes of puberty.
Sometimes the testes remain inside a baby's body instead of
moving into the scrotum. One undescended testis may not be
much of a problem, although it can be corrected surgically and
often is. Two undescended testes produce sterility, apparently
because the temperature of the interior of the body is too high
for sperm production.
The place in the abdominal wall where the tube carrying sperm,
called the vas deferens, passes into the body is often weak,
and a hernia is a common result. Sometimes the hernia allows
part of the intestines to descend into the scrotum.
Cancer of the testes is rare but can be detected in its early
stages by self-examination for a lump. Any lump in a testis
may be harmful and should be examined by a physician. The
treatment is surgical removal of the testis. If done early
complications such as spread to the lungs can be avoided and
recovery is complete. The other testis produces enough
testosterone and sperm for normal function. Swelling of the
entire testis is usually not harmful and often goes away by
itself.
Some sexually transmitted diseases may invade the testes. In
addition, the scrotum may become involved in the fungal
infection known as jock itch.
Sometimes lack of the hormone testosterone can produce or
contribute to impotence. Production of the hormone tends to
decline in older men, often resulting in muscle weakness as
well.
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