Cryptorchidism is a medical term referring to absence from the scrotum of one or both testes. This usually represents failure of the testis to move, to "descend," during fetal development from an abdominal position, through the inguinal canal, into the ipsilateral scrotum. About 3% of full-term infant boys are born with at least one undescended testis, making cryptorchidism the most common birth defect of male genitalia.

A testis absent from the normal scrotal position can be:

1. found anywhere along the "path of descent" from high in the posterior (retroperitoneal) abdomen, just below the kidney, to the inguinal ring;
2. found in the inguinal canal;
3. ectopic, that is, found to have "wandered" from that path, usually outside the inguinal canal and sometimes even under the skin of the thigh;
4. found to be undeveloped (hypoplastic) or severely abnormal (dysgenetic);
5. found to have vanished (also see Anorchia).

About two thirds of cases without other abnormalities are unilateral; 1/3 involve both testes. In 90% of cases an undescended testis can be palpated (felt) in the inguinal canal; in a minority the testis or testes are in the abdomen or nonexistent (truly "hidden").

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Cryptorchidism - Undescended Testicle in Children -... http://t.co/2qWn1fAp
xXxTheMasteR (Peter Bivolarsky) Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:22:20 -0000
Cryptorchidism - Undescended Testicle in Children -... http://t.co/2qWn1fAp
Cryptorchidism ?EUR" Undescended testicle http://t.co/h54iKm0f
MargieYWilliams (Margie Y. Williams) Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:46:24 -0000
Cryptorchidism ?EUR" Undescended testicle http://t.co/h54iKm0f
Cryptorchidism - Undescended Testicle in Children http://t.co/q2kq85UW
FrederickViscar (Frederick Viscardi) Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:02:18 -0000
Cryptorchidism - Undescended Testicle in Children http://t.co/q2kq85UW
Cryptorchidism – Undescended testicle: http://t.co/6fjZ64bl
xXxTheMasteR (Peter Bivolarsky) Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:29:30 -0000
Cryptorchidism – Undescended testicle: http://t.co/6fjZ64bl
The condition of cryptorchidism, which is quite common, means that the testicles are undescended. The condition ... http://t.co/VsHEUHf7
SharleneWoolfor (Sharlene Woolford) Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:03:00 -0000
The condition of cryptorchidism, which is quite common, means that the testicles are undescended. The condition ... http://t.co/VsHEUHf7
Cryptorchidism - Undescended Testicle in Children: The condition of cryptorchidism, which is quite common, means... http://t.co/XtQQxT6g
OmaHearnRDWY (Oma Hearn) Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:02:59 -0000
Cryptorchidism - Undescended Testicle in Children: The condition of cryptorchidism, which is quite common, means... http://t.co/XtQQxT6g

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