UNDESCENDED TESTES:EMBRYOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

During the routine dissection of abdomen, two adult male cadavers, aged 55 & 67years, presented with unilateral and the bilateral undescended testes respectively. One of them presented with unilateral and the other with bilateral undescended testes. In both cases the testes were found at the superficial inguinal ring. The histological examinations indicated normal testicular tissue. Undescended testis is the inability of the testis to reach the scrotum. In living, it has to be differentiated from testicular agenesis, ectopic testis and retractile testis. The genetic sex of the male is determined at the time of fertilization but the phenotypical sex starts as early as 4th month of intrauterine life and completed along with the descent just before birth. The embryological basis and clinical significance has been explained.