The testes, or nuclear glands, decide whether to be male or not to be. Gentlemen sometimes call them my jewels. And how jewels should be cared for. Every man should know how the testicles are built and what their functions are. He should also regularly self-examine the testicles and be familiar with the symptoms of testicular diseases such as cancer, varicocele, orchitis and testicular torsion.

The testesare located outside the abdominal cavity in the scrotum and have a complicated internal structure. There are about 200 lobules in their flesh, and each of them produces sperm. From here, the sperm travels to the epididymis, where they mature and prepare for the further journey - through the vas deferens, the ejaculatory duct and … further. How many are there?

The average volume of the ejaculate contains 250-300 million sperm! But the task of the testicles does not end there. They are also involved in the production of male hormones, i.e. androgens. One of the most important is testosterone, which is already formed in the fetal period. It has a huge impact on the formation and development of the testicles, scrotum, penis and vas deferens. It also affects a man's body structure, the color of his voice, hair, muscle mass, and the so-called typically male behavior.

Kernels: structure. Sperm formation

The most important part of the male reproductive system is the penis, which ends with a rounded head (glans). The urethra passes through the penis, through which urine is drained outside the body, and sperm - the fluid containing sperm, i.e. male reproductive cells. The genetic information is contained in the sperm head. The wire is only used for the movement of this reproductive cell - it can flow more than 7 cm in an hour. Therefore, it takes about 90 minutes to travel from the vagina to the fallopian tube.

Sperm develops and is stored in the testicles. An adult male can produce over 100 million sperm every day. The best conditions for the emerging sperm cells are the temperature 3-5 degrees C lower than body temperature. This is why the testicles hang in the scrotum, outside of the body. When it is hot, the muscles of the scrotum relax, allowing the testes to hang freely in the relative coolness away from the body. In cold weather, these muscles contract, drawing the testicles close to your body.

  • Don't overheat your testicles!

The best condition for sperm production istemperature 3-5 degrees C lower than body temperature. This is why the testicles hang in the scrotum, outside of the body. When it is hot, the muscles of the scrotum relax, allowing the testes to hang freely in the relative coolness away from the body. And when it's cold, your muscles contract, drawing the testicles closer to your body.

Unfortunately, these unusual glands, like other organs, get sick.

Some medical conditions are related to congenital or acquired testicular defects, others to a hormonal failure. These diseases - especially if left untreated - can make a man infertile and some, such as testicular cancer, are life-threatening. Many diseases of the testicles affect boys, adolescents and men up to the age of 35. But testicular cancer also attacks older men over the age of 65.

Testicular diseases: cryptorchidism

Cryptorchidism, otherwise testicular failure, is a developmental defect. Already in the womb, the testes of the future man pass from the abdominal cavity (descend) through the inguinal canal into the scrotum. A male newborn should therefore have both glands located in the scrotum, which can be easily felt by gently touching the scrotum. It happens, however, that during the journey the testicle stops on its way and does not descend into the scrotum. Parents are concerned about this and they often demand immediate intervention from the doctor. There is no need. Usually, by the time the baby is one year old, the testicles will fall into place. If this does not happen, a pediatric surgeon must be consulted. During the examination, the doctor will look for the testicle in the inguinal canal with his hand, and if he does not find it, he orders an ultrasound scan which locates the fugitive.

Cryptorchidism is treated in two ways - hormonally or surgically. Bringing the testicle before the boy is 2 years old is a chance that in adulthood the man will be able to have children of his own. When the procedure is performed on an older boy or young man, the risk of problems with sperm production increases, which can lead to problems with procreation. The second argument for dealing with cryptorchidism as early as possible is a 30-40 times greater probability of developing testicular cancer in a man whose glands have not been brought into the scrotum for too long.

Diseases of the testicles: inflammation of the testicle

Inflammation of the testis is rare, inflammation of the epididymis is more common. However, once he develops orchitis, the man suffers a lot. The pain is severe, accompanied by swelling of the testicle and high fever, even up to 40 degrees C. Testicular inflammation may occur when pathogenic microorganisms along with blood reach it from another inflammatory site in the body. Another wayit passes through the vas deferens, most often caused by urinary tract infections. As inflammation develops, it usually attacks the epididymis, then the testicle. Testicular hydrocele may develop if treatment is not started.

Testicular inflammation is nothing more than the accumulation of serous fluid between the walls of the scrotum and the testicle itself. Acute orchitis of bacterial origin is usually treated with antibiotics. Treatment is necessary, otherwise there may be complications in the form of an abscess, which requires surgical intervention.

In young men, the common cause of testicular inflammation is the complication of mumps, which is a viral disease. The symptoms are as bothersome as with bacterial inflammation, but you don't need to take antibiotics. After a few days, the inflammation subsides by itself.

Testicular diseases: testicular hydrocele

Testicular hydrocele can appear both in infants and young boys (congenital hydrocele) and in adult men (acquired hydrocele). It is an excessive accumulation of fluid in the scrotum. Usually, it does not cause any symptoms, apart from a visible enlargement of the scrotum (usually on the one, more often the right, side).

Since the testicular hydrocele can affect, among others, fertility and the development of other diseases, do not delay going to the doctor. Diagnostics is not complicated, it includes diaphanoscopy, which illuminates the scrotum, e.g. with a flashlight. Characteristic for a testicular hydrocele is that light penetrates through it, unlike e.g. a tumor.

If the hydrocele does not resolve itself, surgery is required to remove fluid from the scrotum.

Diseases of the testicles: sharp torsion of the testicle

Between the ages of 14 and 18, when a young person is blooming and practicing sports strenuously (e.g. he rides a lot), he may get the so-called testicle torsion. In fact, it is a sharp twist in the spermatic cord caused by the rotation of the testicle around its axis. It causes the blood circulation to stop, and there is a risk of losing the testicle. A very characteristic torsion of the testicle is sudden (often occurring at night), very severe pain. Nausea and vomiting are accompanied by rapidly increasing swelling of the entire scrotum.

In this case, you should go to the emergency room at the nearest hospital as soon as possible. The testicle must be surgically unscrewed within 4-6 hours. Thanks to this, it is usually possible to save them. If the surgeon's intervention is too late, the testicle must be amputated. For cosmetic reasons, a testicle prosthesis may be implanted after some time.

Diseases of the testicles: varicocele

The seed cords are provided withnumerous vessels that drain blood from the testicles. This is possible thanks to special venous valves. When they do not work efficiently, the blood stops and the veins (as if they are distended) are thickened, i.e. varicose veins. Then, due to the very slow outflow of blood, the temperature in the scrotum begins to increase and the testicles overheat. This causes changes in the sperm composition and hormonal disorders.

The varicose veins of the spermatic cord are not accompanied by special troublesome ailments. The man only has the impression that the testicle seems to be heavier, sometimes he feels pulling pains in the groin. The disease is diagnosed by examining the testicles with your fingers. The doctor obtains confirmation of the diagnosis by ordering an ultrasound. The only effective method of getting rid of varicose veins is surgery (classic or laparoscopic).

You must do it

Check your testicles regularly!

Self-examination of the testicles is as important as self-examination of the breasts by women. It allows you to quickly spot any changes and start treatment. They should be performed monthly. You only need to spend about three minutes.

  • It's best to examine your testicles while bathing or showering. The skin of the scrotum is then soft and relaxed, so it is easier to feel any abnormalities.
  • Examine each kernel separately. First, roll the testicle gently between your thumb and forefinger, checking if you can feel any lumps, lumps or swelling under the skin.
  • Pay attention to whether the testes have not changed their appearance since the previous self-examination, e.g. if any of them have increased, the skin is not tense or its surface is not rough.
  • Now press the testicle gently with your fingers - it will be he althy to the touch, soft and smooth. Hard and rough requires a medical consultation, preferably a urologist.
  • Don't panic if you feel a small, hard lump on the back wall of the scrotum - this is the epididymis and the vas deferens.

Testicular diseases: cancer

A painless enlargement of the testicle is usually the first and often the only sign that a neoplastic disease is developing. Sometimes the testicle becomes small and hard at first, and then it begins to enlarge considerably quickly. It is usually disproportionately heavy for its size. Such symptoms should always prompt the man to see a urologist immediately. He will then order an ultrasound scan. If testicular cancer is suspected, no biopsy is performed, as a result of which it could spread the disease.

The first sign of testicular cancer in children may be early but very pronounced puberty. Until 20 years agodeveloping testicular cancer was almost always a death sentence. Currently - especially when it is detected early - it is in over 90 percent. curable. As testicular cancer mainly affects young people, between 15 and 35 years of age, any, even a small change in the appearance or weight of the testicles should prompt men to see a doctor.

If the disease is confirmed, the tumor must be excised. Usually the entire testicle is removed. During the operation, a histopathological examination is performed. Its result is determined, among others, by whether the lymph nodes should also be removed, and whether you will need chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Sometimes both therapies are used simultaneously to save lives.

Rare testicular diseases

  • Anorchia

Anorchia is a congenital bilateral lack of testicles. Boys with this ailment have poorly developed penis, they lack the scrotum. They do not have male facial hair or pubic hair during adolescence. They don't mutate and their muscles develop poorly. In adulthood, they have disproportionate long limbs (eunuchoid features). Hormone treatment can cause the development of secondary sexual characteristics (e.g. penis lengthening, muscle strength increase), but infertility is irreversible.

  • Hypogonadism

Hypogonadism is a consequence of a hormonal insufficiency in the testicles. Primary hypogonadism may develop after testicular inflammation, physical trauma, or radiation. Until the age of 15, the disease develops without any symptoms. Later, it is clearly seen that the boy is not maturing - he does not mutate, he has no facial hair, and his sexual organs remain small. Around the age of 19, there is very little underarm hair, and the stubble on the head goes low to the forehead. Already after the age of 30, clear wrinkles appear on the face, the skin becomes wax-colored, and the upper eyelids are constantly swollen. Treatment consists of many years of testosterone administration.

  • Klinefelter syndrome

Klinefelter's syndrome is characterized by very small testicles and gynecomastia (enlarged breasts), which often end in the development of breast cancer after the age of 50. Most men go to the endocrinologist at the age of 18-20. They are referred to a military commission, usually because of their sexual immaturity.

These men often suffer from erectile dysfunction, and their libido decreases. Characterological changes are also typical - patients often run into conflicts with the environment, but are very attached to their mother, sometimes intellectually retarded. They are usually tall, with long limbs and femininesilhouette, they are haunted by their tendency to obesity. The only drug that alleviates the effects of the disease is testosterone.

Category:

Anatomy