Sandbox MWH

Cryptorchidism

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Muhammad Waleed Haider, M.D.[2]

Synonyms and Keywords: Cryptorchism; maldescended testis; ectopic testis; undescended testicle

Historical Perspective

Cryptorchidism is derived from the Greek words "crypto" (meaning "hidden") and "orchid" (meaning "testicle"). During the last century, cryptorchidism was sometimes restricted to the subset of undescended testes that were not palpable above the scrotum or in the inguinal canal — those that were truly hidden in the abdomen or completely absent. In recent decades the distinction is no longer made in most contexts, and the two terms are used interchangeably. Cryptorchism is an older variant of the same term.

Pathophysiology

The testes begin as an immigration of primordial germ cells into testicular cords along the genital ridge in the abdomen of the early embryo.