What is the Difference Between Undescended Testis and Retractile Testis

The key difference between undescended testis and retractile testis is that undescended testis is a testis that hasn’t moved into its proper position in the scrotum before birth, while retractile testis is a testis that can move back and forth between the scrotum and the groin.

The testis is a part of the male reproductive system. There are two testes in the male reproductive system, about the size of large olives, located inside the scrotum. The scrotum is the loose sac of the skin that hangs behind the penis. Testicles make male hormones, including testosterone, and produce sperm. There are a number of medical conditions that affect the testicles, such as undescended testis, retractile testis, and testicular torsions.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Undescended Testis
3. What is Retractile Testis
4. Similarities – Undescended Testis and Retractile Testis
5. Undescended Testis vs Retractile Testis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Undescended Testis vs Retractile Testis

What is Undescended Testis?

Undescended testis is a testis that hasn’t moved into its proper position in the scrotum before birth. This condition is also known as cryptorchidism. Normally, only one testis is affected in this condition. However, in about 10 % of cases, both testes can be undescended. This condition is uncommon in general. But it can be common in baby boys that are born prematurely. The signs and symptoms of undescended testis include palpable or unpalpable testis, testis located at the end of the inguinal canal or abdomen, and the testis is either very small or has never formed. Doctors believe that most cases of undescended testis occur due to a combination of genetics, maternal health, and some environmental factors. These factors disrupt the hormones that cause physical changes and interrupt the activity of nerves involved in the development of testicles.

The undescended testis can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood and urine tests, ultrasound, MRI scan, laparoscopy, open surgery, and genetic testing for sex chromosomes. Furthermore, the treatments for undescended testis include the orchidopexy procedure (a procedure to free an undescended testis and implant it in the scrotum).

What is Retractile Testis?

The retractile testis is a testis that moves back and forth between the scrotum and the groin. For most boys, this problem goes way sometime before or during puberty. The signs and symptoms of a retractile testis are as follows: testis that can be moved by hand from the groin into the scrotum and will not immediately retreat to the groin, testis might spontaneously appear in the scrotum and remain there for a time, and the testis might spontaneously disappear again for a time. Moreover, a retractile testis is caused due to an overactive muscle.

A retractile testis is normally diagnosed through physical examination. Furthermore, a retractile testis does not need to be treated unless it ascends and becomes an undescended testis.

What are the Similarities Between Undescended Testis and Retractile Testis?

• Undescended testis and retractile testis are two conditions that affect the testis.
• These conditions occur during fetal development.
• The retractile testis can ascend and become undescended testis.
• Both these conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination.
• They are not life-threatening conditions.

What is the Difference Between Undescended Testis and Retractile Testis?

Undescended testis is a testis that hasn’t moved into its proper position in the scrotum before birth, while retractile testis is a testis that may move back and forth between the scrotum and the groin. Thus, this is the key difference between undescended testis and retractile testis. Furthermore, the undescended testis is a complicated condition, while retractile testis is not a complicated condition.

The below infographic presents the differences between undescended testis and retractile testis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Undescended Testis vs Retractile Testis

The testis or testicle is a part of the male reproductive system and makes sperm and hormones. It is located outside the body. Undescended testis and retractile testis are two related conditions that affect the testis. Undescended testis is a testis that hasn’t moved into its proper position in the scrotum before birth, while retractile testis is a testis that may move back and forth between the scrotum and the groin. So, this is the key difference between undescended testis and retractile testis.

Reference:

1. “Undescended testicles.” NHS Choices, NHS.
2. “Retractile Testicle.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Undescended testicle Cryptorchidism 0530162446453 8M” By © Nevit Dilmen (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Male anatomy en” By Male_anatomy.png: alt.sex FAQderivative work: Tsaitgaist (talk) – *[[:File:Male_anatomy.png|Male_anatomy.png] (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia