A ruptured testicle is a health emergency that happens when the membrane holding the testicle breaks. Testicular rupture can occur with blunt force to your scrotum or a penetrating injury. The injury often requires surgical repair, and sometimes your testicle must be removed.
The cremaster muscle is responsible for the movement. It expands and contracts according to temperature – moving them further from the body when it's warm and closer to the body when it's cold. (In really cold lakes, they can't seem to get close enough!)
With no blood, the testicle could die (or "infarct"). When the testes die, the scrotum will be very tender, red, and swollen. Often the patient won't be able to get comfortable. Any pain or discomfort in the testes is a sign to get medical help right away.
The majority of the time, sagging testicles are a normal part of the aging process. The testicles naturally sag, even at a young age, to protect the sperm inside and keep them viable. Anyone worried about saggy balls or other associated symptoms should contact a doctor for a diagnosis.
Retractile testicles are far more common than undescended testes. In fact, it is normal for males to have “swinging balls” as the cremasteric muscles, which orchestrate the movement of the testicles, can frequently contract and relax in response to temperature or state of arousal.
“Sometimes the scrotum has enough slack that one's testicles can dip into the toilet water when seated if the water level is particularly high or the toilet particularly shallow.
An overactive muscle causes a testicle to become a retractile testicle. The cremaster muscle is a thin pouch-like muscle in which a testicle rests. When the cremaster muscle contracts, it pulls the testicle up toward the body.
Most men who have had one testicle removed can go on to have children naturally. Men who have both testicles removed (rarely required) will no longer produce sperm and will be infertile.
Calcifications: These are small structures in the testicle or along the main sperm pipeline (vas) can become hard, almost rock like. These are always painless and rarely need to be removed.
When you climax, it's normal for testicles to "ride up" into your body. In some males, an "overactive" cremaster muscle pulls one (or both) of the testicles all the way out of the scrotum up into the groin. This condition, called retractile testicle, may explain your experience.
Before birth, a baby boy's testes (testicles) develop inside the abdomen. Closer to delivery, these organs travel through a canal in the groin. When all goes as it should, the testicles then fall into place in the scrotum, the bag of skin beneath the penis.
Having testicles that can rotate in the scrotum is a trait inherited by some males. If you have this trait, the only way to prevent testicular torsion is surgery to attach both testicles to the inside of the scrotum.
The testicles contain a great number of densely packed nerve endings in a small area. This high concentration of nerves makes them very sensitive and susceptible to pain. Unlike other organs, which may be internal and receive protection from muscles and bones, the testicles are external and more vulnerable to injury.
Each testicle feels like a smooth, firm egg. Adult testicles range in size from about 15 mL (similar to a bird egg) to 35 mL (similar to a small chicken egg). One testicle may be slightly larger than the other. Commonly, one testicle hangs lower than the other.
The testicle is divided into parts called lobules. Each lobule contains tiny U-shaped tubes called seminiferous tubules. There are about 800 seminiferous tubules tightly coiled within each testicle. The seminiferous tubules open into a series of uncoiled, interconnected channels called the rete testis.
The two testicles (or testes) produce sperm and the male sex hormone testosterone.
Without both testicles, your body won't be able to make as much testosterone as it needs. That might lower your sex drive and make it harder to have erections. You could have hot flashes, lose some muscle mass, and be more tired than usual.
Common causes of testicle pain include: Injury. Infection or swelling of the sperm ducts (epididymitis) or testicles (orchitis). Twisting of the testicles that can cut off the blood supply (testicular torsion).
Osculum infame is the name of a witch's supposed ritual greeting upon meeting with the Devil. The name means the 'shameful kiss' or 'kiss of shame', since it involved kissing the devil's anus, his "other" mouth. According to folklore, it was this kiss that allowed the Devil to seduce women.
When sperm leaves the testicles it is immature and immotile, meaning it cannot yet 'swim' to reach an egg. Sperm remain in the epididymis for 18-24 hours before they develop the ability to swim.