1. Defect And Excess Of Formation

The testes are absent when the entire sexual apparatus is absent; sometimes they are wanting when the other parts are defectively developed, or are represented by a few coils of a seminal duct: lastly they may be in existence, but of small size, and incapable of further growth. In this case the epididymis is particularly small, its ligament elongated, and the entire organ apparently broken up. This is very commonly the case when the testes remain in the abdominal cavity or in the inguinal canal, and there is an apparent absence of testicles (cryptorchis).

The vas deferens may present a malformation, and after diminishing gradually, terminate blindly at some distance from the vesiculae seminales and generally in the inguinal canal.

Excess of development, in the shape of a plurality of testicles, is undoubtedly very rare: the fact itself is not supported by sufficient proofs.

2. Deviations Of Size

Increase of size of the testicles depends upon hyperaemia, upon inflammation and its consequences, i. e. upon the inflammatory enlargement itself, and the residuary product of inflammation and induration upon hypertrophy of the cellulo-fibrous stroma, and upon morbid growths and degenerations of the organ.

Enlargements of the testicle are to be carefully distinguished from distension of the tunica vaginalis.

Besides congenital smallness of the testicle, dependent upon arrest of development, we not unfrequently meet with atrophy of the testicle. It occurs not only in the shape of marasmus senilis, accompanied by flabby texture of the organ and a dirty yellow color of its tissue, but is found at earlier periods of life as a consequence of exhaustion, of gonorrhoeal neuralgia of the testis, and from unexplained influences in the tropics (Larry). The testicle also becomes atrophied in conseqdence of pressure exerted by effusion in the vaginal sac, by large herniae, by exudations within its substance, and by morbid growths.

3. Deviations Of Position

We have to notice the foetal position of the testicles within the abdominal cavity, or in the inguinal canal (crypt-orchis). It is important both from being commonly associated with defective development of the testicle, and on account of the doubt arising as to the sex of the individual, as well as on account of the descent of the testicle, which commonly occurs about the period of puberty, and the consequent occurrence of (congenital) inguinal hernia.

In rare cases the descending testicle does not pursue its regular course; it either passes under the crural arch, or sinks into the pelvic cavity.