1. Testicular descent, cryptorchidism and inguinal hernia: the Melbourne perspective
- Author
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Hideki Tomiyama, Alvin Ting, Eric Yong, Jenny Huynh, John M. Hutson, and Yasunari Sasaki
- Subjects
Gubernaculum ,Gynecology ,Infertility ,medicine.medical_specialty ,biology ,business.industry ,Urology ,Incidence (epidemiology) ,Anti-Müllerian hormone ,medicine.disease ,Genitofemoral nerve ,Inguinal hernia ,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health ,Persistent Müllerian duct syndrome ,biology.protein ,Medicine ,business ,Hormone - Abstract
Cryptorchidism is the commonest congenital genitourinary anomaly in males and results when the testis does not descend into its normal intrascrotal position during development. In full-term infants, the incidence is approximately 3% at birth. Cryptorchidism results in several abnormalities, including attenuated spermatogenesis, infertility and a greater risk of malignancy. The normal mechanism of testicular descent appears to be multi-staged, with various anatomical factors and hormonal influences, but the exact process is still unclear. In this article we review the current theories of normal testicular descent, with a focus on the hormones and anatomical factors, and current treatments for undescended testis.
- Published
- 2005
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