Types of undescended testicles
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Types of undescended testicles
Undescended testicles are often classified according to their location and whether they can be felt (palpable or nonpalpable).
- Abdominal or intra-abdominal: The testicle remains inside the abdomen and cannot be felt (is nonpalpable) during a physical exam. Often it will be located close to the inner opening of the inguinal canal.
- Inguinal or intracanicular: The testicle stops in the inguinal canal and cannot be felt during a physical exam.
- Prescrotal or prepubic: The testicle moves down through the inguinal canal but does not descend completely into the scrotum. It usually can be felt (is palpable) during a physical exam.
- Ectopic: The testicle descends normally through the inguinal canal but then moves into an abnormal position in the groin area. It can be felt.
See a picture that shows the position of normal and undescended testicles 
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Credits
| Author | Debby Golonka, MPH |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Peter Anderson, MD, FRCS(C) - Pediatric Urology |
| Last Updated | June 6, 2007 |
| Last updated: | June 06, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Debby Golonka, MPH |
| Reviewed By: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Peter Anderson, MD, FRCS(C) - Pediatric Urology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC |
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