Testicular trauma
Encyclopedia
Testicular trauma is an injury to one or both testicle
s. Types of injuries include blunt, penetrating and degloving.
Because the testes are located within the scrotum
, which hangs outside of the body, they do not have the protection of muscles and bones. This makes it easier for the testes to be struck, hit, kicked or crushed, which occurs most often during contact sport
s. Males can protect their testicles by wearing athletic cups during sports.
Trauma to the testes can cause severe pain, bruising, and/or swelling. In most cases, the testes—which are made of a spongy material—can absorb the shock of an injury without serious damage. A rare type of testicular trauma, called testicular rupture
, occurs when the testicle receives a direct blow or is squeezed against the hard bones of the pelvis. This injury can cause blood to leak into the scrotum. In severe cases, surgery to repair the rupture—and thus save the testicle—may be necessary.
Testicle
The testicle is the male gonad in animals. Like the ovaries to which they are homologous, testes are components of both the reproductive system and the endocrine system...
s. Types of injuries include blunt, penetrating and degloving.
Because the testes are located within the scrotum
Scrotum
In some male mammals the scrotum is a dual-chambered protuberance of skin and muscle containing the testicles and divided by a septum. It is an extension of the perineum, and is located between the penis and anus. In humans and some other mammals, the base of the scrotum becomes covered with curly...
, which hangs outside of the body, they do not have the protection of muscles and bones. This makes it easier for the testes to be struck, hit, kicked or crushed, which occurs most often during contact sport
Contact sport
Many sports involve a degree of player-to-player or player-to-object contact. The term "contact sport" is used in both team sports and combat sports, medical terminology and television game shows, such as the Gladiators and Wipeout, to certain degrees...
s. Males can protect their testicles by wearing athletic cups during sports.
Trauma to the testes can cause severe pain, bruising, and/or swelling. In most cases, the testes—which are made of a spongy material—can absorb the shock of an injury without serious damage. A rare type of testicular trauma, called testicular rupture
Testicular rupture
Testicular rupture is a rip or tear in the tunica albuginea resulting in extrusion of the testicular contents. It is a rare complication of testicular trauma. It may cause pain, scrotal swelling, nausea and vomiting. Treatment consists of surgical exploration with repair of the defect.-External...
, occurs when the testicle receives a direct blow or is squeezed against the hard bones of the pelvis. This injury can cause blood to leak into the scrotum. In severe cases, surgery to repair the rupture—and thus save the testicle—may be necessary.