cryptorchidism

Last reviewed 07/2021

The literal meaning of cryptorchidism is hidden testes. It embraces:

• incomplete descent - the testis fails to descend fully; it may be truly incompletely descended or retractile
• abnormal descent - the testis does not lie along its normal path of descent, but in an ectopic position

Note that the combination of hypospadias and cryptorchidism should alert the clinician to the possibility of female virilisation.