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Glite Dictionary
undescended testis

undescended testis

8.5
A testis that does not move into the scrotum before birth and stays in the abdomen or groin
  • noun
  • /ˌʌndɪˈsɛndɪd ˈtɛstɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : testículo no descendido
  • Surgical correction is often recommended for a child born with an undescended testis.

Examples

  • The pediatrician detected an undescended testis during the infant's routine examination.

  • If an undescended testis is not treated in childhood, fertility problems may arise later.

  • An undescended testis can lead to complications later in life.

  • Many boys are born with an undescended testis.

  • The pediatrician detected an undescended testis during the infant's routine examination.

  • Surgical correction is often recommended for a child born with an undescended testis.

  • If an undescended testis is not treated in childhood, fertility problems may arise later.

Synonyms

undescended testicle
vsundescended testis
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A testicle that does not move down into the scrotum before birth

is the same idea but in plain descriptive language rather than clinical
cryptorchidism
vsundescended testis
  • Specialized
1 9.9

One or both testicles do not move down into the scrotum before birth

is a plain descriptive phrase used outside medical terminology
cryptorchism
vsundescended testis
  • Specialized
9.9

A condition where one or both testicles stay inside the body instead of moving into the scrotum before birth

is a nontechnical description used in general contexts
cryptorchidy
vsundescended testis
  • Specialized
9.9

A condition in which one or both testicles do not move down into the scrotum before birth

is the everyday descriptive phrase rather than a specialist label

Surface Forms

undescended testis singular
undescended testes plural

Morphology

undescended + testis

The meaning is directly compositional: 'undescended' = 'not descended' (not moved down) and 'testis' = male reproductive gland, so a learner who knows those constituents can infer it refers to a testis that has not moved into the scrotum. Although it is a medical term, its sense follows regular English morphology and is therefore immediately derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Undescended testis paints a simple picture: one testis did not 'descend', that is, did not go down into the scrotum before birth and so stayed in the belly or groin. That's why the term means a testis that remains in the belly or groin instead of moving into the scrotum.