Testes

TESTES

The testis is

  • Primary andrological organ which produces semen and testosterone.
  • It is a oval shaped paired gland located outside the body within the scrotum.
  • Right & left testicles are separated by muscular septum which is formed by dartos muscle.
  • The size, shape, form and consistency of the testes should be assessed carefully.
  • Testicular mass directly indicates the capacity of semen production of a bull.
  • Testes should be carefully palpated and evaluated during the examination.
  • Restrained bull should be approached from behind to palpate the testes to reduce risk of injury.
  • Size, shape, form and consistency should be assessed.
  • The testes should be freely movable within the scrotum and the testes should be symmetric.
  • The testes may rotate 40 degrees normally and the 'scrotal ligament' may cause the testes to be pulled dorsal and caudal, but this has little apparent affect on fertility.
  • Normal testes are almost always symmetrical, any deviation from balance and symmetry should be evaluated carefully before a prognosis is given.
  • The size of the testes is correlated with sperm production in the bull and age of puberty in the offspring.
  • Variations of normal scrotal conformation - elongated testes, rounded testes, rotated testes and distinctly cleaved testes.
  • Abnormal scrotal conformation - testes held too close, unilateral hypoplasia, scrotal hernia and incomplete descent.
  • Bulls with abnormalities of the testes should not be used for breeding because most of these defects are heritable.

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Last modified: Wednesday, 6 June 2012, 2:22 PM