Anorchism

ANORCHISM, anorchia, anorchidism (from Greek a- negative prefix, and orchis-testicle), congenital absence of both testicles; a very rare malformation. The general habitus of subjects remains childish with signs of eunuchoidism (see) or asexuality, sometimes of hermaphroditism (see)-so-called asexual hermaphroditism. The appendages of the testes, the vasa deferentia, seminal vesicles, prostate, and penis are properly developed but infantile. In A. there is an absence of sexual and generative capacity (see Azoospermia). The diagnosis of A. is complicated by the fact that the absence of testicles in the scrotum does not, however, exclude the possibility of finding them in the inguinal canal or in the pelvic cavity.