Testicular asymmetry

[Daecon]

Is there any "normal" physiological reason for one of the the testicles to be slightly larger than the other?

 

Are there also any medical causes that could explain the same condition?

[insane_alien]

it stops them banging into each other when your running. or at least thats what a biology lecturer told me.

[H W Copeland]

Are you right testicled, or left testicled?

 

I think you will find that there are minor differences between almost anything that you have 2 of.

[shenzhou]

you might be interested in this this article:

 

Laterality. 2004 Apr;9(2):189-99.

 

Right-left and the scrotum in Greek sculpture.

 

McManus IC.

 

The scrotum in humans is asymmetric, the right testicle being visibly higher

than the left in most men. Paradoxically, it is also the case that the right

testicle is somewhat larger, rather than smaller, as might be expected. Greek

classical and pre-classical art, which took great care in its attention to

anatomical detail, correctly portrayed the right testicle as the higher, but

then incorrectly portrayed the left testicle as visibly larger. The implication

is that the Greeks used a simple mechanical theory, the left testicle being

thought to be lower because it was larger and hence more subject to the pull of gravity.

The present study examines data on scrotal asymmetry in more detail, and puts them in

the context of Greek theories of functional differences between the right side and the left side.

[YT2095]

the human body is inherantly asymetrical anyway, there are no 2 components identical in mass or volume, it is Not a "Condition" per se, and certainly no cause for concern

[Daecon]

... it is also the case that the right

testicle is somewhat larger' date=' rather than smaller, ...[/quote']

So what if the opposite is true, then?

 

And left/right from who's perspective? I never remember how left & right work with regard to the body...

[ecoli]

So what if the opposite is true, then?

 

Then you must have some sort of genetic disease and must be irradicated from the race.

 

Actually nothing... and there's nothing wrong if the size changes, favoring one or the other, if you're going through puberty... this too is normal.

[rakuenso]

its called testicular cancer, seriously

[H W Copeland]

So what if the opposite is true' date=' then?

 

And left/right from who's perspective? I never remember how left & right work with regard to the body...[/quote']

 

Well, if you can remember which hand is your right hand and which foot is your right foot, it works the same way with the testicles.

[Royston]

its called testicular cancer, seriously

 

No that would be a small hard lump on the testicle, not one bigger than the other, whatever side it was.

 

What are you trying to do, scare the crap out of us all ?!

[treva]

1 is more active then the other, you really only need 1 to produce your sperm so you really only use 1, which is why it is larger. The other one is an evolutionary backup plan.

[Daecon]

1 is more active then the other, you really only need 1 to produce your sperm so you really only use 1, which is why it is larger. The other one is an evolutionary backup plan.

Oh year, I guess that would make sense.

 

Like kidneys...? (Except as far as I know they're both the same size.)

[rthmjohn]

Are both testicles used for the same function? I was told once that one produces sperm and the other produces hormones, but that's probably wrong.

[Royston]

No, they both produce sperm and hormones...in this case testosterone (steroid hormone). Hence if you lose one it's not the end of the world.

[rthmjohn]

Just pray that you don't lose both