Who discovered varicocele?

The 16th century. In 1541, Ambroise Paré gave the most poetic and effective definition of varicocele. He described a condition of “compact groups of vessels filled with melancholic blood and often growing in men of melancholy temper”.

Can a man live with varicocele?

However, many men with varicoceles will maintain satisfactory levels of testosterone throughout their lives without treatment. In rare cases, however, varicocele could lead to severely low testosterone, with its associated complications including metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

Is pampiniform plexus the same as testicular vein?

The pampiniform plexus is an interconnected network of small veins, which merge to form the testicular vein. The left testicular vein drains to left renal vein and the right testicular vein drains to inferior vena cava. The veins within the pampiniform plexus may dilate forming a varicocele.

What is a testicular Pearl?

Scrotoliths, also known as scrotal pearls or extra-testicular calcifications, are seen between the layers of the tunic vaginalis. They are freely mobile calcified bodies [1, 4, 5]. Extra-testicular calcifications are more common than intra-testicular calcifications.

Why do my balls feel like a bag of worms?

Varicocele is when veins in your scrotum swell and get larger. It’s a lot like a varicose vein that you get in your leg. It might feel like a bag of worms. It usually shows up above one of your testicles, most often the left one.

What is the importance of pampiniform plexus?

The pampiniform plexus helps regulate the temperature of the testes by acting as a “heat exchange” mechanism to cool down the blood. The arteries supplying the testes run through the plexus where the blood is cooled from abdominal arterial temperature to testicular temperature.

Is there a pampiniform plexus in females?

In females, the pampiniform plexus drains the ovaries. The right ovary drains from the plexus to the ovarian vein and then to the inferior vena cava. However, the left ovary drains from the plexus to the left ovarian vein, and from there drains to the left renal vein before emptying into the inferior vena cava.

What is a Scrotolith?

Scrotolith. Scrotoliths, scrotal pearls or scrotal calculi are mobile calcifications in the scrotum and represent calcified loose bodies that result from torsion of the appendix epididymis/appendix testis or reactive fibrous proliferation during intrascrotal inflammation [33,43].

Is a testicular ultrasound embarrassing?

Many may feel the procedure is embarrassing, but it is always important to remember that it is being carried out for the benefit of your health, so there is nothing to be ashamed of.