Age-related morphological peculiarities of human testes

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to compare the isolated testes size, volume, weight and density changes with age and to establish the suitability of three formulas of testicular volume calculation for 18-50 and 51-70-year-old men groups.

Materials and methods: Two hundred and six testes of 103 men (59 of 18-50-year-old and 44 of 51-70-year-old men) were weighed and their size was measured by the sliding calliper. The accurate volume was determined by water displacement and compared with volume calculated using three formulas, and the density of testicular tissues was calculated.

Results: The mean length and height of both testes and length and height of right and left testes decreased significantly with age. The mean width of both testes and width of right and left testes decreased with age insignificantly. The mean of water displacement volume and weight and volume and weight of right and left testes decreased with age significantly. The mean density of testicular tissues and the density of the right and left testes increased significantly with age. In the same age group, the size, water displacement volume and weight of right testes was insignificantly higher than that of the left ones, and the density of testicular tissues was similar in the right and left testes.

Conclusions: The prolate spheroid formula was most suitable for calculation of testicular volume for 18-50-year-old men and prolate ellipsoid formula was most suitable for calculation of testicular volume in 51-70-year-old men.

Keywords: density; men; size; testis; volume; weight.