The growth of the testes during the fetal period

Objective To determine the size and position of the fetal testes during ges tation, Materials and methods The study comprised 48 testes obtained from 24 human fetuses with no congenital abnormalities, aged 14-40 weeks. The development of the fetuses was evaluated by measuring the crown-rump length. Testicula r size was assessed as the height. width, thickness and weight, and the pos ition of testes determined during fetal development. Results The testes in 11 fetuses (22 testes) aged 14-37 weeks were in the a bdominal cavity: no testis had descended to the scrotum in any fetus until 27 weeks of gestation. Both testes had descended to the scrotum only in fet uses aged 33-40 weeks. There was no significant difference between right an d left testicular size in 13 fetuses (26 testes) aged 27-40 weeks, but size correlated with gestational age (P<0.001). Conclusion All testes had descended to the scrotum by 33 weeks of gestation , but there was considerable variation in position from 27 weeks.