Monorchism (also monorchidism) is the state of having only one testicle within the scrotum.
This can be due to:
One testicle not descending into the scrotum during normal embryonic or fetal development (3–4% of 'normal' live births), also known as undescended testis or cryptorchidism. In this case the testis is within the abdominal cavity, somewhere along the normal route of descent – most commonly, within the inguinal canal. Such a testis has an increased risk of malignancy.One testicle may disappear during development (the so-called vanishing testis) due to some intrauterine insult. This is thought to be most likely vascular, such as testicular torsion.One testicle may have been surgically removed through orchiectomy.One testicle may be injured.Lance Armstrong, American bicyclist.Frank Church, late U.S. Senator and a presidential aspirant in 1976. His monorchism was revealed publicly during the 1976 presidential campaign.Tom Green, Canadian comedian-actor.Mark Latham, former Australian politician.Geoff Horsfield, English footballer.Nenê, Brazilian basketball player.Kevin Curtis, American football player.Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party.Bobby Moore, English footballer and World Cup winner.Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas, magnate of the Kingdom of Scotland, and Peer of France. Lost in 1403, while fighting at the Battle of Shrewsbury (He had previous year, lost an eye at the Battle of Homildon Hill).Francisco Franco, dictator of Spain.Troy Bayliss, world superbike champion in 2001, 2006 and 2008. In 2007 he lost a testicle during a race at Donington Park.Brian Foster, American mixed martial artist.Blaine Light, South African kick boxer. Lost left testical due to late kick.Adolf Hitler, German dictator (alleged).Bruce Lee, American-Chinese actor and martial arts instructor.Mao Zedong, known as Chairman Mao, Chinese revolutionary.Although extremely rare, monorchism has been observed to be characteristic of some animal species, notably in beetles.
An individual having monorchism can be referred to as monorchid.
