Hydrocele & Varicole

 

Hyrdocele

A hydrocele is an accumulation of fluid around the testicle and is fairly common.  The term hydro means fluid and the term cele means swelling.  The hydrocele is a swelling due to an abnormal collection of fluid around the testicle.  The testes are located in a bag called the scrotum that sits behind the penis. Three layer cover the testis the outermost layer is the tunica vaginalis (tunica means cover) this in turn has two membranes (a thin layer of tissue serving to cover or line part of a organ) called the parietal (outer) and the visceral (inner).  Normally a small amount of Lubricating fluid is usually present between the theses two layers to allow the testes to move freely.  Excessive fluid between theses layers result in a hydocele.   Swelling and pain are often the symptoms of a hydrocele and may need surgical intervention

Varicocele

A varicocele (varico meaning varicose vein and cele meaning swelling) is again a swelling in the testicles that involves the vessels and veins. Normally blood flows to the testicles though an artery and flows out though a network of tiny blood vessels that drains into a vein in the abdomen. There are also one way valves to stop the blood draining back keeping the flow of blood though the abdominal vein up towards the heart.  Theses one way valves sometimes fail allowing the flow of blood to accumulate around the tiny vessels surrounding the testes resulting in a varicocele.  A varicocele is a tangled network of blood vessels or varicose veins.   Varicocele can sometimes cause pain and fertility problems and may need surgical intervention.