testis

[ tes-tis ]

noun

, Anatomy, Zoology.

, plural tes·tes [tes, -teez].

1. the male gonad or reproductive gland, either of the two oval glands located in the scrotum, commonly referred to as a testicle. Compare ovary ( def 1 ).

testis

/ ˈtɛstɪs /

noun

1. See testicle
   another word for testicle

testis

/ tĕs′tĭs /

, Plural testes tĕs′tēz

1. The primary reproductive organ of male animals, in which sperm and the male sex hormones (androgens) are produced. In most vertebrates, the testes are contained inside the body. In many mammals, however, the testes are enclosed in an external scrotum.

Word History and Origins

Origin of testis¹

First recorded 1675–85; from Latin: “witness, spectator, testicle”; the sense “male gonad” is a loan translation from Greek parastátēs “bystander, supporter (at law),” in medical usage (in the dual and plural) “the (pair of) glands lying side by side, the testicles” (equivalent to para- para- ¹( def ) + the combining form -statēs, from histánai “to make stand.”) Compare Greek prostátēs “one who stands in front, ruler,” in medical usage “the gland lying in front, the prostate ( def ) ”

Word History and Origins

Origin of testis¹

C17: from Latin, literally: witness (to masculinity)

Example Sentences

Sperm are produced in the testes and stored in an adjacent organ called the epididymis.

From Singularity Hub 

Part of the challenge is that for the precursor stem cells to develop into fully matured egg or sperm cells, they must be placed in an environment mimicking that of newly developing ovaries or testes.

From MIT Technology Review

In humans, males and females have the same set of about 60 sex-determining genes, which can create either testes or ovaries.

From Science News

If fully functional, these basic components of reproduction can merge into a fertilized egg inside a test tube, be transplanted into a surrogate, and birth a new generation without ever seeing testes or ovaries.

From Singularity Hub 

Chimps have also evolved in the last millions of years, and the main difference between them and other ancestors seems to be with mating-related genes involving testes and sperm competition.

From Nautilus

A moderately enlarged testis (probably regressing) was noted in the specimen from Pisté, on July 21.

From Project Gutenberg

Et hunc ipsa testis hæc audisse recordata est et stupefacta fuit.

From Project Gutenberg

Others imagine that the citron is intended, whose shape makes it an emblem of the testis.

From Project Gutenberg

The testis is rounded, and consists of a mass of cells, on an average 1/5000th of an inch in diameter.

From Project Gutenberg

The eye lies on the line of junction between the testis and the vesicula seminalis, and on their ventral side.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• family jewels
• testicles