Question

During the preschool examination of a 4-year-old boy, you are unable to palpate his testes within the scrotal sac. His parents state that previous exams have been normal, and that the testes are clearly visible during baths. What is the most likely explanation? a. A chilly examination room or your cold hands have activated the cremasteric reflex. b. The testes may have migrated back up into the boy's abdomen since the last examination. c. Because he does not trust you, the boy is deliberately causing his testes to retract close to his body.d. The parents' observations are probably incorrect.

Answer 1

a. A chilly examination room or your cold hands have activated the cremasteric reflex.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cremasteric reflex is the superficial reflex which is found only in human males that is revoked when inner thigh is stroked. Stroking the skin activates the cremaster muscle and it helps to contract ipsilateral testicle up towards the inguinal canal.

Thus in the context, in the preschool exam, the examiner could not feel the baby's testes but his parents claims that the testes are visible while having bath and are normal in size. The examiner could not palpate the baby's testes because the the room was cold enough or the examiner's hand was cold enough which activated the cremasteric reflex and it makes the testes to pull up.

Hence the correct option is (a).