# Why do testicals move on their own? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 9, 2004, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745 "2004-01-09T23:59:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/21 "2004-01-10T20:04:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gyrate \* > \*\*It says a lot about this message board that this is the sort of subject that could come up **twice**. \*\* This from someone with the oddly appropriate name **Gyrate**. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/22 "2004-01-10T22:59:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ltfire \* > \*\*Sweet Jesus, now we got a newbie who contemplates his balls. \*\* With or without mustard? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/23 "2004-01-10T23:26:08Z")
As noted earlier, it’s the cremasteric muscle! > [@](#): > > The cremasteric muscle is the middle layer of the spermatic cord and is an extension of the internal oblique muscle. The nerve supply to the cremasteric muscle is the genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve. So contraction of the cremasteric muscle shortens the spermatic cord and elevates the ipsilateral testes. I think that stroking the medial aspect of the superior part of the thigh activates the ilioinguinal nerve which innervates this region. Although the cremasteric muscle fibers are striated this muscle is not usually under voluntary control. This reflex must have some role in thermoregulation. My view is that the femoral branch of the genitofemoral nerve supplies the skin over the femoral vessels on the anterior aspect of the thigh rather than the medial aspect of the thigh so the cremasteric reflex is: > > Stroking of the medial aspect of superior part of the thigh activating ilioinguinal nerve. > Impulse carried to spinal cord and relayed to genito branch of the genitofemoral nerve. > Contraction of cremasteric muscle elevating the ipsilateral testes. E pur si muove 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/24 "2004-01-10T23:27:13Z")
Oops! Above quote from [http://anatome.ncl.ac.uk/tutorials/inguinal/text/page7.html](http://anatome.ncl.ac.uk/tutorials/inguinal/text/page7.html) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/25 "2004-01-11T00:40:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Smeghead \* > \*\*This from someone with the oddly appropriate name **Gyrate**. \*\* [Even odder than you realize](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=159781) (check about halfway down the page). ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/26 "2004-01-11T01:19:40Z")
Brought to you by the Power of Gerbils: [A blast from the Pit Past](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=173121&highlight=scrotum) Warning: may cause forceful exhalation of beverages through your nostrils. What is it with scrotum’s and this place, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/27 "2004-01-11T03:48:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ltfire \* > \*\*Sweet Jesus, now we got a newbie who contemplates his balls. \*\* Perhaps his surname is “Schwettie”? ---
**Author:** ![thumbupmybum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@thumbupmybum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thumbupmybum)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/28 "2004-01-11T04:54:18Z")
Huh, I just gave it a try, and I thought there must be something wrong with my testicles cause they weren’t doing anything, but then they totally started moving around. That’s fucking whacked. Pretty fun, tho’. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745.md?page=1)