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Pharmacology · chapter 36 · Reproductive Health Drugs

Review of the Male Reproductive System

The 12 things this section of the textbook says that you are most likely to be asked about — quoted word for word, not retold. Then 6 practice questions with the reasoning.

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Key points

  1. Internal male reproductive organs

    The internal organs are the vas deferens, prostate gland, ejaculatory ducts, seminal vesicles, bulbourethral (Cowper’s) glands, and urethra (Betts et al., 2023; Netter, 2022).

  2. Why the testes sit in the scrotum

    The scrotum is a loose, sac-like cavity that holds the testicles and provides a controlled temperature for them since temperature within the scrotum is lower than in the body itself.

  3. The path of sperm

    The epididymis carries the formed sperm into the vas deferens, which then empties the sperm into the ejaculatory duct in the body of the prostate gland.

  4. Bulbourethral glands

    The bulbourethral (Cowper’s) glands secrete mucus into the urethra, and both the mucus and sperm are carried outside the body through the urethra.

  5. Sensory nerves of the penis

    The penis contains sensory nerves that respond to sexual stimulation and cause the penis to become enlarged and elongated.

  6. GnRH, FSH and LH in males

    When GnRH is secreted, it acts on the anterior pituitary to secrete FSH and LH, which regulate sex steroid production from the gonads.

  7. Testes produce testosterone

    In males, the gonads are the testes (ovaries in females) which produce testosterone (also considered an androgen).

  8. What testicular hormones do

    Testicular hormones are responsible for the development of male sex organs and secondary sex characteristics, including hair distribution (pubic area, axillae, facial, and chest), voice deepening, heavier bone structure, increased hematocrit, and fat distribution.

  9. Testosterone limits its own secretion

    Additionally, testosterone can self-limit its own secretion through the negative feedback loop. When levels of testosterone are high, feedback to the hypothalamus inhibits the secretion of GnRH.

  10. Feedback to the pituitary

    Negative feedback to the anterior pituitary renders it less responsive to GnRH stimuli (Casteel Singh, 2023; Nassar, 2023).

  11. What andropause is

    Andropause Andropause occurs with aging and represents a time of decreased production of testosterone, atrophy of interstitial cells, and lessened sexual activity.

  12. Effects of falling testosterone

    Andropause is comparable to female menopause. The decrease of testosterone can produce depression, fat redistribution, and decreased libido.

Terms to know

Andropause
Andropause Andropause occurs with aging and represents a time of decreased production of testosterone, atrophy of interstitial cells, and lessened sexual activity.
Testicular reproductive system
Structure and Function of the Male Reproductive System The male reproductive system (also referred to as the testicular reproductive system) is made up of internal and external organs.

Practice questions

Stuck on select-all-that-apply? How to take them one option at a time.

The graded version needs JavaScript. Every question is below anyway, with the answer and why.

Every question here, with the answer

  1. A 62-year-old male client asks what changes can come with andropause. Which changes should the nurse include? Select all that apply.

    1. Fat redistribution
    2. Depression
    3. Lessened sexual activity
    4. Voice deepening
    5. Decreased libido

    Answer: Fat redistribution, Depression, Lessened sexual activity, Decreased libido

    Andropause is a time of decreased testosterone with lessened sexual activity, and falling testosterone can cause depression, fat redistribution and decreased libido. Voice deepening is an effect of testicular hormones during development, not of their decline.

  2. A client asks if every man goes through andropause. What is the nurse's best response?

    1. "Not all men experience andropause."
    2. "Only men who have had surgery experience it."
    3. "It happens only in men with high testosterone."
    4. "Yes, every man experiences it by age 50."

    Answer: "Not all men experience andropause."

    Andropause occurs with aging, but not all male clients experience it. The other statements are not supported by the section.

  3. A nursing student asks what happens when a client's testosterone level is high. Which explanation is correct?

    1. The testes produce more testosterone.
    2. The anterior pituitary becomes more responsive to GnRH.
    3. The hypothalamus increases GnRH secretion.
    4. Feedback to the hypothalamus inhibits GnRH secretion.

    Answer: Feedback to the hypothalamus inhibits GnRH secretion.

    Testosterone limits its own secretion by negative feedback: high levels inhibit GnRH from the hypothalamus and make the anterior pituitary less responsive. The other options describe the opposite.

  4. Which effects are attributed to testicular hormones? Select all that apply.

    1. Voice deepening
    2. Increased breast tissue
    3. Increased hematocrit
    4. Heavier bone structure
    5. Facial and chest hair distribution

    Answer: Voice deepening, Increased hematocrit, Heavier bone structure, Facial and chest hair distribution

    Testicular hormones are responsible for male secondary sex characteristics including hair distribution, voice deepening, heavier bone structure, increased hematocrit and fat distribution. Increased breast tissue is not listed.

  5. A client asks why the testes are located outside the body in the scrotum. What should the nurse explain?

    1. The scrotum produces sperm.
    2. The scrotum secretes mucus.
    3. The scrotum keeps the testicles at a lower, controlled temperature.
    4. The scrotum stores testosterone.

    Answer: The scrotum keeps the testicles at a lower, controlled temperature.

    The scrotum holds the testicles and provides a controlled temperature lower than inside the body. The testicles, not the scrotum, produce sperm, and the bulbourethral glands secrete mucus.

  6. Which hormones from the anterior pituitary regulate sex steroid production by the testes?

    1. FSH and LH
    2. Oxytocin and prolactin
    3. GnRH and estrogen
    4. Testosterone and progesterone

    Answer: FSH and LH

    GnRH acts on the anterior pituitary to secrete FSH and LH, which regulate sex steroid production from the gonads. GnRH comes from the hypothalamus, and the other hormone pairs are not described for this role.

Where every quote comes from

Section 36.5 Review of the Male Reproductive System of Pharmacology for Nurses by Tina Barbour-Taylor, Leah Mueller (Sabato), Donna Paris, Dorie Weaver, OpenStax, 2024. Read the whole section free at openstax.org.

The textbook is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. This page quotes it word for word and adds the headings, the order and the practice questions; references to the book's figures and stray spaces left by its formatting are removed. The page is shared under the same licence. Nothing here is sold.