Which hormone is responsible for descent of testes into scrotum?

Appeared in: MNS 2015

Explanation

Testosterone is the primary androgen (male sex hormone) responsible for the development of male primary and secondary sexual characteristics.
During fetal development, specifically in the last 2-3 months of gestation, the fetal testes secrete testosterone.
This surge of testosterone stimulates and guides the descent of the testes from the abdominal cavity, through the inguinal canal, and into their final position in the scrotum.

Option A: Estrogen is the primary female sex hormone and is responsible for the development of the female reproductive system and secondary sexual characteristics, not testicular descent.
Option C: In males, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) acts on the Sertoli cells within the testes to initiate and regulate spermatogenesis (sperm production). It does not control the physical descent of the testes.
Option D: Prolactin is primarily associated with lactation (milk production) in females. It has no established role in the descent of the testes.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Hormonal control of testicular descent as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A key nursing role in neonatal assessment is checking for the presence of both testes in the scrotum of male infants. Absence of one or both is termed cryptorchidism.
Nurses educate parents about cryptorchidism, explaining that testes may descend spontaneously in the first few months, but follow-up is crucial.
Failure of the testes to descend (cryptorchidism) is a significant risk factor for infertility and testicular cancer in later life. Early detection and management are vital.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core physiological process in the question: 'descent of testes'.
Recognize this as a key event in male fetal development.
Systematically review the options. Recall or deduce the primary function of each hormone.
Eliminate Estrogen as it's the primary female hormone.
Eliminate Prolactin as its main role is lactation.
Differentiate between the male-specific roles of FSH and Testosterone. FSH is for making sperm, while Testosterone is for developing male structures and characteristics.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Physiology Guyton 4SAE Part 3 p. 25-27

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 2 p. 1293-1295

Practise the full MNS 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.