Page 1 of 152
PHGY 216 2026
MIDTERM EXAM BANK ALL COMPLETE (885)
CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED)
TOP-RATED A+.
PHGY 216
Prepare for your PHGY 216 Midterm Exam with this focused
study guide. It covers core physiology concepts, body system
functions, and key regulatory mechanisms. Emphasizes
understanding physiological processes, data interpretation, and
application of concepts to exam questions. Suitable for students
studying physiology and preparing for the PHGY 216 midterm
assessment.
What determines gonadal sex (per notes)? ✓ ✓......
ANSWER ....... Presence or absence of a Y chromosome.
For the first ~6 weeks of gestation, how do male and female
embryos compare reproductively? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER .......
Their reproductive systems are identical.
, Page 2 of 152
Around what week does gonadal differentiation begin (per
notes)? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Around week seven of
gestation.
What is SRY? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Sex-determining
region of the Y chromosome.
What does SRY stimulate during development (per notes)?
✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Production of H-Y antigen.
What does H-Y antigen do? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Acts
on the gonads to differentiate into testes.
What happens to gonads in the absence of H-Y antigen? ✓
✓...... ANSWER ....... They differentiate into ovaries.
What is phenotypic sex? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... The
apparent anatomical sex of an individual.
, Page 3 of 152
What does phenotypic sex depend on? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER
....... Gonadal sex.
Do embryos of both sexes initially have potential to develop
either male or female anatomy? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER .......
Yes—both external genitalia and reproductive tracts initially
have potential to develop either type (depending on
hormones).
What drives development of male-type reproductive
systems? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Androgens secreted
by developing testes.
What results in development of female-type reproductive
system? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Absence of androgens.
Do male and female external genitalia come from the same
embryonic tissue? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Yes.
Do male and female reproductive tracts come from the
same embryonic tissue? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... No
(they develop from different duct systems).
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What two primitive duct systems exist in the undifferentiated
embryo? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Wolffian ducts and
Müllerian ducts.
What does the placenta secrete that affects fetal testes? ✓
✓...... ANSWER ....... hCG (human chorionic
gonadotropin).
If testes are present, what does hCG stimulate them to do?
✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Produce and secrete
testosterone.
What does testosterone do to the Wolffian ducts? ✓ ✓......
ANSWER ....... Stimulates them to develop into the male
reproductive system.
What is dihydrotestosterone (DHT) responsible for (per
notes)? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Development of male
external genitalia (from testosterone conversion).
PHGY 216 2026
MIDTERM EXAM BANK ALL COMPLETE (885)
CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED)
TOP-RATED A+.
PHGY 216
Prepare for your PHGY 216 Midterm Exam with this focused
study guide. It covers core physiology concepts, body system
functions, and key regulatory mechanisms. Emphasizes
understanding physiological processes, data interpretation, and
application of concepts to exam questions. Suitable for students
studying physiology and preparing for the PHGY 216 midterm
assessment.
What determines gonadal sex (per notes)? ✓ ✓......
ANSWER ....... Presence or absence of a Y chromosome.
For the first ~6 weeks of gestation, how do male and female
embryos compare reproductively? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER .......
Their reproductive systems are identical.
, Page 2 of 152
Around what week does gonadal differentiation begin (per
notes)? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Around week seven of
gestation.
What is SRY? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Sex-determining
region of the Y chromosome.
What does SRY stimulate during development (per notes)?
✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Production of H-Y antigen.
What does H-Y antigen do? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Acts
on the gonads to differentiate into testes.
What happens to gonads in the absence of H-Y antigen? ✓
✓...... ANSWER ....... They differentiate into ovaries.
What is phenotypic sex? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... The
apparent anatomical sex of an individual.
, Page 3 of 152
What does phenotypic sex depend on? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER
....... Gonadal sex.
Do embryos of both sexes initially have potential to develop
either male or female anatomy? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER .......
Yes—both external genitalia and reproductive tracts initially
have potential to develop either type (depending on
hormones).
What drives development of male-type reproductive
systems? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Androgens secreted
by developing testes.
What results in development of female-type reproductive
system? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Absence of androgens.
Do male and female external genitalia come from the same
embryonic tissue? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Yes.
Do male and female reproductive tracts come from the
same embryonic tissue? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... No
(they develop from different duct systems).
, Page 4 of 152
What two primitive duct systems exist in the undifferentiated
embryo? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Wolffian ducts and
Müllerian ducts.
What does the placenta secrete that affects fetal testes? ✓
✓...... ANSWER ....... hCG (human chorionic
gonadotropin).
If testes are present, what does hCG stimulate them to do?
✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Produce and secrete
testosterone.
What does testosterone do to the Wolffian ducts? ✓ ✓......
ANSWER ....... Stimulates them to develop into the male
reproductive system.
What is dihydrotestosterone (DHT) responsible for (per
notes)? ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... Development of male
external genitalia (from testosterone conversion).
