Created by Sam Barnes in April 2015
Reproductive System
Repro 1- Development of the structures, gametes, and male histology
1) List three male and three female secondary sexual characteristics (3)
2) A) Name the germ line from which the gonads develop (1)
B) Describe how primordial germ cells migrate to the gonads (2)
C) Explain the origin of a retroperitoneal seminoma (2)
3) Describe how the SRY gene influences testicular development (2)
4) A) Explain why the mullerian duct regresses and the wolffian duct remains in the male (3)
B) A patient has the XY genotype but is insensitive to MIH. Describe the consequences of this
(2)
5) Describe the structures which arise from the mesonephric duct (3)
6) The paramesonephric duct gives rise to the cervix, upper 1/3 vagina, uterus and oviducts. From
where does the lower 2/3 of the vagina originate? (1)
7) A male conceptus is insensitive to androgens. Describe the consequences of this on the
development of the genitalia (3)
8) A) What are the origins of the genital tubercule, swelling and folds in the male and female
respectively? (2)
B) Explain why a male conceptus who is insensitive to testosterone will have female genitalia
(2)
9) A) Describe the relationship of the testes to the peritoneum as they descend (1)
B) Name the structure which anchors the testis to the scrotum durinh
i) Development ii) Life
10) Name the structures which the gubernaculum form in the female (2)
11) Explain why women cannot make any more gametes than they are born with (2)
12) Describe the transitions which occur as an ovum moves from the primordial to the antral stage
(4)
13) Name the stage of follicular development at which meiosis restarts (1)
14) A) Describe the mechanism by which the follicle ruptures (1)
B) Explain why the corpus luteum is important in assisting implantation (2)
15) Describe, in overview, gametogenesis in the male (5)
16) State how many spermatids can arise from a single A1 spermatogonium (1)
17) Describe the change that spermatids undergo to become spermatozoa (1)
18) Describe the route of sperm from the seminiferous tubuels to the vas deferens (3)
19) State the two layers of connective lissue which support the testis (2)
20) A) Describe the epithelium of the ductus efferentes (2)
B) Describe the function of the two cells types within the epithelium (2)
21) Name the small processes which are found in the epididymis (2)
22) Describe the structure of the smooth muscle of the vas deferens (2)
23) Describe the histology of the prostate (3)
24) Explain why benign tumours present with urine flow issues, whereas malignant tumours may
not occlude the urethra until late (2)
25) A) Name three secretions of the prostate (3)
, Created by Sam Barnes in April 2015
B) Describe the role of acid phosphatase in aiding fertilisation (2)
Repro 2- Female histology and the reproductive cycles
1) A) Describe how the origin and control of the anterior and posterior pituitary differs (2)
B) Name 5 hormones released by the anterior pituitary (2)
2) Explain why only small amounts of hypothalamic hormone are needed to activate the
pituitary (2)
3) Describe how GnRH release occurs (1)
4) A) Describe how the HPG-axis controls reproduction in the male (5)
B) Explain why FSH needs to act on sertoli cells to allow spermatogenesis to occur (2)
C) Describe the effect of inhibin and prolactin on LH (2)
D) Describe how the location of sertoli and leydig cells differ in the testis (1)
5) A) Explain why the level of oestrogen increases throughout the follicular phase (2)
B) Describe how the increasing level of oestrogen alters the HPG axis (2)
C) Describe the role of progesterone in the HPG axis (3)
6) A) State where inhibin is released from in the male (1)
B) Describe how inhibin helps to regulate the rate of spermatogenesis (2)
7) Describe the functions of testosterone in the male (4)
8) Describe the roles of LH and FSH in follicular development (4)
9) Explain why a patient who is insensitive to LH will be unable to ovulate (2)
10) List 4 functions of oestrogen in the follicular phase (4)
11) A) Explain why the function of progesterone requires oestrogen (1)
B) List 4 functions of progesterone in the luteal phase (4)
C) Explain why the endometrium is shed once the corpus luteum degenerates (2)
12) Explain why FSH is present in greater levels than LH at the start of the cycle (2)
13) Explain why a progesterone pill can be used as a contraceptive (2)
14) Describe how the regulation of the corpus luteum differs if the ovum is fertilised or not (2)
15) Explain why giving a dopamine agonist can aid fertility (3)
16) Explain why an anti-oestrogen drug clomiphene can aid fertility (3)
17) Describe the fate of the corpus luteum (2)
18) Match the parts of the fallopian tube to their descriptions
i) Bell shaped attachment point for fimbrae ii) Widest segment iii) Thinner part, near the
uterus
19) Describe the function of the peg cells of the fallopian tube (2)
20) Cilia are upregulated by oestrogen. Explain how this can help fertilisation (2)
21) Describe the structural difference between the stratum basalis and stratum functionalis (2)
22) A) State the epithelium found in the upper cervix (1)
B) Explain the clinical significance of the squamocolumnar junction (2)
23) Oestrogen favours glycogen deposition in the vagina. Explain how this can help prevent
infection (4)
24) Describe the impacts of oestrogen on the breast (3)
25) State the proportion of ovarian cancer that occurs in the germinal epithelium (2)
Reproductive System
Repro 1- Development of the structures, gametes, and male histology
1) List three male and three female secondary sexual characteristics (3)
2) A) Name the germ line from which the gonads develop (1)
B) Describe how primordial germ cells migrate to the gonads (2)
C) Explain the origin of a retroperitoneal seminoma (2)
3) Describe how the SRY gene influences testicular development (2)
4) A) Explain why the mullerian duct regresses and the wolffian duct remains in the male (3)
B) A patient has the XY genotype but is insensitive to MIH. Describe the consequences of this
(2)
5) Describe the structures which arise from the mesonephric duct (3)
6) The paramesonephric duct gives rise to the cervix, upper 1/3 vagina, uterus and oviducts. From
where does the lower 2/3 of the vagina originate? (1)
7) A male conceptus is insensitive to androgens. Describe the consequences of this on the
development of the genitalia (3)
8) A) What are the origins of the genital tubercule, swelling and folds in the male and female
respectively? (2)
B) Explain why a male conceptus who is insensitive to testosterone will have female genitalia
(2)
9) A) Describe the relationship of the testes to the peritoneum as they descend (1)
B) Name the structure which anchors the testis to the scrotum durinh
i) Development ii) Life
10) Name the structures which the gubernaculum form in the female (2)
11) Explain why women cannot make any more gametes than they are born with (2)
12) Describe the transitions which occur as an ovum moves from the primordial to the antral stage
(4)
13) Name the stage of follicular development at which meiosis restarts (1)
14) A) Describe the mechanism by which the follicle ruptures (1)
B) Explain why the corpus luteum is important in assisting implantation (2)
15) Describe, in overview, gametogenesis in the male (5)
16) State how many spermatids can arise from a single A1 spermatogonium (1)
17) Describe the change that spermatids undergo to become spermatozoa (1)
18) Describe the route of sperm from the seminiferous tubuels to the vas deferens (3)
19) State the two layers of connective lissue which support the testis (2)
20) A) Describe the epithelium of the ductus efferentes (2)
B) Describe the function of the two cells types within the epithelium (2)
21) Name the small processes which are found in the epididymis (2)
22) Describe the structure of the smooth muscle of the vas deferens (2)
23) Describe the histology of the prostate (3)
24) Explain why benign tumours present with urine flow issues, whereas malignant tumours may
not occlude the urethra until late (2)
25) A) Name three secretions of the prostate (3)
, Created by Sam Barnes in April 2015
B) Describe the role of acid phosphatase in aiding fertilisation (2)
Repro 2- Female histology and the reproductive cycles
1) A) Describe how the origin and control of the anterior and posterior pituitary differs (2)
B) Name 5 hormones released by the anterior pituitary (2)
2) Explain why only small amounts of hypothalamic hormone are needed to activate the
pituitary (2)
3) Describe how GnRH release occurs (1)
4) A) Describe how the HPG-axis controls reproduction in the male (5)
B) Explain why FSH needs to act on sertoli cells to allow spermatogenesis to occur (2)
C) Describe the effect of inhibin and prolactin on LH (2)
D) Describe how the location of sertoli and leydig cells differ in the testis (1)
5) A) Explain why the level of oestrogen increases throughout the follicular phase (2)
B) Describe how the increasing level of oestrogen alters the HPG axis (2)
C) Describe the role of progesterone in the HPG axis (3)
6) A) State where inhibin is released from in the male (1)
B) Describe how inhibin helps to regulate the rate of spermatogenesis (2)
7) Describe the functions of testosterone in the male (4)
8) Describe the roles of LH and FSH in follicular development (4)
9) Explain why a patient who is insensitive to LH will be unable to ovulate (2)
10) List 4 functions of oestrogen in the follicular phase (4)
11) A) Explain why the function of progesterone requires oestrogen (1)
B) List 4 functions of progesterone in the luteal phase (4)
C) Explain why the endometrium is shed once the corpus luteum degenerates (2)
12) Explain why FSH is present in greater levels than LH at the start of the cycle (2)
13) Explain why a progesterone pill can be used as a contraceptive (2)
14) Describe how the regulation of the corpus luteum differs if the ovum is fertilised or not (2)
15) Explain why giving a dopamine agonist can aid fertility (3)
16) Explain why an anti-oestrogen drug clomiphene can aid fertility (3)
17) Describe the fate of the corpus luteum (2)
18) Match the parts of the fallopian tube to their descriptions
i) Bell shaped attachment point for fimbrae ii) Widest segment iii) Thinner part, near the
uterus
19) Describe the function of the peg cells of the fallopian tube (2)
20) Cilia are upregulated by oestrogen. Explain how this can help fertilisation (2)
21) Describe the structural difference between the stratum basalis and stratum functionalis (2)
22) A) State the epithelium found in the upper cervix (1)
B) Explain the clinical significance of the squamocolumnar junction (2)
23) Oestrogen favours glycogen deposition in the vagina. Explain how this can help prevent
infection (4)
24) Describe the impacts of oestrogen on the breast (3)
25) State the proportion of ovarian cancer that occurs in the germinal epithelium (2)
