Question
What are functions of female reproductive hormones?
A. Estrogen and progesterone promote the development of female reproductive organs in the embryo.
B. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are released by the ovary and combine to prevent ovulation.
C. Estrogen and progesterone are released by the pituitary and combine to prepare the uterus for pregnancy.
D. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) promote the development of female reproductive organs in the embryo.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Answer: A. Estrogen and progesterone promote the development of female reproductive organs in the embryo.
Explanation:
- Estrogen and progesterone are key female sex hormones produced mainly by the ovaries.
- During embryonic development, estrogen is especially involved in the differentiation and development of female reproductive organs.
- Progesterone prepares and maintains the uterus for potential pregnancy later in life.
Answer Evaluation:
A. Correct – Estrogen and progesterone guide the development of female reproductive structures in the embryo.
B. Incorrect – FSH and LH are produced by the anterior pituitary, not the ovary, and they stimulate, not prevent, ovulation.
C. Incorrect – Estrogen and progesterone are not released by the pituitary. They come from the ovaries.
D. Incorrect – FSH and LH are involved after puberty in the menstrual cycle, not embryonic development.
What structures are indicated on the diagram?
Answer/Explanation
Answer: D
Explanation:
Let’s examine the labels in the diagram:
Label I (long external structure)
- This is the penis.
- Correctly labeled as “penis” in A and D.
Label II(tube running through the penis)
- This is the urethra, which runs inside the penis, carrying urine and semen.
- Labeled “urethra” in A and D.
- But in C, it’s labeled as “sperm duct” (incorrect — sperm duct is internal, not in the penis).
- In B, it’s labeled as “ureter” (also incorrect — ureter goes from kidney to bladder, not in the penis).
Label III (gland below the bladder)
- This is the sperm duct (vas deferens).
- It carries sperm from the testis to the urethra.
- Correctly labeled in D as sperm duct.
- In A, it is labeled “seminal vesicles” — but seminal vesicles are higher up, near the bladder, not this location.
Label IV (gland near the bladder, coiled)
- This is the seminal vesicle.
- It produces nutrient-rich fluid for sperm.
- Correctly labeled in D.
- In A, it is labeled “sperm duct” — wrong location.
Therefore, the correct answer is: D
| Label | Structure (Correct) |
|---|---|
| I | Penis |
| II | Urethra |
| III | Sperm duct |
| IV | Seminal vesicle |
Question
LH causes the rupture of a follicle and release of an egg cell. What is this process called?
A. Conception
B. Fertilization
C. Menstruation
D. Ovulation
Answer/Explanation
Answer: D. Ovulation
Explanation:
- Ovulation is the process where a mature egg cell is released from an ovarian follicle, triggered by a sudden surge in luteinizing hormone (LH). This usually occurs around the middle of the menstrual cycle.
- LH plays a key role by causing the rupture of the follicle, allowing the egg to exit the ovary and enter the fallopian tube, where it may meet sperm and become fertilized.
Answer Evaluation:
A. Incorrect – Conception refers to the union of sperm and egg, not the release of the egg.
B. Incorrect – Fertilization happens after ovulation, when a sperm cell fuses with the egg.
C. Incorrect – Menstruation is the shedding of the uterine lining when fertilization does not occur.
D. Correct – Ovulation is the correct term for the release of the egg triggered by LH.
What is placed into the uterus after the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF)?
A. Eggs
B. Sperm
C. Embryos
D. Fetuses
Answer/Explanation
Answer: C. Embryos
Explanation:
- In in vitro fertilization (IVF), fertilization occurs outside the body in a laboratory dish, where an egg and sperm are combined. After successful fertilization, the resulting embryos are allowed to develop for a few days. Then, one or more embryos are placed into the uterus to implant and grow. This step gives the embryo the chance to develop into a fetus.
Answer Evaluation:
A. Incorrect – Eggs are removed from the ovary and fertilized outside the body, not placed directly into the uterus.
B. Incorrect – Sperm is used to fertilize the eggs in a lab, not inserted into the uterus during IVF.
C. Correct – Embryos, which are early-stage fertilized eggs, are inserted into the uterus after fertilization.
D. Incorrect – Fetuses develop later in pregnancy; embryos are placed in the uterus long before that stage.
Question
What conveys messages from the central nervous system to an endocrine gland?
A. Sensory neurons
B. Hormones
C. Interneurons
D. Motor neurons
▶️Answer/Explanation
Answer: D. Motor neurons
Explanation:
- Motor neurons carry signals from the central nervous system (CNS) to effectors, which can be muscles or glands, including endocrine glands. These neurons help control glandular secretions by stimulating the gland to release hormones.
- While sensory neurons bring information into the CNS, motor neurons send commands out to the body’s organs and tissues.
Answer Evaluation:
A. Incorrect – Sensory neurons carry information from sense organs to the CNS, not from the CNS to glands.
B. Incorrect – Hormones are chemical messengers released by glands, not the signal carriers from the CNS.
C. Incorrect – Interneurons connect neurons within the CNS but do not carry signals directly to glands.
D. Correct – Motor neurons transmit signals from the CNS to endocrine glands, triggering hormone release.
Question
The first day of the menstrual cycle is when menstruation begins. What occurs around day 15 of the cycle?
A. Formation of a corpus luteum
B. The placenta starts to secrete progesterone
C. The end of menstruation
D. Blood progesterone concentration reaches its maximum
▶️Answer/Explanation
Answer: A. Formation of a corpus luteum
Explanation:
- Around day 14 to 15 of the menstrual cycle, ovulation occurs the release of an egg from the ovary. After the egg is released, the ruptured follicle transforms into a structure called the corpus luteum. This temporary gland secretes progesterone, which prepares the uterine lining for a possible pregnancy.
Answer Evaluation:
A. Correct – Around day 15, the corpus luteum forms from the follicle that released the egg.
B. Incorrect – The placenta begins forming only after implantation and pregnancy, much later in the cycle.
C. Incorrect – Menstruation typically ends around day 5–7, much earlier than day 15.
D. Incorrect – Progesterone peaks later in the cycle, usually around day 21, not day 15.
Question
The diagram shows the human male reproductive system.
Which numbers indicate a gland providing fluid for sperm and a tube that transports sperm only?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Answer: D
Explanation:
Structure Identification:
- 1 – This is the seminal vesicle, a gland that provides fluid for sperm.
- 2 – This is the sperm duct (vas deferens), a tube that transports sperm only.
- 3 – This is the urethra, which carries both sperm and urine (so not sperm only).
- 4 – This is the testis, where sperm is produced (but not a gland adding fluid).
- 5 – This is the prostate gland, another gland providing fluid for sperm.
Now to match the correct options:
We are looking for:
- A gland providing fluid for sperm (correct: 1 or 5), and
- A tube that transports sperm only (correct: 2)
Why others are incorrect:
A. 1 and 2 → 1 is correct (seminal vesicle), 2 is correct → technically acceptable, but 5 is more often focused on in this context (prostate = major contributor).
B. 5 and 3 → 3 is urethra (transports urine + sperm), so incorrect.
C. 4 and 3 → 4 is testis (not fluid-producing gland), 3 is urethra.
Question
The diagram shows the human female reproductive system.
What is produced by structure X?
A. FSH
B. X chromosomes
C. Fertilized eggs
D. Estrogen and progesterone
▶️Answer/Explanation
Answer: D. Estrogen and progesterone
Explanation:
In the diagram of the female reproductive system:
Structure X points to the ovary.
The ovary:
- Produces:
- Eggs (ova) – these are the female reproductive cells.
- Hormones – specifically estrogen and progesterone, which regulate the menstrual cycle and support pregnancy.
Now let’s evaluate the options:
A. FSH – Incorrect. FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) is produced by the pituitary gland, not the ovary.
B. X chromosomes – Incorrect. While eggs contain X chromosomes, the ovary doesn’t produce X chromosomes—they are part of the genetic material of the egg.
C. Fertilized eggs – Incorrect. Fertilization occurs in the fallopian tube, not in the ovary.
D. Estrogen and progesterone – Correct. These hormones are produced by the ovary.