Chapter 20.

Physiology of Reproduction

Summary of Objectives.

1. Explain the chromosomal sex of the zygote. Review the terms diploid and haploid.
2. Read about the development of male and female sex organs.
3. Describe the interactions between hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, and gonads. What roles
do GnRH, LH and FSH have? How is the secretion of GnRH, LH and FSH regulated?
4. Construct a simple diagram (flow diagram for example) showing the negative feedback
control the gonads exert on the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary.
5. What would happen with respect to sex hormone secretion, GnRh, LH and FSH secretion
following castration? Describe what physical changes would also occur in the adult.
6. Describe the functions of the Leydig cells of the testes. What hormone stimulates them?
What do they produce?
7. Describe the function of the seminiferous tubules.
8. What are the functions of the Sertoli cells?
9. How is spermatogenesis regulated? What two hormones are necessary for normal sperm
production.
10. Describe the effects of testosterone (Table 20.4).
11. Describe the stages of oogenesis and the different stages of the follicle.
12. Describe ovulation. What hormone stimulates ovulation? What hormone do the granulosa
secrete?
13. Describe the formation and function of the corpus luteum. What hormones do the corpus
luteum secrete? What are the effects of these hormones?
14. Describe the changes that occur in the uterus endometrium during the menstrual cycle.
15. Describe the changes in the secretion of gonadotropins (FSH, LH) and ovarian hormones
during a cycle.
16. Explain the negative feedback mechanisms in the hormonal control of ovulation and
menstruation.
17. Describe the changes that occur in the ovary and endometrium during the follicular phase and
explain how these changes are regulated by hormones.
18. Describe the changes that occur in the endometrium during the luteal phase.
19. Explain the significance of negative feedback control during the luteal phase and describe the
hormonal control of menstruation.
20. What hormone is necessary to maintain the corpus luteum?
21. What happens to the corpus luteum when the levels of LH fall?
22. What hormone is secreted by an embryo and also the placenta that mimics LH?
23. How do birth control pills regulate uterine and menstrual cycles – Explain the effect of
exogenous estrogen and progesterone have on FSH secretion?

Review the questions and summaries in the last few pages of the chapter.

There are free sites available with practice questions:

http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0073378119/student_view0/chapter20/index.html

Practice Fill-in-the-blank and Short Answer Questions

Quizzes are typically fill-in-the-blank and short answer questions. Exams will also include a section
with similar questions. Practice answering the following. You should be able to generate and answer
your own fill-in-the blank questions as well. Try it. Quiz your classmates.
Potential Essay / Long answer Questions.
Answering essay questions requires a significant amount of work. One will usually require a full
page. Your answer must be written as an essay (complete sentences with a logical organization).
Sometimes a diagram is asked for – it is then required. If a diagram is not asked for, you may include
it but it does not count toward your score. Some students find it helpful to draw a diagram and then
explain it in an essay. You must use proper terminology. You must clearly describe mechanisms and
differentiate between causes and effects.

None from this section

Lab 4.4
1. Identify the stages of development of ovarian follicles. List the hormones that are secreted by
them. List the hormones that stimulate ovarian follicles.

Fill in the Blank and Short Answer Questions.

1. Testes develop due to expression of this gene on the Y chromosome. ______________.

2. Mature ova have ______ chromosomes.

3. Mature sperm have __________ chromosomes.

4. With respect to reproductive physiology the hypothalamus secretes ______________ (full name)

5. With respect to reproductive physiology the anterior pituitary responds to the hypothalamic
hormone __________________ by secreting _______________________________ (full names).

6. The cells of an ovarian follicle that produce sex steroids are called: _____________________.

7. Draw a simple diagram that shows the negative feedback control of testosterone production in
males. BE sure to name the organs, important cells, and hormones (full names) involved.

8. Describe the changes that occur in an ovarian follicle in the first phase of the ovarian cycle (up to
ovulation). What hormone(s) regulate this phase? What is the name of this phase of the ovarian
cycle? About how many days does it last?

9. Describe the events of ovulation. What hormone(s) regulate this phase? What is the name of this
phase of the ovarian cycle? About how many days does it last?

10. Describe the changes that occur in the ovary in the last phase of the ovarian cycle. What
hormone(s) regulate this phase? What is the name of this phase of the ovarian cycle? About how
many days does it last?

11. Describe the role of LH during the luteal phase.

12. Describe the role of sex steroids on the uterus and hypothalamus during the luteal phase.
13. Describe the role of sex steroids on the uterus and hypothalamus during the follicular phase.

14. The spiral arteries of the endometrium are especially sensitive to decreases in ____________.
Describe how they respond to such decrease.

15. The development of a new stratum functionalis of the uterus occurs in the ______________
phase. It lasts from about day _____ to day _______. Which hormone(s) are responsible and
where does it (do they) come from?
16. The elaboration of the stratum functionalis and activity of its glands occur in the
______________ phase of the uterine cycle. It lasts from about day _____ to day _______.
Which hormone(s) are responsible and where does it (do they) come from?

17. Explain what happens to the corpus luteum without hormonal support?

18. About how long does a corpus luteum last?

19. Adipose tissue is known to produce the hormone: ________________. Describe the role that this
hormone can play in people who produce a lot of it.

20. Women who exercise a lot and have very low body fat can experience exercised-induced
amenorrhea. Explain the mechanism behind the onset of this condition. Explain the negative
consequences of this condition.

21. Women who are under a great deal of “stress” may experience amenorrhea. Explain the
mechanism behind the onset of this condition.

22. Women who are pregnant experience amenorrhea. Explain the mechanism behind this
“condition”.

23. Women when breastfeeding often experience amenorrhea. Explain the mechanism behind this
“condition”.

Multiple choice practice questions. Remember these questions are here for practice. They are
themselves not a study guide. Use you lecture notes and text to study that material. Once you have
mastered it, use these questions to assess your understanding. They can help point out where more
work is needed.

1. The control of hormone secretion by its own effects is specifically called ___________.
A) positive feedback, B) steroidal inactivation, C) negative feedback inhibition,
D) antagonistic feedback, E) homeostasis.

2. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) is a: A) sex steroid, B) hypothalamic hormone, C)

gonadotropin, D) androgen, E) exocrine secretion.

3. Predict how exogenous estrogen and progesterone (in birth control pills for example) serve as
a means to avoid pregnancy. A) They prevent implantation of an embryo, B) They stimulate
estrogen production, C) They initiate vascular constriction in the uterus, D) They inhibit FSH
secretion, E) They stimulate FSH secretion.
 4. _____ directly triggers ovulation. A) estrogen, B) GnRH, C) weak androgens, D) FSH, E)
LH.

5. The secretory phase of the uterus corresponds in time to the _______ phase of the ovary. A)
luteal, B) atretic, C) ovulatory, D) follicular, E) proliferative.

6. The proliferative phase of the uterus corresponds in time to the _______ phase of the ovary.
A) luteal, B) atretic, C) ovulatory, D) follicular, E) proliferative.

7. During pregnancy the uterus would remain in the ____ phase. A) luteal, B) secretory, C)
menstrual, D) follicular, E) proliferative.

8. Constriction of spiral arteries is caused directly by a(n) ________. A) drop in estrogen, B)

increase in estrogen, C) drop in progesterone, D) increase in progesterone, D) increase in LH.

9. To prevent menstruation and to sustain pregnancy, an implanted embryo must secrete

________. A) progesterone, B) human chorionic gonadotropin, C) LH, D) estrogen, E) hGH.

10. The main source of progesterone in a woman who is not pregnant is the: A) Graafian follicle,
B) corpus albicans, C) corpus luteum, D) anterior pituitary, E) endometrium.

11. This hormone is secreted by adipose tissue, and if its levels are low enough female cycles to
stop altogether. A) FSH, B) LH, progesterone, C) weak androgens, D) ANP, E) leptin.

12. Egg and sperm cells have: A) 46 chromosomes, B) 23 chromosomes, C) 22 pairs of

autosomes plus one pair of sex chromosomes.

13. Leydig cells produce

A) sperm.
B) inhibin.
C) nutrients.
D) androgens.
E) androgen-binding protein.
Answer: D

14. The role of the pituitary hormone FSH in males is to

A) stimulate the interstitial cells to produce testosterone.
B) stimulate the Sertoli cells to produce GnRH.
C) initiate sperm production in the testes.
D) develop and maintain secondary sex characteristics.
E) influence sexual behaviors and sex drive.
Answer: C

15. The average length of the menstrual cycle is

A) 10 days.
B) 14 days.
C) 21 days.
D) 28 days.
E) 35 days.
Answer: D

16. The surge in LH that occurs during the middle of the ovarian cycle triggers
A) follicle maturation.
B) menstruation.
C) ovulation.
D) menopause.
E) atresia.
Answer: C

17. The hormone(s) secreted by the corpus luteum is

A) LH.
B) FSH.
C) progesterone only.
D) estrogen only.
E) estrogen and progesterone.
Answer: E

18. Menstruation is triggered by a drop in the level(s) of

A) FSH.
B) LH.
C) relaxin.
D) progesterone.
E) human chorionic gonadotropin.
Answer: D

19. Which of the following occurs during days 6-14 of the uterine cycle?
A) ovulation
B) menstruation
C) proliferative phase
D) secretory phase
Answer: C

20. Which of the following occurs during days 15-28 of the uterine cycle?
A) proliferative phase
B) ovulation
C) menstruation
D) secretory phase
Answer: D

21. The corpus luteum in a nonpregnant woman usually lasts about

A) 7 days.
B) 12 days.
C) 3 days.
D) 28 days.
E) 3 months.
Answer: B
22. The hormone that is the basis for a pregnancy test is
A) LH.
B) progesterone.
C) human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
D) human placental lactogen (hPL).
E) relaxin.
Answer: C
Match the cells/tissue with the hormone it secretes.

A. Leydig cells
B. granulosa cells
C. corpus luteum
D. placenta

55) progesterone, early in pregnancy

Answer: C

56) human chorionic gonadotropin

Answer: D

57) estrogen, prior to ovulation

Answer: B

58) testosterone
Answer: A

64) Out of which structure is an oocyte released during ovulation?

A) primary follicle
B) secondary follicle
C) Graafian follicle
D) primordial follicle
E) corpus luteum
Answer: C

67) When the testis does not produce anti-Müllerian hormone, the Müllerian ducts develop into
A) ovaries.
B) epididymus.
C) vagina.
D) seminiferous tubules.
E) vas derens.
Answer: C

82) Which of the following is NOT a part of the ovarian cycle?

A) follicular phase
B) ovulation
C) luteal phase
D) menstruation
E) corpus luteum formation
Answer: D

86) In the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle, the ovary is

A) undergoing atresia.
B) forming a corpus luteum.
C) releasing a mature egg.
D) secreting progesterone.
E) maturing a follicle.
Answer: E

89) In the late follicular phase of the ovarian cycle, the level of LH secretion is ________ the level of
FSH secretion.
A) greater than
B) less than
C) equal to
Answer: A

90) For most of the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle, the level of progesterone secretion is ________
the level of estrogen secretion.
A) greater than
B) less than
C) equal to
Answer: A

91) A boy who has not passed through puberty sustains an injury to his anterior pituitary such that
FSH is no longer released, but LH is normal. After the individual grows to maturity, one would
expect that he would
A) not develop secondary sex characteristics.
B) be sterile.
C) be impotent.
D) have impaired function of the interstitial cells.
E) have no deficient in function.
Answer: B

93) If the ovaries were removed from an otherwise healthy 20-year-old female, which of the
following would you expect to see?
A) increased blood levels of GnRH
B) increased blood levels of FSH
C) increased blood levels of LH
D) cessation of menstruation
E) All of these observations
Answer: E

109) Create a diagram explaining the feedback of estrogen on the anterior pituitary during the
ovarian cycle.
Answer: During early/mid follicular phase, low levels of estrogen inhibit FSH and LH release from
the anterior pituitary. In late follicular phase, rising levels of estrogen stimulate the release of FSH
and LH. High levels of estrogen, however, along with progesterone in the luteal phase negatively
feed back to the anterior pituitary preventing further release of FSH and LH.

114) Contraceptive pills containing estradiol or estradiol plus progesterone are given at programmed
doses during the ovarian cycle to prevent follicle maturation and ovulation. Explain how these pills
work.
Answer: Slightly elevated levels of estradiol or estradiol and progesterone inhibit both GnRH at the
hypothalamus and the release of FSH and LH from the pituitary. Without FSH, primordial follicles
do not initiate development, and the endogenous levels of estrogen remain low. An LH surge is
necessary for ovulation to occur, and the LH surge is triggered by the peaking of estradiol. If the
level of estradiol is not allowed to rise above the critical level, the LH surge will not occur and
ovulation will not occur, even if a follicle managed to develop to a stage at which it could ovulate.
Any mature follicles would ultimately degenerate, and no new follicles would mature to take their
place. Although the ovarian cycle is interrupted, the level of hormones is still adequate to regulate a
normal menstrual cycle.

123) Create a flow chart illustrating the development of bipotential reproductive structures in an XY
individual and an XX individual, indicating the stimuli for development or regression of the
structures.