REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY Practice
Exam Questions and Answers Latest
Update 2025 Graded A+
3 - CORRECT ANSWERS How many zona pellucida glycoproteins are there?
cortical granules undergo exocytosis and their contents are released in the the perivitelline
space, causing the egg to undergo biochemical changes so another sperm cannot penetrate
it. - CORRECT ANSWERS Describe how the zona reaction prevents polyspermy.
it reduces the ability of the oocyte plasma membrane fusing with additional sperm -
CORRECT ANSWERS How does the vitelline block prevent polyspermy?
There will be no acrosome reaction, making it impossible to penetrate the zona pellucida -
CORRECT ANSWERS What is the consequence of blocking zona proteins (i.e., ZP2)?
by blocking the zona proteins and the acrosome reaction, making fertilization impossible -
CORRECT ANSWERS How does immunization against ZP2 in the deer female (i.e., doe)
prevent conception?
flagellum and privileged pathways - CORRECT ANSWERS What are the 2 ways sperm are
transported from the vagina or cervix to the oviduct?
zona pellucida, vitelline membrane - CORRECT ANSWERS What must a sperm penetrate to
enter the oocyte during fertilization?
resumption of the second meiotic division, zona reaction, vitelline block - CORRECT
ANSWERS Name three things that are triggered when the equatorial segment of the sperm
fuses to the vitelline membrane during fertilization.
,embryo - CORRECT ANSWERS an organism in the early stages of development
fetus - CORRECT ANSWERS a potential offspring that is still within the uterus but
recognizable as a member of a given species
conceptus - CORRECT ANSWERS product of conception, including the embryo and extra-
embryonic membranes, and the fetus and placenta.
capacitation - CORRECT ANSWERS Sperm must reside in the female tract for a period before
acquire maximum fertility. That process is called:
uterus - CORRECT ANSWERS Where does capacitation take place?
hyperactivation - CORRECT ANSWERS What process aids in sperm penetrating the zona
more effectively AND helps sperm break away from attachment to oviductal epithelium due
to the sperm moving in a frenzy motion?
b - CORRECT ANSWERS During sperm transport in the female reproductive tract, what is
NOT a function of the cervix?
a. Cervix is a barrier for non-motile, abnormal and dead sperm
b. Cervix is the site of fertilization
c. Cervix secrets 2 types of mucous, generating the "Privileged pathway"
d. Cervix is a reservoir for sperm
Sperm will not be able to bind to the oocyte and it will not trigger the acrosome reaction -
CORRECT ANSWERS If a sperm has a mutation in the specific sperm membrane proteins
(ZBR and ARPR) that bind to the Zona Pellucida...
a - CORRECT ANSWERS In the early blastocyst stage, there are 2 cell populations with
distinct characteristics. Which of the following sentences is NOT true?
a. The inner cell mass (inside cells) present tight junctions and pump sodium into the
embryo
,b. The outside cells, Trophoblasts, present tight junctions and pump sodium into the embryo
c. The inner cell mass is also named embryo proper and the Trophoblast will give rise to the
chorion
d. The inner cell mass (inside cells) present gap junctions
secretion of interferon tau by the embryo - CORRECT ANSWERS The signal for maternal
recognition of pregnancy in the cow and ewe is?
prevent luteolysis, different - CORRECT ANSWERS The process of maternal recognition is a
set of biochemical signals that __________, the signals are _______ across different species
trophoblast cells - CORRECT ANSWERS After blastocyst hatching, but prior to attachment,
the embryo is free-floating in the uterus. Which part of the embryo grows the most during
this time?
There is no signal. - CORRECT ANSWERS In dogs, what is the signal for maternal recognition
of pregnancy?
estradiol is secreted and reroutes prostaglandin into the uterine lumen and is destroyed,
preventing luteolysis - CORRECT ANSWERS In pigs, what is the signal for maternal
recognition of pregnancy?
hCG - CORRECT ANSWERS In humans, what is the signal for maternal recognition of
pregnancy?
- CORRECT ANSWERS Describe the transition from the cycle to pregnancy in farm animals
and primates. Be sure to identify the signal for maternal recognition of pregnancy, the target
tissue of that signal, and the mechanism of action of that signal.
yolk sac, chorion, amnion, allantois - CORRECT ANSWERS What are the 4 extraembryonic
membranes?
, yolk sac - CORRECT ANSWERS a specialized structure that leads to the digestive tract of a
developing organism and provides it with food during early development
chorion - CORRECT ANSWERS Outermost layer of the two membranes surrounding the
embryo; it forms the fetal part of the placenta.
amnion - CORRECT ANSWERS Membrane that encloses the embryo in protective amniotic
fluid
allantois - CORRECT ANSWERS the extraembyonic membrane of birds, reptiles and
mammals that serves as an area of gaseous exchange and as a site for the storage of noxious
excretion products
the conceptus must make extensive contact with the endometrial surface - CORRECT
ANSWERS What do we know about maternal recognition of pregnancy in the horse?
The CL of pregnancy and the CL of the cycle have similar lifespans - CORRECT ANSWERS
Why doesn't the dog need maternal recognition of pregnancy?
No. If she is bred, the CL will form and the duration is the same as gestation. - CORRECT
ANSWERS Does the cat need maternal recognition of pregnancy? Why do you say so?
produces accessory CL - CORRECT ANSWERS What is the function of eCG in the mare?
has a follicle stimulating effect - CORRECT ANSWERS What is the function of eCG in other
mammals?
PGE2, stimulates luteal function and smooth muscle contraction
PGF2a, stimulates luteolysis and smooth muscle contraction - CORRECT ANSWERS List two
prostaglandins produced in reproductive tissues. Name a role in reproductive physiology for
each of these.
the fetal hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, which detects when the uterus is running out
of space and stimulates ACTH, which then causes two things: removal of the myometrial
progesterone block by conversion to estrogen and increased reproductive tract secretions -
Exam Questions and Answers Latest
Update 2025 Graded A+
3 - CORRECT ANSWERS How many zona pellucida glycoproteins are there?
cortical granules undergo exocytosis and their contents are released in the the perivitelline
space, causing the egg to undergo biochemical changes so another sperm cannot penetrate
it. - CORRECT ANSWERS Describe how the zona reaction prevents polyspermy.
it reduces the ability of the oocyte plasma membrane fusing with additional sperm -
CORRECT ANSWERS How does the vitelline block prevent polyspermy?
There will be no acrosome reaction, making it impossible to penetrate the zona pellucida -
CORRECT ANSWERS What is the consequence of blocking zona proteins (i.e., ZP2)?
by blocking the zona proteins and the acrosome reaction, making fertilization impossible -
CORRECT ANSWERS How does immunization against ZP2 in the deer female (i.e., doe)
prevent conception?
flagellum and privileged pathways - CORRECT ANSWERS What are the 2 ways sperm are
transported from the vagina or cervix to the oviduct?
zona pellucida, vitelline membrane - CORRECT ANSWERS What must a sperm penetrate to
enter the oocyte during fertilization?
resumption of the second meiotic division, zona reaction, vitelline block - CORRECT
ANSWERS Name three things that are triggered when the equatorial segment of the sperm
fuses to the vitelline membrane during fertilization.
,embryo - CORRECT ANSWERS an organism in the early stages of development
fetus - CORRECT ANSWERS a potential offspring that is still within the uterus but
recognizable as a member of a given species
conceptus - CORRECT ANSWERS product of conception, including the embryo and extra-
embryonic membranes, and the fetus and placenta.
capacitation - CORRECT ANSWERS Sperm must reside in the female tract for a period before
acquire maximum fertility. That process is called:
uterus - CORRECT ANSWERS Where does capacitation take place?
hyperactivation - CORRECT ANSWERS What process aids in sperm penetrating the zona
more effectively AND helps sperm break away from attachment to oviductal epithelium due
to the sperm moving in a frenzy motion?
b - CORRECT ANSWERS During sperm transport in the female reproductive tract, what is
NOT a function of the cervix?
a. Cervix is a barrier for non-motile, abnormal and dead sperm
b. Cervix is the site of fertilization
c. Cervix secrets 2 types of mucous, generating the "Privileged pathway"
d. Cervix is a reservoir for sperm
Sperm will not be able to bind to the oocyte and it will not trigger the acrosome reaction -
CORRECT ANSWERS If a sperm has a mutation in the specific sperm membrane proteins
(ZBR and ARPR) that bind to the Zona Pellucida...
a - CORRECT ANSWERS In the early blastocyst stage, there are 2 cell populations with
distinct characteristics. Which of the following sentences is NOT true?
a. The inner cell mass (inside cells) present tight junctions and pump sodium into the
embryo
,b. The outside cells, Trophoblasts, present tight junctions and pump sodium into the embryo
c. The inner cell mass is also named embryo proper and the Trophoblast will give rise to the
chorion
d. The inner cell mass (inside cells) present gap junctions
secretion of interferon tau by the embryo - CORRECT ANSWERS The signal for maternal
recognition of pregnancy in the cow and ewe is?
prevent luteolysis, different - CORRECT ANSWERS The process of maternal recognition is a
set of biochemical signals that __________, the signals are _______ across different species
trophoblast cells - CORRECT ANSWERS After blastocyst hatching, but prior to attachment,
the embryo is free-floating in the uterus. Which part of the embryo grows the most during
this time?
There is no signal. - CORRECT ANSWERS In dogs, what is the signal for maternal recognition
of pregnancy?
estradiol is secreted and reroutes prostaglandin into the uterine lumen and is destroyed,
preventing luteolysis - CORRECT ANSWERS In pigs, what is the signal for maternal
recognition of pregnancy?
hCG - CORRECT ANSWERS In humans, what is the signal for maternal recognition of
pregnancy?
- CORRECT ANSWERS Describe the transition from the cycle to pregnancy in farm animals
and primates. Be sure to identify the signal for maternal recognition of pregnancy, the target
tissue of that signal, and the mechanism of action of that signal.
yolk sac, chorion, amnion, allantois - CORRECT ANSWERS What are the 4 extraembryonic
membranes?
, yolk sac - CORRECT ANSWERS a specialized structure that leads to the digestive tract of a
developing organism and provides it with food during early development
chorion - CORRECT ANSWERS Outermost layer of the two membranes surrounding the
embryo; it forms the fetal part of the placenta.
amnion - CORRECT ANSWERS Membrane that encloses the embryo in protective amniotic
fluid
allantois - CORRECT ANSWERS the extraembyonic membrane of birds, reptiles and
mammals that serves as an area of gaseous exchange and as a site for the storage of noxious
excretion products
the conceptus must make extensive contact with the endometrial surface - CORRECT
ANSWERS What do we know about maternal recognition of pregnancy in the horse?
The CL of pregnancy and the CL of the cycle have similar lifespans - CORRECT ANSWERS
Why doesn't the dog need maternal recognition of pregnancy?
No. If she is bred, the CL will form and the duration is the same as gestation. - CORRECT
ANSWERS Does the cat need maternal recognition of pregnancy? Why do you say so?
produces accessory CL - CORRECT ANSWERS What is the function of eCG in the mare?
has a follicle stimulating effect - CORRECT ANSWERS What is the function of eCG in other
mammals?
PGE2, stimulates luteal function and smooth muscle contraction
PGF2a, stimulates luteolysis and smooth muscle contraction - CORRECT ANSWERS List two
prostaglandins produced in reproductive tissues. Name a role in reproductive physiology for
each of these.
the fetal hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, which detects when the uterus is running out
of space and stimulates ACTH, which then causes two things: removal of the myometrial
progesterone block by conversion to estrogen and increased reproductive tract secretions -
