ANSC 3040 Final Exam Questions with
Complete Rationales 2026-2027
Updated.
1) What is folliculogenesis?
2) How does the oocyte develop? * - Answer 1) formation and development of ovarian
follicles, which are endocrine structures that participate in the coordination of reproductive
cycles and support the development of the female germ cell-the oocyte
2) oogenesis
1) What is oogenesis?
2) Oogenesis begins during?
3) What are the four phases of oogenesis?* - Answer 1) a protracted process that
encompasses the differentiation and release of a mature oocyte for fertilization and successful
propagation of the species
2) embryonic reproductive development of the female and continues throughout her
reproductive lifetime
3) -mitotic phase
-meiotic phase with nuclear arrestment
-cytoplasmic development
-meiotic resumption
1) What is the mitotic phase characterized by?
2) Describe the 5 steps of the mitotic phase* - Answer 1) mitosis of primordial germ cells and
oogonia
2) -mitotic active PGCs colonize the biopotential gonads of the developing fetus
-bipotential gonads differentiate into ovaries
-PGCs differentiate into oogonia
-oogonia continue to divide by mitosis until formation of primordial follicles
-mitotic divisions determine the size of the ovarian reserve of the female
1) What is the meiotic phase with nuclear arrest characterized by?
2) Describe the steps of the meiotic phase with nuclear arrest
3) Describe the formation of primordial follicles
4) Describe the formation of the germinal vesicle* - Answer 1) the onset of meiosis and
formation of primary oocytes
2) -formation of primordial follicles
,-oogonia enter meiosis 1 and are now called primary oocytes
-meiosis 1 is arrested at prophase 1 (4n primary oocytes)
-formation of germinal vesicle (large nucleus with arrested DNA highly packed)
3) -first layer of granulosa cells
-changes the environment of oogonias
4) -cell division remains arrested for a long period of time (meiosis is resumed only shortly
before ovulation)
-the purpose of the nuclear arrest is to inactivate DNA and protect it from insults during
lifetime, which could compromise developmental capacity
What is cytoplasmic development in oogenesis characterized by?* - Answer substantial
growth of the cytoplasm and formation of special cellular structures
1) Describe the steps in cytoplasmic development
2) Describe the oocytes being enclosed in primary and secondary follicles and undergoing
substantial growth of cytoplasm volume
3) Describe formation of the zona pellucida
4) Describe the formation of gap junctions between oocyte and granulosa cells in close
proximity* - Answer 1) -activation of primordial follicles
-oocytes enclosed in primary and secondary follicles undergo substantial growth of cytoplasm
volume
-formation of zona pellucida
-formation of gap junctions between oocyte and granulosa cells in close proximity
2) -promoted by granulosa cells
-accumulation of molecules that will be critical for early embryogenesis
3) -synthesized by the oocyte
-covers and protects the entire oocyte
-ZP proteins-important for fertilization
4) -cytoplasmic communication that crosses the zona pellucida
-critical for communication between the two cell types
1) What is meiotic resumption characterized by?
2) Describe the steps of meiotic resumption
3) Describe meiosis 1 being completed* - Answer 1) the resumption of meiosis 1 after LH
surge
2) -estradiol secreted by the preovulatory follicle has a positive feedback in the surge centre of
the hypothalamus and induces a surge of GnRH
,-the surge of GnRH reaches the pituitary and induces a surge of LH
-LH reaches the preovulatory follicle in the ovary(ies) and cause changes
-deterioration of gap junctions (reduction of oocyte cAMP>deactivation of kinases>activation of
MPF)
-meiosis 1 is completed
-onset of meiosis 2- arrested at the metaphase 2 stage
3) -asymmetric cytoplasmic division
-extrusion of first polar body
Describe crossing over in meiosis 1* - Answer -segments of one chromosome crossing-over to
a homologous chromosome, resulting in a random assortment of DNA segments between
chromatids and ensuring genetic diversity in daughter cells
-at the end of meiosis, each newly formed spermatid is genetically unique
-oocytes are ovulated shortly after crossing-over
-thus, control of the maternal immune system in the ovary is not as critical as the one observed
in the testes
After insemination (natural or artificial), the spermatozoa must?* - Answer 1) Transverse the
cervix
2) Go through the uterus to the oviducts (aided by uterus and oviducts contractions)
3) undergo capacitation
4) find the cumulus-oocyte complex (COC)
5) penetrate through cumulus cells and bind the zona pellucida
6) undergo the acrosome reaction
7) penetrate the zona pellucida
8) fuse with the oocyte plasma membrane
9) enter the oocyte cytoplasm and release the nucleus for decondensation and formation of
male pronucleus in the newly formed zygote
1) What are the general steps/areas the sperm has to traverse leading up to fertilization?
2) Describe immediate transport
3) Describe what happens in the cervix
4) Describe what happens in the uterus
5) Describe what happens in the oviduct
6) Describe fertilization* - Answer 1) -immediate transport
-cervix
-uterus
, -oviduct
-fertilization
2) -retrograde loss
-phagocytosis
-entrance into cervix/uterus
3) -'privileged pathways'
-removal of non-motile sperm
-removal of some abnormalities
4) -capacitation initiated
-phagocytosis
5) -capacitation completed
-hyperactive motility
6) -acrosome reaction
-spermatozoon penetrates oocyte
-male and female pronuclei form
When does insemination occur and what happens?* - Answer during estrus, when the female
reproductive tract is under influence of high concentrations of estradiol
-increased blood flow to the entire reproductive tract
-migration of neutrophils into the mucosa layers and lumen
-phagocytosis of foreign material (sperm and microorganisms)
-spermatozoal losses
-prevention of infections
1) The highly convoluted system of grooves within the cervix is a major barrier for?
2) During estrus, the cervix produces which two types of mucus?
3) Describe sulfomucin
4) Describe sialomucin
5) In species where ejaculation occurs in the cranial vagina, only sperm that are capable of?* -
Answer 1) spermatozoal transport, but it can also serve as a reservoir for spermatozoa
2) sulfomucin and sialomucin
3) -produced by epithelium in the apical portion of the cervical crypts
-greater viscosity
-wash sperm out the reproductive tract
4) -produced by epithelium in the basal portion of the cervical crypts
Complete Rationales 2026-2027
Updated.
1) What is folliculogenesis?
2) How does the oocyte develop? * - Answer 1) formation and development of ovarian
follicles, which are endocrine structures that participate in the coordination of reproductive
cycles and support the development of the female germ cell-the oocyte
2) oogenesis
1) What is oogenesis?
2) Oogenesis begins during?
3) What are the four phases of oogenesis?* - Answer 1) a protracted process that
encompasses the differentiation and release of a mature oocyte for fertilization and successful
propagation of the species
2) embryonic reproductive development of the female and continues throughout her
reproductive lifetime
3) -mitotic phase
-meiotic phase with nuclear arrestment
-cytoplasmic development
-meiotic resumption
1) What is the mitotic phase characterized by?
2) Describe the 5 steps of the mitotic phase* - Answer 1) mitosis of primordial germ cells and
oogonia
2) -mitotic active PGCs colonize the biopotential gonads of the developing fetus
-bipotential gonads differentiate into ovaries
-PGCs differentiate into oogonia
-oogonia continue to divide by mitosis until formation of primordial follicles
-mitotic divisions determine the size of the ovarian reserve of the female
1) What is the meiotic phase with nuclear arrest characterized by?
2) Describe the steps of the meiotic phase with nuclear arrest
3) Describe the formation of primordial follicles
4) Describe the formation of the germinal vesicle* - Answer 1) the onset of meiosis and
formation of primary oocytes
2) -formation of primordial follicles
,-oogonia enter meiosis 1 and are now called primary oocytes
-meiosis 1 is arrested at prophase 1 (4n primary oocytes)
-formation of germinal vesicle (large nucleus with arrested DNA highly packed)
3) -first layer of granulosa cells
-changes the environment of oogonias
4) -cell division remains arrested for a long period of time (meiosis is resumed only shortly
before ovulation)
-the purpose of the nuclear arrest is to inactivate DNA and protect it from insults during
lifetime, which could compromise developmental capacity
What is cytoplasmic development in oogenesis characterized by?* - Answer substantial
growth of the cytoplasm and formation of special cellular structures
1) Describe the steps in cytoplasmic development
2) Describe the oocytes being enclosed in primary and secondary follicles and undergoing
substantial growth of cytoplasm volume
3) Describe formation of the zona pellucida
4) Describe the formation of gap junctions between oocyte and granulosa cells in close
proximity* - Answer 1) -activation of primordial follicles
-oocytes enclosed in primary and secondary follicles undergo substantial growth of cytoplasm
volume
-formation of zona pellucida
-formation of gap junctions between oocyte and granulosa cells in close proximity
2) -promoted by granulosa cells
-accumulation of molecules that will be critical for early embryogenesis
3) -synthesized by the oocyte
-covers and protects the entire oocyte
-ZP proteins-important for fertilization
4) -cytoplasmic communication that crosses the zona pellucida
-critical for communication between the two cell types
1) What is meiotic resumption characterized by?
2) Describe the steps of meiotic resumption
3) Describe meiosis 1 being completed* - Answer 1) the resumption of meiosis 1 after LH
surge
2) -estradiol secreted by the preovulatory follicle has a positive feedback in the surge centre of
the hypothalamus and induces a surge of GnRH
,-the surge of GnRH reaches the pituitary and induces a surge of LH
-LH reaches the preovulatory follicle in the ovary(ies) and cause changes
-deterioration of gap junctions (reduction of oocyte cAMP>deactivation of kinases>activation of
MPF)
-meiosis 1 is completed
-onset of meiosis 2- arrested at the metaphase 2 stage
3) -asymmetric cytoplasmic division
-extrusion of first polar body
Describe crossing over in meiosis 1* - Answer -segments of one chromosome crossing-over to
a homologous chromosome, resulting in a random assortment of DNA segments between
chromatids and ensuring genetic diversity in daughter cells
-at the end of meiosis, each newly formed spermatid is genetically unique
-oocytes are ovulated shortly after crossing-over
-thus, control of the maternal immune system in the ovary is not as critical as the one observed
in the testes
After insemination (natural or artificial), the spermatozoa must?* - Answer 1) Transverse the
cervix
2) Go through the uterus to the oviducts (aided by uterus and oviducts contractions)
3) undergo capacitation
4) find the cumulus-oocyte complex (COC)
5) penetrate through cumulus cells and bind the zona pellucida
6) undergo the acrosome reaction
7) penetrate the zona pellucida
8) fuse with the oocyte plasma membrane
9) enter the oocyte cytoplasm and release the nucleus for decondensation and formation of
male pronucleus in the newly formed zygote
1) What are the general steps/areas the sperm has to traverse leading up to fertilization?
2) Describe immediate transport
3) Describe what happens in the cervix
4) Describe what happens in the uterus
5) Describe what happens in the oviduct
6) Describe fertilization* - Answer 1) -immediate transport
-cervix
-uterus
, -oviduct
-fertilization
2) -retrograde loss
-phagocytosis
-entrance into cervix/uterus
3) -'privileged pathways'
-removal of non-motile sperm
-removal of some abnormalities
4) -capacitation initiated
-phagocytosis
5) -capacitation completed
-hyperactive motility
6) -acrosome reaction
-spermatozoon penetrates oocyte
-male and female pronuclei form
When does insemination occur and what happens?* - Answer during estrus, when the female
reproductive tract is under influence of high concentrations of estradiol
-increased blood flow to the entire reproductive tract
-migration of neutrophils into the mucosa layers and lumen
-phagocytosis of foreign material (sperm and microorganisms)
-spermatozoal losses
-prevention of infections
1) The highly convoluted system of grooves within the cervix is a major barrier for?
2) During estrus, the cervix produces which two types of mucus?
3) Describe sulfomucin
4) Describe sialomucin
5) In species where ejaculation occurs in the cranial vagina, only sperm that are capable of?* -
Answer 1) spermatozoal transport, but it can also serve as a reservoir for spermatozoa
2) sulfomucin and sialomucin
3) -produced by epithelium in the apical portion of the cervical crypts
-greater viscosity
-wash sperm out the reproductive tract
4) -produced by epithelium in the basal portion of the cervical crypts
