Chapter 19 - Female Reproductive System

Question 1

Which of the following statements concerning secondary ovarian follicles is true?
(A) They lack liquor folliculi.
(B) They contain a secondary oocyte.
(C) Their continued maturation requires
follicle-stimulating hormone.
(D) They lack a theca externa.
(E) They have a single layer of cuboidal
follicular cells surrounding the oocyte.

Answer 1

C. Secondary follicles depend on follicle-stimulating hormone for their continued development. They are established when liquor folliculi (an ultrafiltrate of plasma and granulosa cell secretions) begins to accumulate among the granulosa cells. Secondary follicles contain a primary oocyte blocked in the prophase of meiosis I (see Chapter 19 II B 1 b).

Question 2

Colostrum contains which of the following antibodies?
(A) IgA
(B) IgD
(C) IgE
(D) IgG
(E) IgM

Answer 2

A. IgA antibodies are present in colostrum and milk. IgG antibodies are acquired by the fetus by placental transfer from the mother (see Chapter 19 X D 1).

Question 3

Which of the following statements concerning the corpus luteum is true?
(A) It produces LH.
(B) It produces FSH.
(C) It derives its granulosa luteal cells from the theca externa.
(D) It becomes the corpus albicans.
(E) It is derived from atretic follicles.

Answer 3

D. A corpus albicans is formed from a corpus luteum that has ceased to function. LH and FSH are both produced in the anterior pituitary gland. Granulosa luteal cells are derived from the granulosa cells of an ovulated graafian follicle (see Chapter 19 II B 4).

Question 4

LH exerts which one of the following physiological effects?
(A) It triggers completion of the second meiotic division by secondary oocytes.
(B) It triggers ovulation.
(C) It suppresses release of estrogens.
(D) It induces primary follicles to become
secondary follicles.
(E) It induces primordial follicles to become primary follicles.

Answer 4

B. A sudden surge of LH near the middle of the menstrual cycle triggers ovulation (see Chapter 19 II D 1 d).

Question 5

The basal layer of the uterine endometrium
(A) is sloughed during menstruation.
(B) has no glands.
(C) is supplied by coiled arteries.
(D) is supplied by straight arteries.
(E) is avascular.

Answer 5

D. The basal layer of the uterine endometrium is supplied by the straight arteries and contains the deeper portions of the uterine glands. Cells from these glands reepithelialize the endometrial surface after the functional layer (supplied by the coiled arteries) has been sloughed (see Chapter 19 IVA 1 b).

Question 6

One of the recognized phases of the menstrual cycle is termed the
(A) gestational phase.
(B) active phase.
(C) follicular phase.
(D) resting phase.
(E) anaphase.

Answer 6

C. The recognized phases of the menstrual cycle are the follicular (proliferative), secretory (luteal), and menstrual phases. The mammary glands are characterized by active (lactating) and resting phases. The term gestational phase refers to pregnancy (see Chapter 19 IV B 3).

Question 7

During the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle, the functional layer of the endometrium undergoes which of the following changes?
(A) Blood vessels become ischemic.
(B) The epithelium is renewed.
(C) The stroma swells because of edema.
(D) Glands become coiled.
(E) Blood vessels break down.

Answer 7

B. During the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle, the entire functional layer of the endometrium is renewed, including the epithelium lining the surface and glands. Edema in the stroma and coiled glands is characteristic of the secretory phase of the cycle, and ischemia is responsible for the menstrual phase (see Chapter 19 IV B 2).

Question 8

Which of the following statements concerning the vaginal mucosa is true?
(A) It is lined by stratified columnar epithelium.
(B) It is lined by stratified squamous keratinized epithelium.
(C) It possesses no elastic fibers.
(D) It is lubricated by glands in the cervix.
(E) Its cells secrete lactic acid.

Answer 8

D. The vagina lacks glands and is lubricated by secretions from cervical glands. It is lined by a stratified squamous nonkeratinized epithelium with cells that release glycogen, which is used by the normal bacterial flora of the vagina to manufacture lactic acid (see Chapter 19 VIII A 3).

Question 9

Which of the following statements concerning the oviduct is true?
(A) It is lined by a simple cuboidal epithelium.
(B) Its epithelium contains peg cells.
(C) It functions in nourishing trilaminar germ discs.
(D) Fertilization most often occurs in its fimbriated portion.
(E) Its epithelium contains goblet cells.

Answer 9

B. The oviduct is lined by a simple columnar epithelium composed of ciliated cells and peg cells but no goblet cells. Fertilization most often occurs in the ampulla of the oviduct, not in the infundibulum, where fimbriae are located. Under normal circumstances, the trilaminar germ disk stage occurs after the blastocyst is implanted in the wall of the uterus, and is not present in the oviduct (see Chapter 19 III A l).

Question 10

Which one of the following teratomas is a malignant, fast-growing tumor?
(A) Mature teratoma
(B) Monodermal teratoma (C) Immature teratoma (D) Struma ovarii
(E) Ovarian carcinoid

Answer 10

C. Immature teratomas are fast-growing malignant tumors. The other teratomas listed are usually benign, but even those that do become malignant are slow growing (see Chapter 19 VI B 4).