Female Reproductive System Flashcards
What gene determines testis development in males?
SRY gene
What gene is important in ovarian development in females? What gene does this gene upregulate that is specific to female development?What male gene does it inhibit?
WNT4; NROB1 (DAX1); SOX9
What hormone drives development of male structures to develop in the embryo?
anti-mullerian hormone
The uterus, vagina, and cervix are formed from what paired ducts?
paramesonephric ducts (aka Mullerian ducts)
What does the SRY gene do?
It is responsible for making the protein that encodes for male sexual development; stands for “sex-determining region Y” as it is found only on the Y chromosome.
Examples of aneuploidy include all of the following except: A. Kleinfelter-like syndrome B. Freemartinism C. Turner-like syndroms D. XXX genotype
B. Freemartinism is chimerism, where XX/XY expression occurs in the female who is twin to a male. Kleinfelter’s syndrome is XXY, and Turner’s syndrome is X_.
A key diagnostic feature of freemartinism is:
presence of poorly developed vesicular glands attached to the lower fused segment of the paramesonephric ducts.
In freemartinism, this cell type is exchanged between the fetuses and allows tolerance for the other’s cells.
hematopoietic cells
The development of sterility in freemartin females is due to the transfer of _______ factors carried in the bloodstream via the placental anastomoses to the female gonad where it inhibits development.
testis-determining factors
What key diagnostic feature is indicative of freemartinism in this tissue?

paired vesicular glands are the key diagnostic feature of freemartinism
All of the following are found in freemartinism except:
A. Non-patent vagina
B. Paired vesicular glands
C. Enlarged clitoris
D. Normal estrogen production by the freemartin ovary
D. The freemartin ovary has a greatly reduced estrogen secretion due to inhibition by testis-determining factors entering the bloodstream from the male twin.
Cattle are the only species in which freemartinism occurs. True/False.
False. Other species have freemartins, but it is not as common.
The most common disorder of XY sexual development with female phenotype is:
A. XY, SRY+, ovarian DSD with female phenotype
B. XY, SRY+, testicular DSD with female phenotype
C.XY, SRY-, ovarian DSD with female phenotype
D. XY, SRY -, testicular DSD with female phenotype
B. XY, SRY +, testicular DSD with female phenotype. This is an XY genotype in which the SRY gene is present, abnormal development of the testes resulting in sterility or ovaries or ovotestes, and external female genitalia or hypoplastic male genitalia.
The XY SRY+, testicular DSD, female phenotype has a controlling mutation in what gene? What does this gene mutation cause? Why do these animals have no internal female genitalia?
TFM; produces androgen insensitivity where the normal production of testosterone by the testes is not recognized due to inadequate androgen receptors. Anti-mullerian hormone is still produced which suppresses the formation of internal uterine, vaginal and ovarian structures, though external genitalia is still female.
What is the diagnostic test for XY, SRY+, testicular DSD, female phenotype?
androgen receptor assay on labial skin
Cystic remnants of paramesonephric ducts are classified as what type of DSD?
A. XX, SRY+, ovarian DSD, female phenotype
B. XX, SRY-, ovarian DSD, female phenotype
C. XX, SRY -, testicular DSD, male phenotype
D. XX, SRY +, testicular DSD, male phenotype
B. These are ovarian DSD’s since the disorder results in ovarian tissue still as the paramesonephric ducts lead to female structure production. There are no XX, SRY+ in vet med (remember the SRY+ gene is found on the Y chromosome).
Polled intersex syndrome is found in what species? Are PIS homozygous, heterozygous or both affected by XX testicular/ovotesticular DSD?
goat; only the PIS homozygous have the DSD disorder which can result in either testicles or ovotesticles in an XX female. The heterozygous is what produces only the polled phenotype with no change in sexual development.
Causes of ovarian remnant syndrome are most likely:
A. surgical remnants
B. congenital remnants
A. surgical remnants. No evidence of congenital remnant ovarian tissue.
Where is ectopic adrenal tissue normally found?
A. broad ligament
B. suspensory ligament
C. serosal surface of the urinary bladder
D. ovarian fimbriae
B. suspensory ligament is the where ectopic adrenal tissue is normally found, also the ovarian capsule in horses and ovarian tunic
Cystic mesonephric tubule remnants are common in this species ________ and are composed of this cell type in the wall ________.
horse; smooth muscle
Cystic rete are common in the ______ and __________, arise from the _______ __________, and are most common in the ______ region of the ovary. The do not have ______ ________ in their walls, and tend to compress ovarian tissues and compromise ovarian function as opposed to the cystic remnants of mesonephric tubules.
dog and cat; rete ovarii; hilar; smooth muscle
Fimbrial cysts derive from the paramesonephric duct and are most common in what species?
horse
Where are mesonephric duct remnants found compared to mesonephric tubule remnants? What about paramesonephric duct remnants?
Mesonephric duct remnants are found along the lateral side of the uterine tubes, uterine horns, uterine body, cervix and cranial vagina; they are remnants of Wolffian ducts and should regress in females. Mesonephric tube remnants are found near the cranial or caudal poles of the ovary. Paramesonephric ducts give rise to the uterine horns, uterine body and cervix when they fuse together, so remnants are located in these organs, i.e fimbrial cysts and segmental aplasia of the uterine horns as well as double uterine bodies (haven’t fused together).
All of the following apply to an imperforate hymen except:
A. They are most common in cows and dogs
B. They are the result of failure of fusion of the paramesonephric ducts
C. They form a longitudinal band cranial to the urethral orifice
D. They lead to severe uterine atony or pyometra if they are complete
E. They are found in animals with genital tract abnormalities that make them unfit for breeding
E. these animals frequently have a normal genital tract except for this defect and if the imperforate hymen is relieved it can usually function normally










