Biology 12 Excretion and Reproduction
Potential Written Test Questions
1. Compare the sexual anatomy of human males with the sexual anatomy of human
females with respect to the structure and function of gonads, gametes, ducts, and
accessory glands.
2. Describe the pathway that a sperm travels from site of spermatogenesis to site of
ejaculation.
3. Describe the pathway that an ovum travels from site of oogenesis to site of potential
implantation.
4. Describe the primary and secondary sexual characteristics of males. Name the glands
and their respective hormones that are involved in promoting and maintaining male
sexual characteristics. Illustrate how this is a homeostatic mechanism.
5. Describe the primary and secondary sexual characteristics of females. Name the glands
and their respective hormones that are involved in promoting and maintaining female
sexual characteristics. Illustrate how this is a homeostatic mechanism.
6. Name the molecular components of seminal fluid and state a function for each
molecule in the reproductive system.
7. Describe the idealized 28 day ovarian/ uterine cycle in human females. Include the
structural changes in the ovaries and the structural changes in the uterus over the 28 day
cycle, and describe the cyclic fluctuations in FSH, LH, progesterone and estrogen levels.
8. Describe the immediate events that happen in the human female after the sperm has
fertilized the ovum. Include the origin, structure and function of the placenta; the role of
HCG; and the changes in the ovarian/ uterine cycle.
9. Name four organs of the excretory system, their respective products and the name of
the process that forms the product in the human body.
10. Name four organs of the urinary system and describe their respective structure and
function.
11. Describe in detail the four homeostatic functions of the human kidney.
12. Describe in detail the process of pressure filtration, focusing on structures and
functions in the human urinary and circulatory systems.
13. Describe in detail the process of selective reabsorption, focusing on structures and
functions in the human urinary and circulatory systems.
14. Describe in detail the process of tubular excretion, focusing on structures and
functions in the human urinary and circulatory systems.
15. Describe in detail the process of urine concentration, focusing on structures and
functions in the human urinary and circulatory systems.
16. Name, state the location of, and briefly describe the purpose of each of the four
stages of urine formation.
17. In response to low water volume in the blood, describe the homeostatic process that
the hypothalamus and posterior pituitary gland will engage in to raise water volume in the
blood.
18. In response to low blood pressure, describe the homeostatic process that the kidney
and adrenal cortex will engage in to raise blood volume and therefore blood pressure.
19. In response to high blood pressure, describe the homeostatic process that the atria of
the heart, kidney and adrenal cortex will engage in to lower blood volume and therefore
blood pressure.
20. Describe in detail how the counter-current mechanism works in the ascending and
descending loop of Henle with respect to the reabsorption of water out of the nephron and
into the blood vessel.