Name in order the structures a sperm cell passes through from where it is made to where it leaves the body.

It passes from the seminiferous tubules of the testis into the epididymis, where it is stored and gains motility, then along the vas deferens, through the ejaculatory duct and out along the urethra.

How does the route by which urine leaves the body differ between the male and the female?

In the male the urethra is a shared duct carrying both urine and semen, whereas in the female the urinary and reproductive tracts open separately.

Name in order the parts of the female tract that a secondary oocyte passes along after ovulation.

It is swept from the ovary surface into the oviduct, travels along the oviduct and enters the uterus, whose lower opening is the cervix leading to the vagina.

OCR A-Level Biology B H422

The Developing Cell: Cell Division and Cell Differentiation

Topic overview The cell cycle and mitosis Apoptosis in growth and repair Stem cells and cell differentiation

The Developing Individual: Meiosis, Growth and Development

Topic overview Meiosis, haploid gametes and genetic variation The stages of meiosis Antenatal care and diet in pregnancy Alcohol, smoking and monitoring fetal growth Prenatal screening and karyotypes

The Development of Species: Evolution and Classification

Topic overview Classification and the species concept Evidence for classification and DNA barcoding Phylogenetic trees, hominids and the evolution of language Human adaptations, natural selection and evolution Plant adaptations and how they are investigated Measuring biodiversity and genetic diversity

Cells and Microscopy

Topic overview Microscopy and the cell theory Blood smears, staining and microscope drawings Blood cells and their structure Magnification and measuring cells Haemocytometer cell counts and dilutions Flow cytometry in blood analysis Ultrastructure of the animal cell Plant and prokaryotic cells Membrane lipids and the fluid mosaic model Movement of molecules across membranes The roles of membranes and the secretion of proteins

Water and Its Importance in Plants and Animals

Topic overview The properties of water Water as a transport medium and the composition of body fluids Detecting and measuring sugars and proteins Monomers, polymers and the carbohydrates Osmosis and water potential

Proteins and Enzymes

Topic overview Amino acids, peptide bonds and chromatography Globular protein structure: enzymes and haemoglobin Enzyme action and the rate of reaction Blood clotting and first aid Enzymes and inhibitors in medicine Blood donation and stored blood products

Nucleic Acids

Topic overview Nucleotides, ADP and ATP The structure of DNA and its extraction DNA replication and the genetic code RNA, transcription and translation

Patterns of Inheritance

Topic overview Monogenic inheritance and genetic terminology Gene mutations and inherited disease Codominance, multiple alleles and linkage Model organisms, dihybrid crosses and the chi-squared test Chromosome mutations and genetic counselling

Population Genetics and Epigenetics

Topic overview Natural selection, sickle cell and malaria The Hardy-Weinberg principle Genetic drift, the founder effect and speciation Epigenetics and gene expression

Gene Technologies

Topic overview Post-Transcriptional Editing of mRNA Genetic modification of bacteria and insulin production The polymerase chain reaction and gel electrophoresis Haplotypes, SNPs, VNTRs and genetic engineering in eukaryotes Gene therapy and RNA interference

The Principles and Importance of Homeostasis

Topic overview Homeostatic principles, normal ranges and feedback The nervous and hormonal control of heart rate The control of body temperature and the role of thyroxine Measuring core body temperature, hypothermia and hyperthermia

The Hormonal Control of Blood Glucose and the Management of Diabetes

Topic overview The pancreas as an endocrine gland The regulation of blood glucose by negative feedback Types of diabetes and diagnostic testing Treating and managing diabetes

Kidney Functions and Malfunctions

Topic overview Excretion and the gross structure of the kidney The nephron: ultrafiltration and selective reabsorption Investigating the composition of urine, plasma and filtrate Osmoregulation and the action of ADH The kidney as an endocrine gland and kidney failure Dialysis, transplantation and the future of transplant surgery

The Cellular Basis of Cancer and Treatment

Topic overview Risk factors for non-communicable disease Cell cycle control and tumour formation Proto-oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes Epidemiological evidence, screening and genetic testing Methods used to detect cancer Treating patients with cancer

Respiratory Diseases and Treatment

Topic overview Pollutants and the respiratory system COPD, asthma and lung cancer Treating asthma and medicinal drugs from plants Clinical trials and the role of NICE

Cellular Respiration

Topic overview Glycolysis and the link reaction The Krebs cycle Oxidative phosphorylation and anaerobic respiration Respiratory substrates and respiratory quotients Measuring the rate of respiration

Metabolism and Exercise

Topic overview The consequences of exercise on the body Aerobic fitness and VO₂ max Training, F.I.T.T. factors and investigating fitness Enhancing athletic performance Haemoglobin and the transport of oxygen Oxygen dissociation curves of different respiratory pigments Oxygen deficit and oxygen debt The structure of skeletal muscle The sliding filament theory of muscle contraction

Pathogenic Microorganisms

Topic overview How pathogens cause communicable disease Tuberculosis HIV, AIDS and the structure of the virus Identifying bacteria: Gram staining and culture Epidemiology: incidence, prevalence and mortality Notifiable diseases and the control of HIV and TB

The Immune System

Topic overview Primary defences and non-specific responses B and T lymphocytes and the specific response Antibodies and testing for TB and HIV Types of immunity and allergy

Controlling Communicable Diseases

Topic overview Vaccination and vaccination programmes Problems and ethics of vaccine development and use Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance Investigating antibiotics, disinfectants and hygiene

Photosynthesis, Food Production and Management of the Environment

Topic overview Chloroplast ultrastructure and photosynthetic pigments The light-dependent stage of photosynthesis The Calvin cycle Investigating the factors affecting photosynthesis The Hill reaction and DCPIP Using TP and GP to build carbohydrates, lipids and amino acids The compensation point and crop production Microorganisms, the nitrogen cycle and biosensors Biomass transfer and efficiency in food production Ruminants in the human food chain Farms as ecosystems and the conflict with conservation Deflected succession and measuring biodiversity

The Impact of Population Increase

Topic overview Birth rate, death rate and demographic change Human impact on ecosystems and biodiversity The importance and measurement of species biodiversity Global food security and sustainable food production

Planning and Implementing Practical Work

Topic overview Designing an investigation and controlling variables Choosing apparatus and judging whether a method will work Implementing: apparatus, units and recording results

Analysing and Evaluating Practical Results

Topic overview Processing and interpreting experimental results Mathematical skills for analysing biological data Significant figures and reporting values Plotting and interpreting graphs Anomalies, limitations and refining a procedure Precision, accuracy and uncertainty

Practical Skills, Apparatus and Techniques

Topic overview Investigative approaches and working safely Following instructions, recording and presenting data Research, referencing and processing data with software Measuring mass, volume, time, temperature, length and pH Colorimeters and potometers Laboratory glassware and serial dilutions Light microscopy, graticules and biological drawing Qualitative reagents for biological molecules Chromatography and electrophoresis Aseptic technique and dissection Whole-organism responses, fieldwork sampling and data logging

Fertility and Assisted Reproduction

Topic overview The urinogenital systems and gonad histology Gametogenesis and the structure of the gametes Hormonal control of gametogenesis and the menstrual cycle Fertilisation and pregnancy testing The causes and issues of infertility Assisted reproduction techniques

The Effects of Ageing on the Reproductive System

Topic overview Ageing and the female reproductive system Managing the menopause Ageing and the male urinogenital system

Plant Reproduction

Topic overview The control of flowering Adaptations of flowers for pollination Fertilisation, seed formation and germination Cereals as staple foods

The Nervous System and the Identification and Consequences of Damage

Topic overview Organisation of the nervous system and nervous tissue The structure and function of the human brain The structure of motor, sensory and relay neurones Resting potential and the action potential Synapses and the integration of responses Reflexes, reaction times and their investigation Brain scans and the consequences of nervous system damage Drugs, brain function and dependency

Monitoring Visual Function

Topic overview The structure of the eye The retina and its role as a transducer Assessing visual function by routine eye tests

The Effect of Ageing on the Nervous System

Topic overview Alzheimer's disease: symptoms and causes The effects of ageing on the senses and memory Investigating ageing, reaction times and memory

The Heart and Monitoring Heart Function

Topic overview The need for a mass transport system Structure and dissection of the mammalian heart The cardiac cycle Initiation and coordination of the heartbeat Heart rate, pulse rate and cardiac output Electrocardiograms and emergency cardiac treatment

Transport Systems in Mammals

Topic overview The closed double circulatory system Blood vessels and their microscopic structure Tissue fluid and capillary exchange Measuring and interpreting blood pressure

Gas Exchange in Mammals and Plants

Topic overview Tissues of the mammalian gas exchange system Gas exchange in the alveoli Pulmonary ventilation and lung volumes Expired air resuscitation Gas exchange and stomata in terrestrial plants

Transport Systems in Plants

Topic overview The need for transport systems in plants Vascular tissue in roots, stems and leaves Water uptake and movement through the plant Transpiration and Its Measurement Translocation in the Phloem

Fertility and Assisted Reproduction

6 subtopics
18 things to know
Components 01, 02 and 03

What Fertility and Assisted Reproduction covers

Fertility and Assisted Reproduction is examined in all three written papers — the specification states that Components 01, 02 and 03 can each assess content from any of the five modules, so nothing is confined to one paper. It covers the urinogenital systems and gonad histology, Gametogenesis and the structure of the gametes, hormonal control of gametogenesis and the menstrual cycle, fertilisation and pregnancy testing, the causes and issues of infertility and Assisted reproduction techniques.

Where it is assessed

Components 01, 02 and 03

Every module can be assessed on any of the three papers.

Check the OCR specification ↗

The 6 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

Which three accessory glands add their secretions to semen, and what does each contribute?

Key term

What causes the mid-cycle surge of LH?

Key term

Why is fertilisation essential for keeping the chromosome number constant between generations?

Key term

How does a blocked vas deferens cause infertility, and what would a semen sample show?

Process

Outline the main stages of IVF.

Key term

Why is mitosis needed in spermatogenesis as well as meiosis?

Key term

Why are the testes held in the scrotum rather than inside the abdomen?

Key term

Name the two cells produced when a primary oocyte completes meiosis I.

Key term

Which hormone from the hypothalamus controls the release of FSH and LH?

Key term

Describe the cortical reaction and state when it occurs.

Key term

What is meant by an ovulatory disorder?

Key term

How does an anti-oestrogen drug such as clomifene increase FSH secretion?

Key term

How does the oviduct move the oocyte towards the uterus?

Evaluation

What is the biological advantage of the unequal cytokinesis seen in oogenesis?

Key term

What role does testosterone play in spermatogenesis?

Key term

Why would polyspermy be fatal to the embryo?

Key term

Why do blocked oviducts prevent pregnancy?

Key term

Give one serious risk of ovulation induction and explain how it is reduced.

Take Fertility and Assisted Reproduction further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

Primary oocyte vs Secondary oocyte
Primary oocyte: the diploid cell present in the ovary from before birth, held arrested in prophase I for decades until its follicle is recruited. Secondary oocyte: the haploid cell arrested in metaphase II that is actually released at ovulation, completing meiosis only if a sperm penetrates it.
Sertoli cells vs Interstitial (Leydig) cells
Sertoli cells: the cells inside the seminiferous tubules that nourish and support the developing sperm and secrete inhibin. Interstitial (Leydig) cells: the cells lying in the tissue between the tubules that secrete testosterone when stimulated by LH.
Acrosome reaction vs Cortical reaction
Acrosome reaction: the release of hydrolytic enzymes from the vesicle over the sperm nucleus, digesting a path through the glycoprotein coat of the oocyte. Cortical reaction: the release of enzymes from vesicles beneath the oocyte membrane as soon as the first sperm fuses, altering that coat so no further sperm can enter.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
Name in order the structures a sperm cell passes through from where it is made to where it leaves the body.
Model answer
It passes from the seminiferous tubules of the testis into the epididymis, where it is stored and gains motility, then along the vas deferens, through the ejaculatory duct and out along the urethra.
2
Why are the testes held in the scrotum rather than inside the abdomen?
Model answer
The scrotum keeps them about 2–3 °C below core body temperature, which is the optimum for spermatogenesis; at core temperature sperm production is impaired.
3
Which three accessory glands add their secretions to semen, and what does each contribute?
Model answer
The seminal vesicles add an alkaline fluid containing fructose as a respiratory substrate for the sperm, which neutralises acid in the vagina, the prostate gland adds a thin, slightly acidic secretion containing enzymes that help the semen become liquid, and the bulbourethral glands add mucus that lubricates the urethra.
4
How does the route by which urine leaves the body differ between the male and the female?
Model answer
In the male the urethra is a shared duct carrying both urine and semen, whereas in the female the urinary and reproductive tracts open separately.
5
Name in order the parts of the female tract that a secondary oocyte passes along after ovulation.
Model answer
It is swept from the ovary surface into the oviduct, travels along the oviduct and enters the uterus, whose lower opening is the cervix leading to the vagina.
6
How does the oviduct move the oocyte towards the uterus?
Model answer
Finger-like fimbriae sweep the oocyte into the funnel, and cilia lining the oviduct beat while its smooth muscle undergoes peristalsis, carrying the oocyte along.

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The Developing Cell: Cell Division and Cell Differentiation

The Developing Individual: Meiosis, Growth and Development

The Development of Species: Evolution and Classification

Cells and Microscopy

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measles and .

tuberculosismalariacholera

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ABrain tissue is metabolically expensive.

BA high-quality diet is needed to sustain it.

CThe large head makes birth difficult.

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Core body temperature is normally about 37 °C.

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Fertility and Assisted Reproduction revision questions

What does Fertility and Assisted Reproduction cover in OCR A-Level Biology B?: 6 subtopics: the urinogenital systems and gonad histology, gametogenesis and the structure of the gametes, hormonal control of gametogenesis and the menstrual cycle, fertilisation and pregnancy testing, the causes and issues of infertility and assisted reproduction techniques. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
How is Fertility and Assisted Reproduction organised?: By the OCR H422 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.

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