I gave my last exam of the semester yesterday, which included two questions for extra credit.
The first question said, Assume that a woman could be an "on-demand" ovulator like a rabbit, in which copulation stimulates the hypothalamic-anterior pituitary axis and causes LH release. Due to the LH release, an oocyte was ovulated and fertilized on day 26 of her 28 day cycle. Why would a successful pregnancy be unlikely at this point.
Most people tried to answer the question. They probably thought about the question with respect to the uterine cycle (or at least I hoped they did) and if nothing else, realized that at day 26, so close to the end of the cycle, the endometrium would be almost ready to be shed, resulting in menstruation. Even if the fertilized oocyte successfully made it to the uterus to implant itself, we have to figure in the travel time it takes to get from the uterine tube to the uterus. The journey takes more than two days; by the time the oocyte would make it to its destination, the lining would have already been shed. Hence, the likelihood of pregnancy is slim to none.
I could go deeper into the best response and talk about the hormone levels at this point in the cycle, but the topic would be rather boring for you (as if this hasn't already bored you to tears). Had the students studied everything I taught them, they'd have gotten the answer right. But they didn't. Most attempted to write some gobblygook, and I had a grand time trying to figure out exactly what they meant.
Except for one student, who so honestly and eloquently wrote, I am not sure why a successful pregnancy would be unlikely. It is what it is, they say.
Thank you, student. Thank you. If this man is on the line between grades, I might just push him up to the higher one.
The first question said, Assume that a woman could be an "on-demand" ovulator like a rabbit, in which copulation stimulates the hypothalamic-anterior pituitary axis and causes LH release. Due to the LH release, an oocyte was ovulated and fertilized on day 26 of her 28 day cycle. Why would a successful pregnancy be unlikely at this point.
Most people tried to answer the question. They probably thought about the question with respect to the uterine cycle (or at least I hoped they did) and if nothing else, realized that at day 26, so close to the end of the cycle, the endometrium would be almost ready to be shed, resulting in menstruation. Even if the fertilized oocyte successfully made it to the uterus to implant itself, we have to figure in the travel time it takes to get from the uterine tube to the uterus. The journey takes more than two days; by the time the oocyte would make it to its destination, the lining would have already been shed. Hence, the likelihood of pregnancy is slim to none.
I could go deeper into the best response and talk about the hormone levels at this point in the cycle, but the topic would be rather boring for you (as if this hasn't already bored you to tears). Had the students studied everything I taught them, they'd have gotten the answer right. But they didn't. Most attempted to write some gobblygook, and I had a grand time trying to figure out exactly what they meant.
Except for one student, who so honestly and eloquently wrote, I am not sure why a successful pregnancy would be unlikely. It is what it is, they say.
Thank you, student. Thank you. If this man is on the line between grades, I might just push him up to the higher one.
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