HIGH-YIELD SYSTEMS

Reproductive

  Embryology

  Anatomy

  Physiology

  Pathology

  Pharmacology

“Artificial insemination is when the farmer does it to the cow instead of the bull.”

—Student essay

“Whoever called it necking was a poor judge of anatomy.”

—Groucho Marx

“See, the problem is that God gives men a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time.”

—Robin Williams

“I think you can say that life is a system in which proteins and nucleic acids interact in ways that allow the structure to grow and reproduce. It’s that growth and reproduction, the ability to make more of yourself, that’s important.”

—Andrew H. Knoll

The reproductive system can be intimidating at first but is manageable once you organize the concepts into the pregnancy, endocrinologic, embryologic, and oncologic aspects of reproduction. Study the endocrine and reproductive chapters together, because mastery of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is key to answering questions on ovulation, menstruation, disorders of sexual development, contraception, and many pathologies.

Embryology is a nuanced subject that covers multiple organ systems. Approaching it from a clinical perspective will allow for better understanding. For instance, make the connection between the presentation of DiGeorge syndrome and the 3rd/4th branchial pouch, and between the Müllerian/Wolffian systems and disorders of sexual development.

As for oncology, don’t worry about remembering screening or treatment guidelines. It is more important to know how these cancers present (eg, hormonal derangements, signs, and symptoms), their histologic pathology, and their underlying risk factors. In addition, some of the testicular and ovarian cancers have distinct patterns of hCG, AFP, LH, or FSH derangement that make good clues in exam questions.

  REPRODUCTIVE–EMBRYOLOGY

  REPRODUCTIVE–ANATOMY

  REPRODUCTIVE–PSYCHOLOGY

  REPRODUCTIVE–PATHOLOGY

  REPRODUCTIVE–PHARMACOLOGY

  NOTES