Poultry Judging Practice Test

Which structure is responsible for the synthesis of the shell of the egg?

1. Infundibulum

2. Magnum

3. Uterus

4. Isthmus

The correct answer is: Uterus

The correct answer is the uterus because this is the specific part of a hen's reproductive system responsible for forming the hard shell of the egg. The uterus, often referred to as the shell gland, contains special glands that secrete the calcium carbonate and other materials that make up the eggshell. In the context of egg formation, the uterus is the final stage in the process, where the egg, after passing through earlier regions of the reproductive tract, is encased in its protective shell just before being laid. The infundibulum is the initial part of the oviduct that captures the egg yolk, the magnum is responsible for albumen (egg white) formation, and the isthmus contributes to forming the inner and outer shell membranes, but none of these structures are involved in shell synthesis like the uterus.