3 - Female Reproductive Tract Flashcards
The female reproductive tract is made up of a series of interlinking…
Tissues and tubes found in the lower abdomen, separated from the rectum by the rectogenital pouch
In the mare, the proximity of the rectum to the cervix allows for what?
Rectal palpations for pregnancy detection, identifying ovarian structures
Major components of the female reproductive tract
Vulva, vagina, cervix, uterine horns, ovaries
What is the broad ligament
Tissue holding the reproductive tract to the abdomen wall
Three components of the broad ligament
Mesovarium, Mesosalpinx and mesometrium
What is the mesovarium
Houses the vascular supply, lymphatic drainage and nerves for the ovary
Forms the ovarian stem (hilus)
What is the mesosalpinx
Thin, transparent segment of the BL that supports the oviduct
Forms a pouch around the ovary (bursa)
What is the mesometrium
Largest portion of BL, supports the uterine horns (suspended from the dorsal body wall)
Hilus vs bursa
Hilus is part of the mesovarium, forms the ovarian stem
Bursa is part of the mesosalpinx, forms a pouch around the ovary
What is the utero-ovarian ligament
Attaches the ovary and uterus, but is not part of the BL
Seven primary ovarian structures
- Primordial follicle
- Primary follicle
- Secondary follicle
- Tertiary follicle
- Antral follicle
- Corpus luteum
- Corpus albicans
Two sections of the ovary are… How do they differ in mares
The cortex (outside) and the medulla (inside)
In mares, the medulla is the external part and the cortex is on the inside
Antral follicle aka
Graafian follicle
Components of a pre-ovulatory (antral) follicle…
Oocyte, corona radiata, cumulus oophorus, granulosa cells, basement membrane, theca interna, theca externa, antrum
slide 13***
Four layers of the female tract “tubing”
Serosa, muscularis, submucosa, mucosa
What is the serosa
Outer layer, single layer of flat cells that cover the female tract
What is the muscularis
Double layer of smooth muscle (outer longitudinal and inner circular layers)
Allows tissues to contract
What is the submucosa
Houses blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics
Supporting layer for the mucosa
What is the mucosa
Secretory layer of epithelium in lumen of the reproductive tract
Properties and role varies for each segment in the tract
Slide 15**
Tubing
Five components of the oviduct
Infundibulum, ampulla, ampullary-isthmic junction, isthmus, uterotubal junction
What is the infundibulum
Funnel shaped opening closes over the ovary
Forms “pocket” around the ovary
Has fimbriae
What is the ampulla
“upper half” of the oviduct
larger diameter and ciliated mucosa to transport oocytes to point of fertilization
What is the ampullary-isthmic junction
Site of fertilization
What is the isthmus
“Lower half” of the oviduct attached to the uterus
Small diameter tube that transports sperm to AIJ and transports embryos to the uterus
What is the uterotubal junction
UTJ
Junction of the uterus & oviduct
Sperm reservoir
Slide 17***
Oviduct
Function of the oviduct
transport oocyte to uterus, site for fertilization
What determines the role the uterus plays?
What stage of the female cycle we are in
What rolls does the uterus have?
- Sperm transport to the oviduct
- Maintain pre-implantation embryo
- Maternal portion of placenta (transfer of nutrients to fetus)
- Expulsion of fetus and fetal placenta
Three layers of uterus tissue
Perimetrium
Myometrium
Endometrium
What is the perimetrium
External layer that connects to the mesometrium of the BL
What is the myometrium
Muscle layers of the uterus
Facilitates uterine contractions (sperm transport post-coital, expulsion of fetus & placenta during parturition)
What is the endometrium
Cells lining the uterine lumen
Roles vary with female cycle
- secretions that enhance sperm and embryo survival
- Signals if pregnancy has been achieved
- maternal portion of placenta & transfer of nutrients to fetus
Slide 20
Uterus diagram
What is a duplex uterus, e.g.
One with two cervices (marsupials, rabbits)
Having a duplex uterus means what?
Female can produce offspring from different males
What is a bicornuate uterus, e.g.?
Uterus with poorly developed uterine horns e.g. cow, mare
Or highly developed uterine horns e.g. bitch, queen, sow
Monotocous vs polytocous
Mono = one offspring (egg) at a time
Poly = multiple offspring at a time
What is a simplex uterus, e.g.
No uterine horns e.g. primate
What are caruncles, in what animals are they found
Attachment site of placenta in ruminants (ewe, cow, goat)
Instead of caruncles, sows have…
folds
What is the cervix
Thick walled segment of female system that separates the internal tract from the external tract
Two forms of cervical lumens, and examples
Single fold (bitch, queen)
Multiple folds (sow, ewe, cow and mare)
What is the role of the cervix in copulation
Cow, ewe, bitch and queen = reservoir/barrier to sperm transport
Sow & mare = site of semen deposition
What is the function of the cervix in pregnancy
Mucus plug conserves the sterile uterine environment
Slides 28, 29
Cervix
What is the vagina
Copulatory organ of the female
Site of semen deposition (cow, ewe, bitch, queen)
Slide 31 image
What effects the secretions of the mucosa of the vagina? What is the role
Influenced by estrus cycle
Lubricate and protect the vaginal wall
Types of uteruses
- duplex
- bicornuate (poorly or highly developed horns)
- simplex
