AAP Reproductive System 2 Flashcards

1
Q

What are the structures of the female reproductive system?

A
  • ligaments
  • ovaries
  • oviducts
  • uterus
  • cervix
  • vagina
  • vulva
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2
Q

What is the function of the ligaments in the reproductive system?

A
  • suspend ovaries, oviducts and uterus
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3
Q

What are the types of ligaments in the reproductive system?

A
  • broad ligaments –> sheets of peritoneum
  • round ligament of the uterus –> fibrous tissue and smooth muscle in lateral fold of the broad ligament on each side
  • suspensory ligament of the ovary –> secure ovary to lateral walls of the pelvis
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4
Q

What are the ovaries?

A
  • female gonads
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5
Q

Where are the ovaries located?

A
  • they lie on each side of the dorsal part of the abdominal cavity, caudal to the kidneys
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6
Q

What are the functions of the ovaries?

A
  • to produce ova/eggs

- to act as an endocrine gland –> secretes the hormone oestrogen and progesterone

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7
Q

What do oestrogen and progesterone do (basic)?

A
  • maintain female secondary sexual characteristics
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8
Q

What are the oviducts?

A
  • AKA uterine/fallopian tubes
  • small tubes extending from the tips of the uterine horns
  • finger-like projections at the tip known as fimbriae which capture the ovum released from ovaries
  • oviduct also provides a site for fertilization
  • cilia inside the uterine tube slowly move the fertilized ova towards the uterus (takes 3-4 days)
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9
Q

What is the uterus (structure)?

A
  • Y-shaped structure
  • uterine body forms the base of the Y
  • uterine horns form the arms
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10
Q

What are the layers of the uterus?

A
  • endometrium: inner mucosal layer (secretes mucus & other substances, allows for implantation of a fertilized egg)
  • Myometrium: middle layers of smooth muscle
  • Perimetrium: outer visceral layer of peritoneum
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11
Q

What are the functions of the uterus?

A
  • provide a site where the embryos can develop into a new animal
  • provide the means whereby the developing embryos can receive nutrition from the mother –> via the placenta
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12
Q

What is the cervix?

A
  • a short, thick-walled muscular sphincter, which connects the uterine body with the vagina
  • the lumen of the cervix is known as the cervical canal
  • it is normally tightly closed and dilates only to allow the passage of sperm, or foetus during birth
  • during pregnancy, the canal is blocked by a mucous plug which protects the embryos from infection
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13
Q

What is the vagina?

A
  • the tube that leads to the external opening
  • receives penis at breeding
  • serves as the birth canal at birth
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14
Q

What is the vulva?

A
  • the external part of the female reproductive system

- other structures such as the clitoris and labia are found in this area

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15
Q

What is the ovarian cycle?

A
  • ovum is not constantly produced in the ovary

- their production involves a complex sequence of events in a repeating fashion –> this is known as the ovarian cycle

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16
Q

What are uniparous species?

A
  • one mature ovum produced per cycle

- e.g. horse, cow, human

17
Q

What are multiparous species?

A
  • multiple ova produced per cycle

- cat, dog, sow

18
Q

Describe the ovarian cycle.

A
  • the primary follicle, which is an immature oocyte (ovum/egg cell) is surrounded by a layer of follicular cells
  • the development of follicle cells are stimulated by follicle stimulating hormone (AKA FSH)
  • follicular cells thicken and multiply into multiple layers (known as granulosa cells)
  • follicle grows rapidly as granulosa cells multiply
  • granulosa cells produce increasing amounts of oestrogen as follicle becomes larger
  • fluid-filled spaces form between granulosa cells
  • spaces gradually merge into one large fluid-filled space (known as antrum)
  • when follicle reached its maximum size, its called a mature follicle
  • looks like a large blister-like structure on the surface of the ovary
  • at this stage, oestrogen production peaks
  • subsequently, surface of mature follicle weakens and the follicle ruptures, releasing the ovum into the oviduct
  • antral fluid is also released and the empty follicle fills with blood
19
Q

What are granulosa cells?

A
  • Granulosa cells are follicular cells that thicken and multiply into multiple layers
20
Q

What is ovulation?

A
  • ovulation occurs spontaneously in most species as a result in rising levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) from pituitary gland
  • in some species, ovulation occurs after breeding (cat, rabbit)
21
Q

What is corpus luteum

A
  • the empty follicles will develop into corpus luteum
  • this process is influenced by continued stimulation of hormone LH
  • corpus luteum produces the hormone progesterone (necessary for maintenance of pregnancy)
  • if ovum implants in uterus, endocrine signal to ovary to cause corpus luteum to be maintained
  • if no implantation takes place, the corpus luteum regresses
22
Q

What is the estrous cycle/heat cycle

A
  • the rhythmic cycle of events that occurs in sexually mature non-pregnant female mammals
  • animals such as horses, pigs and dogs work on an estrous cycle (not menstrual cycle
  • they are only in heat (sexually active) every 5/6 months
  • the heat cycle is highly regulated by hormones
23
Q

What is the estrus cycle/heat cycle regulated by?

A
  • hormones
24
Q

What are the stages in the heat cycle?

A
  • proestrus
  • estrus
  • metestrus/diestrus
  • anestrus
25
Q

What happens during proestrus?

A
  • lasts 9 days
  • there is increased blood concentration of oestrogen causing swelling of the vulva
  • bloody vulval discharge is present
  • at this stage females release pheromones to attract males
  • females usually does not allow the male to mate but becomes increasingly receptive
  • increases the layers of vaginal epithelial cell
  • as a negative feedback, increased oestrogen level suppresses the production of FSH and increases the production of LH
26
Q

What happens during estrus?

A
  • lasts 9 days
  • ovulation at day 2
  • female will present herself to the male and allow mating
  • estrogen level starts to decline
  • LH reaches to its peak level and triggers ovulation (release the ovum from the ovary)
  • corpus luteum forms in place of the released ovum and secrete progesterone
27
Q

What happens during metestrus/diestrus?

A
  • if pregnant (50-60 days), delivery at ~63 days from ovulation
  • if not pregnant (90days)
  • corpus luteum continues to secrete progesterone –> maintaining pregnancy in the gestating bitch if pregnant;
    if not pregnant–> causing the uterine to return to a normal state in the non-pregnant bitch
28
Q

What happens during anestrus?

A
  • lasts 5 months
  • sexual inactivity
  • in non-pregnant bitches, progesterone level gradually declines
  • in pregnant bitches, the drop of progesterone will trigger whelping (giving birth)
  • subsequently, the uterine enters a state of inactivity
  • at the late stage of anestrus, some of the primary follicles will begin to develop to repeat the cycle
29
Q

What is the difference between the ovarian cycle and the heat cycle?

A
  • the heat cycle is the rhythmic cycle of events in a female animal, during which she becomes sexually active, including physiological changes: such as vulva swelling & behavioural changes, such as mating
  • the ovarian cycle describes events that occur, particularly in the follicles of the ovary