Equine Reproductive Anatomy - Female Flashcards by Jess Dockerill

What is the Ovulation Fossa

wedge shaped area on concave side of ovary where egg ovulates and where ova leave ovary

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What is the vestibule

the space in the vulva where the vagina and urethra open

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Where are the ovaries located

dorsal abdomen under 3rd/4th lumbar vertebre close to abdominal wall

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What is a bursa

a fluid filled sack that ovaries sit within

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Are mares seasonal breeders? When breed

Yes - long day breeder (April-september uk)

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Length of oestrus cycle and oestrus length

21 days

4-7 days

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What seasonal factors impact cycles

Grass - good nutrition helps bring on cycle, more/quality given in winter to compensate little over summer. continue cycle to Nov
Temperature - keep warm = continue to cycle
Light - extend light exposure = prevent melatonin from increasing

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What is the transitional period

between the anovulatory season and the first ovulation of the year
oestrus can last up to 28 days on first cycle back

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Where is melatonin secreted and what is the impact on presence/absence

Pineal gland
Long days = reduce production
Short days = increase production
Has -ve feedback on GnRH so stops stimuting FSH/LH

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What is the mare HHOP

hypothalmic-hypophyseal-ovarian-axis
affect of hypothalamus, pitutary gland and ovary
controls aging process, reproduction cycle and starting cycles

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What are the factors of oestrus

Follicular phase - follicle develops in ovary until it ruptures
mare sexually receptive
ovulation
oestrogen main hormone

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What are the factors of dioestrus

Formation of Corpus Luteum
mare not sexually receptive
14-15 days
not preg = regression of CL then start follicle development

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Action and source of GnRH (female)

(gonadotropin releasing hormone)
Hypothalamus
Stimulates pituitary to release FSH and LH

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Action and source of FSH (female)

(follicle stimmulating hormone)
Pituitary
Stimulate follicles to develop

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Action and source of LH (female)

(lutenising hormone)
Pituitary
Stimulate follicle maturation and ovulation

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Action and source of oestrogen (female)

developing follicles and adrenals

stimulates hypothalamus to release GnRH

Action and source of progesterone (female)

Courpus luteum and pregnant uterus
Blocks GnRH release
Prepars endometrium
Inhibits uterine contractions

Action and source of progesterone (female)

Courpus luteum and pregnant uterus
Blocks GnRH release
Prepares endometrium
Inhibits uterine contractions

Action and source of prostaglandin

When secreted?

uterus
degenerates corpus luteum
if not pregnant - degenerates CL so progesterone is not released so more GnRH secreted
(preg = progesterone blocks release)

What is oxytocin

a neuropeptide produced by posterior pituitary gland and endometrium
role - luteolysis: secreted from the endometrium, more endometrial oxytocin receptors 14-17 days after ovulation, oxytocin binds to endometrium and drives prostaglandin production

What is Activin

a glycoprotein hormone produced in granulosa cells of developing follicle. In the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family
enhances FSH secretion

What is inhibin

a glycoprotein hormone produced in granulosa cells of developing follicle
decrease FSH production

What is relaxin

promotes endometrial angiogenesis (formation of blood vessels) through upregulating endometrial expression of vascular endothelial growth factor
concentration of relaxin increases at

What is unusual about the medulla/cortex in equine ovaries? Where CL and follicles found

medulla = superficial
cortex = centre (CL and follicles-internal with only ovulation fossa as access point)

Consistency of CL/follicles

``` CL = scar tissue (yellow/white) follicle = fluid filled ```

Explain the order and describe fallopian tubes

fimbrae cover ovulation fossa at ovarian end = infundibulum - wide and start narrow ampulla = most common site of fertilisation isthmus = narrow to slow ova

Why are the uterine tubes muscular and describe. Where do uterine tubes end

smooth muscle layer to encourage sperm and ova movement mucosal and cilliated utero-tubal junction

Describe the layers of Uterus

``` endometrium = filled with glands myometrium = thick layer smooth muscle mesometrium = layer of mesentery over uterus that flows into broad ligament ```

Role of broad ligament

connects uterus and reproductive structures to pelvic/abdominal wall (support)

What is a cervix

thick walled aglandular structure composed of smooth muscle and elastic fibres tightly closed apart from ovulation and parturition

What is the vagina

``` 20-35cm tubular structure func = get sperm close to ova as possible while maintaining sterile uterus interior = folds and glands present in submucosa - posterior vagina = lined by stratified squamous epithelium - anterior vagina = lined by colomnar epithelium ```

What can clitoral swab tests be used for

contagious equine metritis | Klebsiella pneumoniae and Psedomonas aeroginosa

What is a vulva

two lips that form a seal (maintains clean environment in vagina to minimise air/foreign material entering and causing vaginitis which can cause infertility) -

What is Urovagina

condition where urine splashes back into vagina during urination. predisposed to infections and fertility

What is Pneumovagina and remedy

condition leads to faecal contamination of vagina due to conformational faults that cause air to be aspirated into reproductive tract Caslicks operation or vulvoplasty - suturing vuval lips together from top and leave small gap at bottom to allow urine to leave during urination

Where is the clitoris and what is important about it for equine health

- below entrance to vagina - 3 sinuses = provide ideal environment for bacteria e.g. Taylorella equigenitalis (cause contageous equine metritis) - swabed before mate

What is the perineum

- includes outer vulva and adjacent skin along with anus - mal-conformation of area predisposes mare to pneumovagina = air sucked in and out vagina (leads to contamination with bacteria

Fallopian tubes (about) - length - where fertilization takes palce - isthmus

- 25-30cm - lie within peritoneal folds which form mesosalphinx part of broad ligament - fertilisation at ampulla region ~ cillia waft fertilised ova towards isthmus - has thicker myometrial layer, contraction of which pushes fertilised ova toward utero-tubule junction

Ovaires - what convex outer surface attatched to - concave side - what is ovary contained in

- mesovarian section of broad ligament = entry point for blood/nerve supply - concave = free of atatchment and location of oulatory fossa - tunica albuginea (expt ovulatory fossa)