Female Anatomy

Question 1

Where do the gonads, uterine tube, uterus and vagina arise from?

Answer 1

mesonephric ducts

Question 2

Where do the vestibule, vulva and clitoris arise from?

Answer 2

urogenital sinus

Question 3

What is the function of the ovary?

Answer 3

To produce follicles in which the oocytes can develop, these secrete oestradiol until ovulation.

Question 4

What happens to the follicle after ovulation?

Answer 4

After ovulation the follicle enters the luteal phase and becomes a corpus luteum which is a transient endocrine gland which secretes progesterone.

Question 5

How big is the equine ovary? How big can the CL get?

Answer 5

8-10cm

Up to 5cm but cannot be felt on palpation

Question 6

Where does the vascularisation lie in the equine ovary?

Answer 6

Peripherally

Question 7

How do the ligaments of the reproductive tract form?

Answer 7

The tract grows and pushes against the peritoneum and becomes surrounded until a portion of the peritoneum fuses to form the broad ligament.

Question 8

What does the broad ligament support?

Answer 8

The broad ligament Supports and suspends ovaries, oviduct, uterus, cervix and anterior vagina and also Houses vascular supply, lymphatic drainage and nerves.

Question 9

Where does the round ligament run?

Answer 9

The round ligament of the uterus runs caudal from the tip of the uterine horn to the inguinal canal. In the bitch it passes through the inguinal canal (This is homologous to the gubernaculum)

Question 10

What are the three components of the broad ligament?

Answer 10

There are three comonents of the broad ligament:
Mesovarium - Houses blood and lymphatics supplying ovary
Mesosalpinx - Supports oviducts and serves as bursa like pouch surrounding ovary
Mesometrium - Supports uterine horns and body of uterus

In the bitch the mesosalpinx may form a complete sac (called bursa) around the ovary, or may be very small like it is in the mare.

Question 11

What are the 4 concentric layers of the reproductive tract?

Answer 11

Serosa, muscularis, submucosa, mucosa

Question 12

Name the three regions of the oviduct from ovary to uterus

Answer 12

Infundibulum
Captures oocyte
Covered with fimbriae – long finger like folds

Ampulla
large lumen and lots of secretory activity
fertilisation takes place here

Isthmus
Thicker muscular wall so the lumen Is smaller
Junction acts as a checkpoint, in the mare only fertilised eggs continue into the

Question 13

What are the functions of the oviduct?

Answer 13

Sperm transport and storage
‘Catching’ the oocyte
Oocyte transport
Environment for fertilisation due to secretions
Gamete transport

Question 14

Where does the blood supply to the female tract come from?

Answer 14

Directly from aorta, supplies ovary and a branch termed ‘uterine branch’ supplies the tip of uterine horn and anastamoses within the uterine artery in the broad ligament

Question 15

What is significant about the ovarian vein and artery?

Answer 15

IMPORTANTLY there is intertwining of the ovarian vein and the ovarian artery in some domestic species (especially the cow but not the mare). This enables PGF2a in the ovarian vein (from the uterus) to transfer to the ovarian artery.

Question 16

Explain the utero-ovarian countercurrent system

Answer 16

PGF2a secreted from the endometrium
Passes into ovarian vein (also called utero-ovarian vein)
PGF2a diffuses from ovarian vein to ovarian artery(facilitated by intertwining of blood vessels)
High concentrations of PGF2a delivered to the ovary
In the mare PGF2a is not metabolised as fast so the mare does not have this system

Question 17

What are the functions of the uterus?

Answer 17

Production of prostaglandin to control cyclical activity (except bitch)
Sperm transport / storage (also a function of secretion)
Environment for early embryo (also a function of secretion)
Contribution to the placenta
Parturition

Question 18

In the uterus what are the serosa, muscularis and mucosa called?

Answer 18

Serosa = perimetrium
Muscularis = myometrium (circular and longitudinal)
Mucosa and submucosa = Endometrium

Question 19

What are the three main types of uteri?

Answer 19

Duplex - 2 cervical canals, separate uterine horns
Bicornuate - 2 uterine horns, small uterine body
Simplex - Single uterine body

Question 20

Uterine gland secretion increases under the influence of ……………….

Answer 20

progesterone

Question 21

What is the blood supply to the uterus?

Answer 21

Arteries are branches of the internal iliac artery
Uterine artery which runs within the broad ligament and can be palpated against the shaft of the ilium (‘fremitus’ occurs during pregnancy)
Vaginal artery

Question 22

What is the venous drainage of the uterus?

Answer 22

Veins mirror arteries but not in terms of function
Ovarian vein is larger than uterine vein and drains most of the uterus and ovary
The close apposition of ovarian vein to uterine artery allowing diffusion of prostaglandin (especially in the cow)

Question 23

How is the cervix formed?

Answer 23

The cervix is formed by fusion of the caudal end of the paramesonephric ducts and the cranial end of the developing vagina.

Question 24

Describe the epithelium of the cervix

Answer 24

Epithelium is columnar but some cells ciliated.

Many crypts & glands are present in many species.

Question 25

Which species have single or multiple cervical folds?

Answer 25

Single: bitch, queen
Multiple: cow, ewe, sow, mare
- Interlocking folds: cow, ewe
- Spiral interlocking folds: Sow
- Loosely apposed folds: mare

Question 26

Where does the epithelium arise from in the cranial and caudal vagina?

Answer 26

cranial - Epithelium originates from vaginal plate (secretory in many species)
caudal - Final epithelium is derived from migrating cells from the vestibular region - stratified squamous in many species

Question 27

Where is the vestibule?

Answer 27

Between urethral orifice and vulva stratified (squamous epithelium in all species)

Question 28

What is the fornix vagina?

Answer 28

In the Cow, mare and bitch the Cervix protrudes into cranial vagina forming crypt or pocket

Question 29

What is the effect of oestrogen on the vagina?

Answer 29

When Oestrogen dominance increases – squamous epithelium thickens to provide mechanical protection of vagina during copulation and to block to microorganisms getting into submucosa
Some species we can swab vagina and determine stage of cycle

Question 30

The vulva consists of …….

Answer 30

Comprises of the Labia, Dorsal commissure and Ventral commissure.
The ventra commissure houses the clitoris under a transverse frenulum, the clitoral fossa surrounds the clitoris.
Clitoral sinus present in some species and has high importance in the mare as it may harbour pathogenic bacteria.

Question 31

Where do we swab for taylorella in the horse?

Answer 31

Clitoral sinus

Question 32

Does the female tract have autonomic innervation?

Answer 32

Ovaries- Sympathetic from mesenteric plexus

Uterus, cervix, vagina- Parasympathetic and sympathetic from pelvic plexus