Female Canine Reproductive Organs

Question 1

list the 3 components of the 2 broad ligaments and the regions of the female tract they support

Answer 1

1. mesosalpinx: mesentery of uterine tube/oviduct; fat deposit site, forms most of the pouch the encloses the ovary
2. mesovarium: extends between the ovary and dorsolateral abdominal wall; includes the proper ligament of the ovary and the suspensory ligament of the ovary
3. mesometrium: extends from cranial edge of uterine horn, alongside the uterine body, the uterine cervix, and cranial vagina; attaches laterally along abdominal and pelvic walls, also a fat deposit site; contains the round ligament

Question 2

differentiate between the mesosalpinx, the ovarian bursa, and the opening of the ovarian bursa

Answer 2

ovarian bursa: completely enclosed, except for the small slit opening (may see fimbriae of infundibulum protruding through); wall of ovarian bursa formed by the mesovarium and the mesosalpinx; the bursa itself is the space between the ovary and the wall

the opening of the bursa is on the medial surface of the ovary and the mesosalpinx is on the lateral surface of the ovary

Question 3

differentiate between the mesovarium, the proper ligament of the ovary, and the suspensory ligament of the ovary; what is meant by the ovarian pedicle?

Answer 3

proper ligament of the ovary: connects the ovary to the uterine horn

suspensory ligament of the ovary: attaches the ovary to the abdominal wall and mist be ruptured to exteriorize the ovarian pedicle during spays

both above structures contained within the mesovarium

ovarian pedicle: contains the ovarian vessels, nerves, and lymphatics

Question 4

differentiate between the mesometrium, the lateral free fold of the mesometrium, the round ligament of the uterus, and the vaginal process

Answer 4

the mesometrium itself extends from the cranial edge of the uterine horn all the way to the cranial vagina and is the largest component of the broad ligament

the mesometrium contains the part of the broad ligament that houses the lateral free fold, which contains the round ligament on the edge of the fold

the round ligaments extend from the ovary through the inguinal canal (inside the vaginal process)

Question 5

list the major arterial vessels that supply the female reproductive organs

Answer 5

ovary:
supplied by the ovarian artery, which has a uterine branch

uterine: supplied by the uterine artery, a branch off the vaginal artery

vagina: supplied by the vaginal artery

all of these arteries anastomose!

Question 6

list the cysts that may occur within the mesosalpinx and mesovarium, and the cysts that may occur within the mesometrium and the wall of the vagina

Answer 6

cysts within mesosalpinx and mesovarium: epoophoron (from tubules) and paroophoron (from cranial duct)

cysts within mesometrium and wall of vagina (Gartner’s cyst; from a remnant of the mesonephric duct)

Question 7

understand how the female repro tract (uterine tubes, uterine body, uterine cervix, and proximal vagina) develops from the paramesonephric ducts, and know which type of uterus the female canine has

Answer 7

paramesonephric duct becomes female repro tract; canine has a bicornuate uterus with well developed horns

Question 8

differentiate between uterine cervix, external uterine ostium, vaginal fornix, and dorsal median/longitudinal fold; how might the dorsal fold of the vagina interfere with artificial insemination of the bitch?

Answer 8

uterine cervix: fused portion of paramesonephric ducts, has a vaginal portions (portio) where the cervix protrudes into the vagina at an oblique 45 degree angle, has a uterine opening, called the internal uterine ostium

external uterine ostium: vaginal opening of cervix as cervix protrudes into vagina

vaginal fornix: recess formed by cranial extension of vagina ventral to the cervix

dorsal median/longitudinal fold: permanent mucosal fold that interferes with catheterization of the cervix

Question 9

differentiate between the vestibule, the urethral tubercle, the external urethral orifice, and the vestibular bulbs

Answer 9

vestibule: common conduit for urinary and genital systems, extends from caudal vagina at urethral tubercle to vulva

urethral tubercle: projects into the vestibule, serves as a demarcation between the vestibule and the vagina

external urethral orifice: ventral to urethral tubercle

vestibular bulbs: erectile tissue in lateral walls of vestible

Question 10

differentiate between the labia of the vulva, the rima pudendi, the dorsal and ventral commissures, the transverse fold, the clitoral fossa, and the clitoris

Answer 10

see pictures