Female Genitalia Flashcards
What is included in the genital tract?
Ovary (primary)
Uterus (secondary)
Vagina
Vestibule
External genitalia (vulva, clitorus)
Ovary
Primary reproduction organ of a bitch and queen
Site for production, maturation and release of ova (eggs) and chief female hormones
What are the chief female hormones?
Estrogen and progestrerone
Location of the ovary
Right ovary is caudal to the left ovary
Sublumbar region
Suspended in abdominal wall by serosa (membrane)
What are the ligaments of the ovary
Mesovarium
Mesosalpinx
Suspensory ligament of ovary
Importance in Ovariohysterectomy
Ovarian bursa
Space between the mesovarium and mesosalpinx
What is the clinical significance of the ovarian bursa?
Abdominal ostium (opening) in mesosalpinx has the potential to causes ectopic pregnancy
How is the ovary divided?
Inner medulla and the outer cortex
What is the capsule of the ovary?
Tunica albuginea ovary
What is the ovary covered by?
Visceral peritoneum
What structures make up the uterus?
Uterine tube (oviduct- vet, fallopian tube/ salpinx- human)
Uterine horns
Uterine body
Uterine neck (cervix)
What is the clinical significance of the uterus?
Pyometra (infection of the uterus)
Open or closed, fixed with surgery
Uterine tube/ oviduct function
Receives the recently released oocyte from the ovary
Site where sperm and egg meet for fertilization
How does the sperm reach the uterine tube?
Myometral contraction
How does the uterine tube begin?
As a dilatation (infundibulum) with tiny:
Fimbriae (collection of smooth muscles)
Abdominal Ostium
What is the clinical significance of the infundibulum (uterine tube)
Ectopic pregnancy
What are the structures of the uterine tube/ oviduct?
Infundibulum
Ampulla
Isthmus
Uterotubal junction
Uterotubal junction
Papilla (real barrier)
Used for impeding ascend of sperm and descend of ova
Clinical significance of the uterotubal junction
Selective passage into the isthmus that sorts healthy from defective sperm
Ampulla
Site of fertilization
Isthmus
Conveys the embryo (zygotes) to the uterus
How is the uterine horn of the bitch and queen?
Bicorunate
“Y-shaped” due to long horns and short body
Where does the uterine tube terminate?
In the uterine horn and it delivers the fertilized egg (zygote) for implantation
Gross placentation in bitch and queen is ____________
Zonary
Uterine body
Short and insignificant (other than during a spay)
Cervix
Short rigid neck of the uterus (~1-2 cm)
What are the structures of the cervix?
Internal uterine ostium
Cervical Canal (mucus plug)
External uterine ostium (external os)
Importance in ovariohysterectomy
Vagina
Birth canal
Copulatory receptacle
How is the vagina collapsed?
By negative pressure leaving rugae and potentia lumen
Fornix Vaginae
When the cervix protrudes into cranial vagina forming a blind end
Location of the vagina
Cd: Continuous with its vestibule at the urethral tubercle
What does the urethral tubercle house?
External urethral orifice
Hymen
Incomplete parturition between the vagina and its vestibule-
Poorly represented in small animals
Vestibule slope
Slopes caudoventrally at 45-50 degrees
Vestibular bulbs
A pair of spherical erectile tissue masses
Surrounded by constrictor vestibuli m. (coital tie)
Which species have minor vestibular glands?
Posessed by bitches and queens
Which species have major vestibular glands?
Only queens (big ~ 0.25 in)
What is the function of the vestibular glands?
Provide lubrication during coitus and whelping or queening
Produce pheromones
Vulva
Simple pair of labia meeting at dorsal and ventral commissures
Structures of the clitorus
Crus
Body/ glans
Corpus cavernosum cliterus
Prepuce
Fossa
Ligaments of the Genital tract
Broad Ligament
Mesovarium
Mesosalpinx
Suspensory ligament of ovary
Mesomentrium
Round ligament of the uterus
What does the broad ligament do?
Suspends ovary, uterine tube and uterus
Mesometrium clin sig
Ovariohysterectomy
Round ligament of the uterus
Remnants of the gubernaculum testis
Where is the ovarian bursa small?
In mares, but big in other species
What does the ovarian artery branch off of and supply?
Aorta
Ovary and uterine branch
What does the vaginal artery supply?
Urterine artery –> cervix and uterus
What does the pudendal artery give rise to?
Vaginal a.
A. of the vestibular bulb
A. of the clitoris
What does the pelvic and hypogastric nerve innervate?
Uterus and ovary
Parasympathetic innervation
What does the pudendal nerve innervate?
Striated muscle
Caudal vagina, vulva and clitoris
Clinical consideration of the female genital tract
Nuetering “spay”
Ovariohysterectomy
Pyometra
What structures are ligated and incised during a ovariohysterectomy?
Suspensory ligament
Ovarian artery
Uterine artery
Uterine body
