Female Genitalia Flashcards
Why is the female reproductive system important?
Breeding soundness
Rectal palpation
Various diseases
Pelvic cavity
Roofed by sacrum and first 2 or 3 caudal vertebra
Narrowed caudally
What is the lateral wall of the pelvic cavity protected by?
Sacrosciatic ligament
What structures does the pelvic cavity contain?
Rectum/ anal canal
Bladder/ urethra
Reproductive organs
How are the pelvic inlets different in males and females?
F: rounded and wide, outlet smaller than inlet
M: angular and cramped
Rectum
Terminal part of the GI tract
Retroperitoneal (outside peritoneal cavity)
How is the rectum located in males and mares
M: dorsal to bladder, urethra and accessory repro glands
F: dorsal to uterus and vagina
Urethra
Opens into vestibule caudal to the transverse fold of the hymen
Accessible to urethroscopy/ catheterization
Bladder
Located rectoperitoneally
Mares: Neck on floor of pelvis, when filled it moves cranial,y
Where is the bladder located in neonates?
In the abdominal cavity
What is the CS for the bladder
Patent urachus/ urine leaking
Recto-Vaginal Tears/ Fistula
From dystocia
An heal naturally or be sutured
CS of rectum/ vagina
CS of the urethra opening
Locate transverse fold in vestibule
Catheter inserted for urine
Trans- vaginal colpotomy
Trans-vaginal approach for ovarioectomy
Bloodless
Ovariectomy for granulosa cell tumor
What are the 7 female reproductive organs?
- Ovaries (2)
- Uterine tubes
- Uterine body
- Cervix
- Vagina
- Vestibule
- Vulva
Where are the ovaries located?
Bean shaped on both sides of the dorsal abdomen, ventral to the 4th or 5th lumbar vertebra, caudal to kidneys, cranioventral to iliac wings
The ovaries are suspended with __________
Mesovarium
Structure of the ovary
Contains a cranial and caudal pole
Attached dorsally, free ventrally
Ovulation fossa on ventral border
Covered by peritoneum
How is the inside of the ovary made up?
Medulla: vascular and superficial
Cortex: deep with follicles
What do the follicles do?
Reach the surface of the ovary at the ovulation fossa when it’s time for ovulation —> corpus lutetium develops
What is the function of the ovaries?
Produce gametes and hormones
How are ovaries examined?
Rectal palpation and ultrasound
During breeding season, which structures should be determine on the ovary?
Corpus luteum (doesn’t protrude on surface)
Follicles
Determine the appropriate time for breeding
CS of the ovary
- Granulosa cell tumor: Mares show stallion-like behavior
- Cystic ovary
Both require ovariectomy
Ovariectomy
Removal of ovaries in mares
Through flank incision or trans-vagina incision (good because ovaries are retroperitoneum)
Oviduct
20-30 cm in length with infundibulum, ampulla, isthmus
Transports oocyte from ovary to the uterine body and site of fertilization
What happens to the oviduct during estrus?
Isthmus contracts to propel sperm
Oviductal papilla contains uterotubal junction that helps with sperm selection
Infundibulum
Funnel-shape attached to the lateral surface of the ovary @ the ovulation fossa
Uses fimbriae to move oocyte from ovary to oviduct
Ampulla
Site of fertilization
Isthmus
Narrowest portion
Highly muscular, helps transport embryo to uterus
Movement if the oocyte
Ovary —> infundibulum —> oviduct/ uterine tube —> ampulla —> isthmus
What does the isthmus do during estrous?
Contracts to propel the spermicide towards the ampulla and the ovum
Oviductal papilla
Center is uterotubal junction
Helps with selection of sperms making it difficult for poor swimming sperms to pass
Uterus
Two horns and a body
Suspended in the pelvic cavity by the broad ligament dorsally
The broad ligament closest to the uterus is _________
Mesometrium
Why are the layers of the uterine wall?
Serosa: continuous with broad lig
Myometeium: inner circular, outer longitudinal
Endometrium: glandular and secretory
When does the myometrium contract?
During estrous and parturition
Changes tone during rectal palpation
Placenta in equine?
Chorioallantoic
Diffuse
What is the blood supply of the uterus?
Uterine artery/ vein
Uterine branch of the vaginal artery/ vein
Uterine branch of the ovarian artery/ vein
rupture causes hematoma in broad ligament
What are the CS of the uterus?
Pyometra
Uterine prolapse
Uterine cysts
Uterine lovage (clean/ issue antibiotics)
Dystocia
Dystocia
Abnormal parturition
Pyometra
Pus in the uterus
Results from infection
Cervix
5-7.5 cm long, 2-4 cm wide
Thick and palpable
Elastic fibers allow contraction and expansion
Folds in the cervix
Only have longitudinal folds that are continuous with the endometrial folds of the body of the uterus
What are the functions of the cervix?
Lubrication during estrous
Barrier during pregnancy
Production of mucus (plug)
Mucus plug during pregnancy
Formed to help occlude the cervix
Makes it less permeable to bacteria and foreign objects
What happens to the cervix estrous?
Cervix flaccid
External os of the cervix lies on the floor of the vagina
Vagina (vaginal vault)
Tubular, 15-20 cm long
Dorsal to bladder, ventral to the rectum
Where is the vagina located
Cranially: within peritoneal cavity covered with Serosa
Posterior portion: larger, retroperitoneal
injuries don’t proliferate in peritoneal space
Vagina epithelium
Stratified squamous (no glands)
T/F: the vagina is normally collapsed except during breeding and parturition
TRUE
Transverse fold
On the floor of the vagina
Remnant if the hymen
Lies cranial to the urethral opening
What is the CS of the transverse fold?
Urine pooling —> treat by Cerclage suture: suturing fold to prevent urine from back flowing to the vagina and vestibule (infections)
Vestibule
Space from the urethral orifice to the vulva
Glandular and secretes mucous for lubrication
Vulva
12-15 cm long
5-7 cm ventral to the anus
Dorsal pointed and ventral rounded commissure
Wind sucking
Change in confirmation in vulva, predisposes to adoration of feces, fluid, foreign material, or air into vagina
How do you correct wind sucking?
Caslick procedure (vulvopasty)
Labia of the vulva
Strong muscles that keep vulvar opening closed
Provide barrier against foreign bodies
CS of the vulva
Wind sucking
Melanoma
Perineal laceration
Clitoris
Covered with preputial fold
Has clitoral fossa and clitoral sinuses (medial and lateral sinuses)
Glans clitoris
Exposed when mare in heat
Causing clit to wink or cause movement of the labia
What do the sinuses and fossa of the clitoris harbor?
Bacteria called Taylorella equigenitalis causing Contagious equine metritis (CEM)
Udder
Consists of 2 halves each with 1 teat with 2-3 openings
Halves of the udder
Attached to abdominal wall by Suspensory ligament and supplied by external pudendal artery and vein
