Female reproduction system

Question 1

Ligamnets of the female reproductive system

Answer 1

The reproductive tract is suspended in a sheet of peritoneum called the broad ligament.
It is attached to the dorsal body wall
Carries blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics to the reproductive organs
Subdivided into segments supporting individual parts of the reproductive tract
Broad ligament is divided into the following:
Suspensory ligament of the ovary
Mesovarian, Mesosalpinx, Mesometrium
Round ligament

Question 2

Ovaries are

Answer 2

Are the primary organs of reproduction in the female located in the abdomen near the kidneys
Normal size and shape varies from species to species and even among individuals within a species

Question 3

Ovaries have two min functions

Answer 3

Production of ova
Production of the female sex hormones

Question 4

Production of the ova are

Answer 4

The ovary has a predetermined number of oocytes within the ovary; these develop prior to birth. This is the total number available for the females’ lifetime. At each heat cycle oocytes are used.
Older oocytes have a greater chance of being damaged by toxic environments

Question 5

Hormones produced by the ovaries

Answer 5

Estrogens
Progetins

Question 6

Estrogen in the ovary is

Answer 6

Produced by developing follicle cells
Cause physical and behavioral changes that prepare an animal for breeding and pregnancy

Question 7

Progestins in the ovary are

Answer 7

Primarily progesterone
Produced by corpus luteum (CL)
CL is the remnant of an empty follicle that has released an ova
Help prepare the uterus for implantation
Help maintain pregnancy after implantation

Question 8

Ovarian cycle is

Answer 8

Cyclical pattern to the production of ova
An oocyte develops in a follicle → ovulation → CL forms → CL degenerates
Two hormones affect this cycle: FSH and LH (from anterior pituitary)
In all species, many follicles start to develop at the beginning of each cycle. Most fail to mature.

Question 9

Uniparous spp means

Answer 9

: one oocyte and one offspring. i.e., horse, cow, human

Question 10

Multiparous spp means

Answer 10

litters. i.e., dog, cat, pig

Question 11

Primordial follicle is

Answer 11

Immature oocyte surrounded by a single layer of follicular cells
Many will be found in an ovary
Develop into primary follicles

Question 12

Ovarian cycle- primary follicle is

Answer 12

With FSH, a primordial follicle becomes stimulated
Cells change shape from flat to cuboidal- called granulosa cells
Follicle is now a primary follicle
Only a few follicles respond to each FSH wave
Called follicular recruitment or follicular activation
In uniparous species, only one follicle will become dominant
Rest will regress and degenerate
Called follicular atresia

Question 13

Ovarian cycle- secondary follicle is

Answer 13

Cells divide to create several cell layers around oocyte
Follicle is now a secondary follicle
Producing increasing amounts of estrogen to prepare for breeding and pregnancy
Develops a fluid-filled space between oocyte and granulosa cells – called the antrum
Primary oocyte divides producing a secondary oocyte

Question 14

Ovarian cycle- mature follicle are and are called

Answer 14

Mature or Graafian follicle
Large, blister-like structure on ovary
At maximum estrogen production
Oocyte
Sits on stack of granulosa cells and is covered by thin layer of granulosa cells

Question 15

Ovulation is

Answer 15

Rupture of surface of follicle
Explosive release of secondary oocyte also called the immature ovum

Question 16

Spontaneous ovulators are

Answer 16

Some animals ovulate during a specific time in their estrus cycle

Question 17

Induced ovulators are

Answer 17

In some animals like cat, rabbit and ferret, ovulation requires breeding

Question 18

Corpus luteum is

Answer 18

Continued high LH levels cause corpus hemorrhagicum to change
Granulosa cells continue to multiply

Question 19

What does the corpus luteum for in ovulation

Answer 19

Follicle fills with blood → clots → forms corpus hemorrhagicum
Stimulated by rising LH levels in most animals
Corpus luteum
Develops into a large, yellowish mass of cells known as the corpus luteum
Produces progestin hormones
Primarily progesterone
Important for maintaining pregnancy
Will regress quickly if does not receive signal from uterus that ovum has been fertilized and implanted

Question 20

Oviduct is and does

Answer 20

Aka: uterine tube, fallopian tube
Paired convoluted tubes that extend from the tips of the uterine horns
Lumen of uterine horn is continuous with lumen of oviduct
They capture and transport ova from the ovary to the uterus and serve as the normal location for fertilization

Question 21

Is the oviduct attached to the ovary and why

Answer 21

Not attached to the ovary
When ovulation takes place, the ova are expelled from the ovary and caught by the funnel shaped end of the uterine tube known as the infundibulum
They are then carried to the oviduct where fertilization normally occurs

Question 22

Oviduct is composed of

Answer 22

The oviduct is composed of smooth muscle lined with highly folded mucus membrane with many ciliated cells
Both the cilia and muscle move the ova and possibly the spermatozoa.

Question 23

What happens to ovulated eggs in the oviduct

Answer 23

Ovulated eggs are captured by the infundibulum although some occasionally sneak out through the opening into the peritoneal cavity
Usually disintegrate but sometimes become an ectopic pregnancy (implantation of fertilized ovum outside of the uterine cavity)
The oviducts gently conduct the fertilized ovum to the uterus for implantation

Question 24

Uterus function and shape

Answer 24

A hollow muscular Y-shaped organ
Receives the fertilized ovum
Nourishes and houses the developing embryo
Expels the mature fetus through the birth canal.
Forms part of the placenta, which is the life support system that keeps the fetus alive while it develops
Major components are the body of the uterus, the uterine horns and the cervix.
A mucus membrane lines the uterus.
Its thickness and vascularity depends on hormonal changes from the ovary and pregnancy.

Question 25

Bovine uterus shape

Answer 25

The mucosa has mushroom like projection or focal elevations called caruncles
Make up the maternal component of the placenta and give attachment to the fetal membranes
The caruncles grow during pregnancy and are used to determine the stage of pregnancy

Question 26

Cervix is

Answer 26

The cervix projects caudally into the vagina
It is a heavy, smooth muscled sphincter that is tightly closed except during parturition or estrus (heat)

Question 27

Cervix function

Answer 27

At estrus, the cervix relaxes slightly permitting spermatozoa to enter the uterus and then closes until parturition.
Mucus may discharge from the cervix and be expelled from the vulva at estrus
Mucus production by the cervix increases during pregnancy to prevent infections entering the uterus.
The vagina is not sterile

Question 28

Vagina is

Answer 28

Extends from the cervix to the vulva
It is the female copulatory organ and part of the birth canal
Structurally it is a muscular tube which contains mucus glands for lubrication.

Question 29

Vulva consists of

Answer 29

Composed of vestibule, the clitoris and the labia.

Question 30

Vestibule is

Answer 30

the caudal part of the tubular portion of the reproductive tract, common to both urinary and reproductive system

Question 31

Clitoris is

Answer 31

the female counterpart of the penis and is located on the floor of the vestibule

Question 32

Labia on the vulva is

Answer 32

form the external boundary of the vulva

Question 33

The estrous cycle is defined by

Answer 33

Defined as the time from beginning of one heat period to beginning of the next

Question 34

Estrous is controlled by

Answer 34

Controlled by FSH and LH from the anterior pituitary gland
Stimulate production of hormones by:
Developing follicle – estrogens
Cause physical and behavioral changes of estrus
Corpus luteum – progestins
Prepares uterus and maintains pregnancy

Question 35

How does estrous effect breeding

Answer 35

Timing of breeding depends on the estrous cycle of the female
Males can breed at any time
The estrous cycle is naturally timed to coordinate with seasons of food abundance to give greater reproductive success

Question 36

What can stimulate estrous to begin

Answer 36

Onset may be stimulated by environmental changes, such as increasing daylength or temperature
Releases gonadotrophin-releasing hormone from hypothalamus
Acts on anterior pituitary to stimulate release of FSH

Question 37

Estrous cycle intervals is classified by

Answer 37

Classified by number of cycles per year and when they occur
Polyestrous
Cycle continuously if not pregnant
Cattle, pigs, humans

Question 38

Seasonally estrous is

Answer 38

Seasonal variations in cycling
Continuous at some times of year, absent at others
Horse, sheep, cat
Female cats usually cycle from January to late fall
Can start as early as 4 months of age

Question 39

Diestrous is what

Answer 39

2 cycles per year – usually spring and fall
Dog

Question 40

Monoestrous is

Answer 40

Usually only one cycle per year
Fox, mink

Question 41

Stages of estrous is

Answer 41

Continuous process, but roughly divided into stages
Stages can be related to ovarian follicular development
In dogs, examination of vaginal smears can help identify the stage of estrous

Question 42

Proestrous is

Answer 42

Follicular development in response to FSH
Increasing estrogen output from follicles
Causes physical preparation for ovulation and breeding
Thickening and development of lining of oviduct, uterus, and vagina
Vagina develops cornified layer to protect against trauma from breeding

Question 43

Early proestrus looks like what on a cellular level

Answer 43

Epithelial cells are of intermediate and parabasal type.
Cells have a large nucleus, and lots of pale blue cytoplasm

Question 44

Late proestus is

Answer 44

Many RBCs and WBCs (more vascular)
Epithelial cell are losing their nucleus and gaining keratin

Question 45

Estrus is

Answer 45

Period of sexual receptivity
Peak estrogen levels
LH release and inhibition of further FSH
Mature follicles
Usually, ovulation occurs near end of estrus
Induced ovulators will have prolonged estrus if not bred
Mostly superficial, anucleate, keratinized cells

Question 46

What will cats do if not breed

Answer 46

Cats are induced ovulators
Will stay in heat up if not bred
Follicle eventually regresses
Typically, in a week
Can be up to 2 weeks
No longer in heat
Can induce ovulation with Q-tip or hormone injection
Spaying is best

Question 47

Metestrus is caused by

Answer 47

Corpus luteum (CL) develops after ovulation in response to continued LH presence
CL produces progesterone
Causes thickening of uterus lining in preparation for implantation
Inhibits follicular development

Question 48

Diestrus is caused by

Answer 48

CL at maximum size and effect
If pregnant, CL will be retained in response to signal from developing embryo and uterus
If not pregnant, CL degenerates
fewer superficial cells,more intermediate cells and neutrophils
If CL degeneration is delayed (a common problem in intact bitches), it continues to prepare the body with hormones of pregnancy
Can result in pseudopregnancy
Animals develops enlarged mammary glands, may lactate, pelvis may relax, may nest-build and ‘mother’ stuffed toys
Most resolve spontaneously, but may require hormonal treatment to correct

Question 49

Anestrus is

Answer 49

Ovarian inactivity between breeding cycles in all but the polyestrus species