Female Reproductive Anatomy Flashcards
What are the 4 distinct concentric layers of the repro tract? List their function.
Serosa-outermost, single layer of squamous cells
Muscularis-double layer of smooth muscle
Submucosa-house blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics
Mucosa- secretory layer of epithelium (inner most layer)
Which layer of the tubule portion has two layers?
Muscularis
circular smooth muscle and longitudinal smooth muscle layer
what is the importance of the broad ligament?
-double layer of connective tissue
-embryonic origin: peritoneum
-suspends ovaries, oviducts, uterus, cervix and anterior vagina
-houses vasculature, nerves, lymphatic vessels
what are the compartments to the board ligament?
mesovarium: supports ovary (houses vessels that form the hilus)
Mesosalpinx: supports oviduct
(thin, serves as burse-like pouch)
mesometrium: Supports uterine horns (largest/most conspicuous portion)
which species has the longest uterine horns?
sow
Which species has the shortest uterine horns?
mare
What are the primary functions of the ovary?
produce oocyte/hormones
What are the layers of the ovary and what do they do? think GTOOM
Germinal epithelium: single layer of cuboidal cells
Tunica albuginea: outer connective tissue
ovarian cortex: usually houses oocytes
ovarian medulla: central part of ovary, contains vasculature, nerves/lymphatics
What is the difference in ovulation for the mare and other species?
the mare can only ovulate in one spot, ovulation fossa (the mare has an inversion of the cortex and medulla)
- for other species ovulation can occur on any point on the ovary
What is the difference with the mare’s ovary?
medulla is on the inside, cortex is on the outside (it is the structural differences in the cell layers in the mare that are different) mare has the cortex as the center
What are the two main ovarian structures?
follicle and CL
What makes up the follicle?
-contains oocyte
-primary hormone: estrogen
-fluid-filled
-ovulates
What is the primary hormone for the CL
progesterone, cells of the follicle turn into the CL after ovulation
What is the corpus hemorrhagicum?
becomes a mature corpus luteum, “bloody body”, it is the first structure found after ovulation on the ovary= Progesterone
What are corpus albicans?
no progesterone, considered C.L, white scar like structure that remains on the ovary after the C.L regresses, marks that a C.L was there
What are the follicle classifications?
Primordial: most immature, single layer of squamous cells
Primary: Single layer of cuboidal cells
Secondary: 2 or more layers of cells
Tertiary: antral, preovulatory=graafian
What are the components to a tertiary follicle: think layers
theca externa: primarily loose connective tissue (not involved in hormone synthesis)
Theca interna: hormone production
Granulosa cells: hormone production and oocyte maturation
What is the cell type closest to the oocyte and capillary beds?
Theca interna cells
what separates the theca interna cell and granulosa cells?
basement membrane
what is the zona pellucida?
outermost layer of the oocyte in the graafian follicle
what are the corona radiata?
in the oocytes, tightest control over maturation, specialized granulosa cells, right behind the zona pellucida
What is the stroma?
-holds the follicle/ CL
-all the tissue in ovary that holds it all together
What are cumulus cells?
-also granulosa cells
-directly surrounding the oocyte
-important for ovulation
-during ovulation they are going to go w/ the oocyte and enter the oviduct surrounding the oocyte
-if they are not attached to that egg, they will not be able to travel through the oviduct
What are the compartments of the oviduct?
-infundibulum: funnel shaped opening to oviduct, makes sure the oocyte, enters the tract for fertilization
-ostium: opening of the oviduct
-Ampulla: half or more of the oviduct, large diameter
-ampullary-isthmic junction: where fertilization is happening
-isthmus: smaller diameter, thick muscular wall and fewer mucosal folds
-uterotubal junction: where oviduct is meeting the uterus
What species has a duplex and what is it?
duplex has 2 cervical canals separating each horns (1-2 vaginal canals) possums/rabbits
Which species has a bicornuate?
2 uterine horns and small uterine body (cow/livestock)
What species has a simplex?
human, single uterine body w/ little to no uterine horn
What are the layers of the uterus?
perimetrium: thin serosal layer
Myometrium: muscularis
Endometrium: mucosa +submucosa
what are caruncles?
cow/ewe have them, where the placenta is most directly attached
What species has endometrial folds?
sow and mare
What is the importance of the cervix?
- serves as a barrier to sperm transport (ewe and cow)
- barrier to external environment during pregnancy
- produces mucous during estrus (primary cow and ewe)
What is the fornix?
a region in the cranial vagina that is closest to the cervix, it is a blind pouch where the AI rod is often stuck
What are the external genitalia?
vulva, clitoris, perineum(region surrounding anus and vulva)
