Female Reproductive Anatomy

Question 1

What are the 4 distinct concentric layers of the repro tract? List their function.

Answer 1

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)

Question 2

Which layer of the tubule portion has two layers?

Answer 2

Muscularis
circular smooth muscle and longitudinal smooth muscle layer

Question 3

what is the importance of the broad ligament?

Answer 3

-double layer of connective tissue
-embryonic origin: peritoneum
-suspends ovaries, oviducts, uterus, cervix and anterior vagina
-houses vasculature, nerves, lymphatic vessels

Question 4

what are the compartments to the board ligament?

Answer 4

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)

Question 5

which species has the longest uterine horns?

Answer 5

sow

Question 6

Which species has the shortest uterine horns?

Answer 6

mare

Question 7

What are the primary functions of the ovary?

Answer 7

produce oocyte/hormones

Question 8

What are the layers of the ovary and what do they do? think GTOOM

Answer 8

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

Question 9

What is the difference in ovulation for the mare and other species?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What is the difference with the mare’s ovary?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What are the two main ovarian structures?

Answer 11

follicle and CL

Question 12

What makes up the follicle?

Answer 12

-contains oocyte
-primary hormone: estrogen
-fluid-filled
-ovulates

Question 13

What is the primary hormone for the CL

Answer 13

progesterone, cells of the follicle turn into the CL after ovulation

Question 14

What is the corpus hemorrhagicum?

Answer 14

becomes a mature corpus luteum, “bloody body”, it is the first structure found after ovulation on the ovary= Progesterone

Question 15

What are corpus albicans?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What are the follicle classifications?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What are the components to a tertiary follicle: think layers

Answer 17

theca externa: primarily loose connective tissue (not involved in hormone synthesis)
Theca interna: hormone production
Granulosa cells: hormone production and oocyte maturation

Question 18

What is the cell type closest to the oocyte and capillary beds?

Answer 18

Theca interna cells

Question 19

what separates the theca interna cell and granulosa cells?

Answer 19

basement membrane

Question 20

what is the zona pellucida?

Answer 20

outermost layer of the oocyte in the graafian follicle

Question 21

what are the corona radiata?

Answer 21

in the oocytes, tightest control over maturation, specialized granulosa cells, right behind the zona pellucida

Question 22

What is the stroma?

Answer 22

-holds the follicle/ CL
-all the tissue in ovary that holds it all together

Question 23

What are cumulus cells?

Answer 23

-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

Question 24

What are the compartments of the oviduct?

Answer 24

-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

Question 25

What species has a duplex and what is it?

Answer 25

duplex has 2 cervical canals separating each horns (1-2 vaginal canals) possums/rabbits

Question 26

Which species has a bicornuate?

Answer 26

2 uterine horns and small uterine body (cow/livestock)

Question 27

What species has a simplex?

Answer 27

human, single uterine body w/ little to no uterine horn

Question 28

What are the layers of the uterus?

Answer 28

perimetrium: thin serosal layer
Myometrium: muscularis
Endometrium: mucosa +submucosa

Question 29

what are caruncles?

Answer 29

cow/ewe have them, where the placenta is most directly attached

Question 30

What species has endometrial folds?

Answer 30

sow and mare

Question 31

What is the importance of the cervix?

Answer 31

• serves as a barrier to sperm transport (ewe and cow)
• barrier to external environment during pregnancy
• produces mucous during estrus (primary cow and ewe)

Question 32

What is the fornix?

Answer 32

a region in the cranial vagina that is closest to the cervix, it is a blind pouch where the AI rod is often stuck

Question 33

What are the external genitalia?

Answer 33

vulva, clitoris, perineum(region surrounding anus and vulva)