Female Reproductive Anatomy Flashcards
What happens during the follicular phase?
Oocyte goes through multiple developmental stages, oestradiol is secreted
What hormone is secreted during the luteal phase?
Progesterone
What is the basic anatomy of the ovary in most species?
Germinal epithelium over cortex, medulla central with lymph and blood vessels
What are the four main stages of follicular development?
Primordial follicles become primary follicles – flattened shape changes to a cuboidal shape
Secondary follicles – additional layers of cells surround the edge
Tertiary follicle – formation of fluid filled space called antrum
Dominant follicle – large antrum
How does the equine ovary differ?
Inverse appearance, cortex is on the inside – follicles only rupture at ovarian/ovulation fossa
How does the broad ligament form?
Tract grows and pushes against peritoneum, peritoneum fuses to form the broad ligament
What are the functions of the broad ligament?
Supports and suspends ovaries, oviduct, uterus, cervix and anterior vagina & houses vascular supply, lymphatic drainage and nerves
What are the three components of the broad ligament?
Mesovarium – houses blood and lymphatics supply ovary
Mesosalpinx – supports oviducts and serves as burse like pouch surrounding ovary
Mesometrium – supports uterine horns and body of uterus
What other supporting ligaments are involved?
Suspensory ligament of ovary
Proper ligament of ovary (= proper ligament of testis) – utero-ovarian ligament
Round ligament of uterus – runs caudal from tip of the uterine horn to the inguinal canal
What are the four concentric layers of the female reproductive tract?
Serosa, muscularis, submucosa, mucosa – mucosa varies depending on area of the tract
What are the three regions of the uterine tube?
Infundibulum, ampulla & isthmus
What is the blood supply to the ovary and uterine horn?
Ovarian artery supplies the ovary, a branch termed ‘uterine branch’ supplies the tip of the uterine horn
What does the intertwining of the ovarian artery & vein allow?
PGF2α to transfer from the ovarian vein to the ovarian artery
What is the structure of the uterus?
Serosa (perimetrium), myometrium (muscularis) & endometrium (submucosa and mucosa)
What are the three types of uterus?
Duplex – two cervical canals, separate uterine horns
Bicornuate – two uterine horns, small uterine body
Simplex – single uterine body (no uterine horns)
When do uterine gland secretions increase?
Under the influence of progesterone
How does uterine tissue differ amongst the common species?
Sow & mare – many endometrial folds
Cow & ewe – caruncles protrude from endometrial surface
How does uterus morphology differ amongst the common species?
Cow & sow – long coiled horns, ovary positioned close to body of uterus
Mare & bitch – straighter horns, ovary position more sublumbar
What blood supply branches from the internal iliac artery?
Uterine artery (runs within the broad ligament) & vaginal artery
What type of epithelium is found in the cervix?
Columnar – many crypts & glands
How many cervical rings/folds are found in the common species?
Single – bitch & queen
Multiple – cow, ewe & sow
Why does the cervix degree of patency vary?
Interlocking folds (cow, ewe), spiral interlocking folds (sow), loosely apposed folds (mare)
What are the two main areas of the vagina?
Cranial vagina – secretory epithelium
Caudal vagina – stratified squamous epithelium
Where is the vestibule situated?
Between urethral orifice and vulva
What type of epithelium is found in the vestibule?
Stratified squamous in all species
What are the hormonal effects on the caudal vagina?
Oestrogen dominance causes the squamous epithelium to thicken
What would you see from a vaginal swab of a bitch on oestrus?
Anuclear epithelial cells, large intermediate epithelial cells & erythrocytes
What are the functions of the vestibule?
Joint uro-genital junction – contains the external urethral orifice
What does the vulva comprise?
Labia, dorsal commissure, ventral commissure
What is housed within the ventral commissure?
Clitoris, including clitoral fossa and clitoral sinus, housed under a transfer frenulum
When would clitoral swabs be taken?
Routine pre-breeding screen for venereal pathogens
What is the innervation of the female reproductive tract?
Autonomic NS
Ovaries – SNS from mesenteric plexus
Uterus, cervix, vagina – PSNS and SNS from pelvic plexus
Describe the embryology of the main areas of the reproductive tract
Uterine tube, uterus & vagina – develop from paramesonephric ducts
Vestibule, vulval & clitoris – developed from urogenital sinus
General speaking, what are the functions of the various organs of the female reproductive tract?
Ovary – germ cell producing
Uterine tube & uterus – conducing organs
Uterus – organ providing space for development
Vagina & vestibule – copulatory organs
What are the functions of the uterine tube?
Sperm transport and storage, catching the oocyte, oocyte transport, environment for fertilisation, gamete transport
What are the functions of the uterus?
Production of prostaglandin to control cyclical activity, sperm transport/storage, environment for early embryo, contribution to the placenta, parturition
What are the functions of the cervix?
Barrier to uterus during pregnancy and other stages except oestrus, produces mucus during oestrus which acts as a lubricant for mating, level of patency during oestrus varies with species (barrier to sperm transport in cows & ewes, allows sperm transport in mares, sows & bitches)
What are the functions of the vagina?
Copulation, parturition & micturition
What is the crypt formed in the cow, mare and bitch when the cervix protrudes into the cranial vagina?
The fornix vagina
