Female reproductive tract

Question 1

Female reproductive tract

Answer 1

Ligaments
• Ovaries (x2)
• Oviducts (x2)
• Uterus – horns, body & cervix • Vagina
• Vestibule
• Vulva

Question 2

Ligaments

Answer 2

• Broad ligaments: • Mesometrium
• Mesovarium • Mesosalpinx
• Proper ligament of the ovary (O to H)
• Suspensory ligament of the ovary (O to wall)
• Round ligament of the uterus

Question 3

Ovaries

Answer 3

Ovaries
• Produce the female sex cells – Ova (oogenesis)
• Paired organs located in the dorsal abdominal cavity caudal to the kidneys
• Oestrogen and progesterone
• Attached to various areas of the abdomen via ligaments (mesovarium, mesosalpinx, suspensory ligament)

Ovarian artery (branch of the aorta and follows the suspensory ligament to the ovary)
• Ovary + uterine tube enclosed in a section of visceral peritoneum known as the mesovarium
• Part of the mesovarium forms a pocket like structure known as the ovarian bursa which completely covers the ovary

Question 4

Ovarian cycle

Answer 4

• Development of ovum (egg) , ovulation, formation of corpus luteum (CL) , and degeneration of un- ripened follicles and CL
• Influenced by follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)

Question 5

Oviduct

Answer 5

(Uterine Tube)
• Constructed of smooth muscle
• Ciliated columnar epithelium
• Muscle contractions (peristalsis) and cilia movements guide ovum toward the uterus
• Fertilization→Isthmus
• Open end of the oviduct has modified finger-like processes that ‘catch’ the ova (Infundibulum with finger-like projections are known as Fimbriae

Question 6

Uterus (Uterine Horns)

Answer 6

Hollow ‘Y’ shaped structure • Body
• Two uterine horns
• Wall of smooth muscle (myometrium) with an inner layer (endometrium)
The two uterine horns come together at the neck which forms a continuous section of uterus known as the body which then leads to the base of the uterus called the cervix

Question 7

Cervix

Answer 7

• Short, thick walled muscular sphincter between the body of the uterus and the vagina
• Controls access to the lumen of the uterus from the vagina
• Normally tightly closed, except during estrus and parturition
• Relaxes to allow passage of sperm or foetuses
• During pregnancy it is blocked by a mucoid plug which detaches during parturition (labour)

Question 8

Vagina

Answer 8

• highly dilatable muscular tube caudally from the cervix, leads to the vestibule

Question 9

Vestibule

Answer 9

is extremely muscular and is thought by some to contribute to the ‘tie’ seen in dogs during mating. The urethra opens on its floor

Question 10

vulva

Answer 10

The vulva marks the external opening of the urogenital tract. It consists of folds of skin known as the labia

Question 11

Oestrous

Answer 11

Pertaining to the whole cycle

Question 12

Oestrus

Answer 12

Pertaining to part of the cycle

Question 13

Monoestrus

Answer 13

animal that have one oestrous cycle

Question 14

Polyestrous

Answer 14

animals that cycle continuously throughout the year if

they are not pregnant (cattle and swine)

Question 15

Seasonally polyestrous

Answer 15

animals with seasonal variations in oestrous cycles (horse, sheep, cat)

Question 16

The oestrous cycle of the bitch

Acronym = POMDA

Answer 16

Pro-oestrus 
• Oestrus
• Metoestrus 
• Dioestrus
• Anoestrus

Question 17

Pro-oestrus

Answer 17

The period during which the follicles in the ovary enlarge and become mature

Question 18

Oestrus

Answer 18

When the follicles rupture and the ova are released (ovulation)

Question 19

Metoestrus

Answer 19

The period when the corpus luteum starts to form at the site of the ruptured follicle

Question 20

Dioestrus

Answer 20

When the corpus luteum is established or if the ova have been fertilised = pregnancy

Question 21

Anoestrus

Answer 21

Period where there is no ovarian activity

Question 22

Luteinising hormone

(LH) pathway

Answer 22

Graaf follicle causing ovulation> CL forms
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PROGESTERONE: Maintains pregnancy, seals uterus, mammary gland development and RELAXIN: Lig/muscular relaxation end pregnancy

Question 23

Follicle stimulating hormone

FSH pathway

Answer 23

Graaf follicle
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OESTROGEN
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Pro-oestrus signs

Question 24

(Oestrogens) Oestradiol

Answer 24

Prepare genital tract for reception of fertilised eggs

Question 25

Progesterone

Answer 25

Essential for maintenance of pregnancy. Produced by the CL (after ovulation + placenta)

Question 26

Relaxin

Answer 26

Relaxation of ligaments around birth canal. Late pregnancy, produced by the CL

Question 27

Pseudocyesis (pseudopregnancy or false pregnancy)

Answer 27

Corpus luteum may prolong the production of progesterone and develop a false pregnancy

Signs include:
• Mammary gland enlargement • Milk production
• Nest making

Question 28

The ewe

Answer 28

• (short day) seasonally polyestrus, polytocous

* 16-17 day cycle

Question 29

Cattle

Answer 29

Polyestrous, monotocous • 20 day cycles

Question 30

Mare

Answer 30

• (long day) seasonal polyestrous, monotocous

* 21 day cycles

Question 31

Oestrus cycle in the queen

Answer 31

• Seasonally polyoestrous
• Long day breeders with a period of anoestrus beginning in late
autumn & resumption of reproductive activity as daylight increases
• Some cats have regular oestrous cycles lasting about 3 weeks, but others show no regular pattern.
• Duration of oestrus is 7-10 days regardless of mating.
• Induced ovulators - mating triggers ovulation
• Mating causes release of LH from the anterior pituitary
• Normally need multiple matings to achieve adequate LH release