Lab 1 Terms Flashcards
Mucosa
secretory layer of epithelium surrounding the lumen
Submucosa
varies in thickness and houses the blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics
Muscularis
comprised of circular and longitudinal smooth muscle layers - discuss how each one contracts and relaxes to move oocytes, embryos, sperm, etc in female tract (synchronized squeezing and pushing)
Serosa
single layer of squamous cells that cover the reproductive tract
Broad ligament
- supports and suspends tract
- contains vascular supply, nerves, lymphatic drainage
- composed of the mesometrium, mesosalpinx, mesovarium
Mesometrium
a segment of the broad ligament that supports the uterine body
Mesosalpinx
a segment of the broad ligament that supports the oviduct
Mesovarium
a segment of the broad ligament that supports the ovaries
Ovaries
- Female Gonads
- suspended by the mesovarium
- shape dependent upon species
- function:
- produce female gametes
- produce estrogen and progesterone
Cortex
- houses oocytes (also where follicular development occurs)
- in cattle, sheep, and pigs
Medulla
- houses vascular, nerves, and lymphatics
- in the horse it houses oocytes and is where follicular development occurs
Hilus
- located at the base of the ovary
- houses the lymphatic vessels and nerves that enter and leave the ovary
Tunica albuginea
- outer connective tissue surface
Ovulation Fossa
- specific location on the ovary of a mare where ovulation occurs
- ovulation can occur anywhere on the cortex of other species
Sequence of development of ovarian structures
Primordial follicle (oocyte inside) -> primary follicle -> secondary follicle -> tertiary follicle (antrum develops) -> Graafian follicle -> ovulated oocyte -> corpus hemorrhagicum -> corpus lutem ->corpus albicans
Oviduct
- ovary to uterine horn
- supported by mesosalpinx
- function:
- ovum transport
- sperm storage and capacitation
- fertilization (AIJ)
- early embryo development
Infundibulum
- funnel-shaped opening or catcher’s mitt
- the surface is coated with numerous velvety, finger-like projections called fimbriae
- near the time of ovulations, the fimbriae increase in surface area and cause infundibulum to glide over the entire surface of the ovary (max the chance that it will “catch” the oocyte)
Ampulla
- between the infundibulum and the isthmus
- comprises 1/2 or more of the oviduct
Isthmus
- the portion directly connect to the uterus
- smaller in diameter than the ampulla
Uterotubal Junction
- in the cow is thought to regulate the movement of the embryo into the uterus
Uterus
- Organ between the oviducts and the cervix
- consists of a body and two horns (cornua)
- cow, ewe, sow, and mare have bicornuate uteri
- humans have simplex uteri (no horns)
- Functions: sperm transport, luteolysis, control of cyclicity, embryo environment, maternal placenta, expulsion of fetus
Cervix
- located between the vagina and uterus
- main function is to serve as a barrier to protect the uterine environment
- functions: lubrication, flushing, barrier
- species differences: annular rings (cow & ewe), corkscrew (sow), longitudinal folds (mare)
- main determinant of how AI is conducted in each species
Vagina
- connects the cervix to the external genitalia and serves as the female copulatory organ
Vulva
- external tissue of the female reproductive tract, receives penis during copulation
