Lecture 3 - Female Reproductive Tract Flashcards
Broad ligament
- suspends the repro tract in the abdomen and houses the vascular supply, lymphatic drainage, and nerves for the female tract
- each segment of the BL interacts with a different portion of the tract
3 segments of the broad ligament
- Mesovarium
- Mesosalpinx
- Mesometrium
Mesovarium
- houses vascular supply, lymphatic drainage, and nerves for the OVARY
- forms the ovarian stem = hilus
Mesosalpinx
- thin, transparent segment of the BL that supports the oviduct
- forms a pouch around the ovary = bursa
Mesometrium
- largest portion of BL
- supports the UTERINE HORNS- suspended from the dorsal body wall
Utero-ovarian ligament
attaches the ovary and the uterus but is not apart of the BL
Area of the ovary where there is follicular development
cortex
atretic follicle
developing follicle that is deteriorating
mature pre-ovulatory follicle
antral/graafian follicle
4 layers of the female tract
- serosa (outer layer)
- muscularis
- submucosa
- mucosa
Serosa
- single layer of flattened cells that cover the female tract (like skin)
- exposed to other organs in the abdomen
Muscularis
- double layer of smooth muscles; other longitudinal layer, inner circular layer
- allows tissues to contract (transport)
Submucosa
- houses blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics
- supporting layer for mucosa
Mucosa
- secretory layer of epithelium in lumen of the reproductive tract
- properties and role varies for each segment of the tract
Theca cells
- respond to LH and produce testosterone
Granulosa cells
- respond to FSH
- converts T to E2 (which goes into circulation and the follicular antrum)
What parts of the antral follicle stay with the oocyte after ovulation
- corona radiata and cumulus ooporus
5 parts of the oviduct
- infundibulum
- ampulla
- ampullary-isthmic junction
- isthmus
- uterotubal junction
Infundibulum
- funnel shaped opening closes over the ovary
- forms “pocket” around the ovary
- fimbriae sweep oocytes toward the oviduct
Ampulla
- upper-half of the oviduct
- large diameter and ciliated mucosa to transport oocytes to the point of fertilization
Ampullary-isthmic junction
site of fertilization
Site of fertilization
Ampullary-isthmic jxn
Isthmus
-lower-half of the oviduct attached to the uterus
- small diameter tube that transports sperm to AIJ and transports embryos to the uterus
Uterotubal junction
- jxn of the uterus and oviduct
- sperm reservoir
Functions of the uterus (controlled by stage of the female cycle)
- sperm transport to the oviduct
- maintain pre-implantation embryo
- maternal portion of placenta - transfer of nutrients to fetus
- expulsion of fetus and fetal placenta
3 tissue layers of the uterus
- Perimetrium = serosa
- Myometrium = muscularis
- Endometrium = mucosa + submucosa
Perimetrium
external layer that connects to the mesometrium of the BL
Myometrum
- muscle layers of the uterus
- facilitates uterine contractions: sperm transport; expulsion of fetus & placenta
Endometrium
- cells lining the uterine lumen
- roles vary with female cycle: secretions that enhance sperm and embryo survival; signals if pregnancy has been achieved; maternal portion of placenta and transfer of nutrients to fetus
Cervix
Thick walled segment of female system that separated the internal tract from the external tract
Forms of cervical lumen
- single fold: bitch and queen
- multiple folds: sow, ewe, cow & mare
Cervical functions
Copulation
- cow, ewe, bitch and queen = reservoir/barrier to sperm transport
- sow and mare = site of semen deposition
Pregnancy
- mucus plug conserves the sterile uterine environment
Vagina
Copulatory organ of the female
- site of semen deposition (cow, ewe, bitch and queen)
Thickness and secretions of the mucosa influenced by the estrus cycle
- lubricate and protect the vaginal wall
Epithelium of the cranial vaginal vs caudal vagina
- Cranial vagina: columnar epithelium
- Caudal vagina: stratified squamous epithelium
