Reproductive System Flashcards
ovary
shape/size, what does it consist of, what does it produce
- Bean shaped
- Horse: 4-8cm x 4-6cm (breeding season)
- Fibrous capsule
- Ova fossa
- Produce estrogen
- Tunica albuginea
- Ovarian cortex
- Ovarian medulla
fibrous capsule in ovary
protective layer
ova fossa in ovary
area where ovulation occurs
tunica albuginea in ovary
outer single cell layer
ovarian cortex in ovary
oocytes, corpus luteum, corpora albicans
ovarian medulla in ovary
blood vessels, nerves, lymphatic tissue
where is the ovarian medulla
in the ovary in the middle (more on the inside)
where is the ovarian cortex in the ovary
more on the outside
inside the ovarian cortex
- Primary oocyte
- Secondary oocyte within a follicle
- Graafian follicle (pre-ovulatory follicle)
–> Ovulation - Corpus luteum (gelbkörper)
- Corpora albicans (degenerating corpus lutea)
uterus
what does it consist of
- A body and two horns
- Wall consists of three layers
- Outer: connective tissue layer
- Middle: muscle layer
- Inner: mucosa, called endometrium -> epithelial cell layer
uterus functions
- Sperm/semen transport
- Luteolysis (production PGF2α breakdown CL)
- Environment for attachment of embryo
- Maternal contribution to the placenta
- Expulsion of the fetus and fetal placenta
cervix
- Thick-walled connective tissue
- Lined by a series of folds
cervix functions
- Seal/barrier (tightly closed during anestrus)
- Let sperm pass (flowering, thinner sections)
order of movement of the ovum
Ovary, oviduct, uterus horn, uterus body, cervix, vagina, vulva
where does fetilization take place
oviduct
how long is the cycle
21 days
what happens on day 0 of the cycle
ovulation
what happens on day 5 of the cycle
progesterone level rises
what happens on day 16 of the cycle
Prostaglandin F2α -> makes CL regress
what happens on day 21 of the cycle
CL disappears
when is LH the highest in the cycle
shortly before ovulation
when is progesterone the highest in the cycle
from day 10 to 17
when is oestrogen the highest in the cycle
before ovulation
when is GnRH the highest in the cycle
day 7
when is FSH the highest in the cycle
it is sometimes higher and sometimes lower like a wave
PGF2α
Is produced by uterus when there has been no implantation during the luteal phase, acts on corpus luteum to cause luteolysis, forming corpus albicans and stopping the production of progesterone
hormonal cycle (9 steps)
- GnRH from hypothalamus to pituitary
- FSH and LH from pituitary stimulate growth of follicle in ovary
- Growing follicle produces estrogen
- Ovulation: oocyte is released
- Rest of follicle forms corpus luteum
- CL produces progesterone, wall of uterus grows
- If fertilization: egg travels to uterus
- If no fertilization: CL will regress (PGF2α acts on CL to form corpus albicans to stop the production of progesterone)
- Menstruation takes place (or lining of uterus wall will be reabsorbed)
testis
- Primary reproductive organs in the male
- Production of: spermatozoa, hormones (and proteins), fluids
the functional part of the testis cosists of:
tubular and intertubular compartment
what is in the tubular compartment
- Seminiferous tubules (sperm production):
- Germ cells -> spermatozoa
- Sertoli cells -> nursing cells (epithelial cells, support spermatogenesis)
what is in the intertubular spaces (4)
- Cells of Leydig (production of testosterone)
- Capillaries (blood supply)
- Lymphatic vessels
- Connective tissue
what do sertoli cells do
nursing cells, support spermatogenesis
what do the cells of leydig do
production of testosterone
spermatic cord
- Transport semen
- Provide vascular, lymphatic, and ventral connection to the body
- Provide a heat exchanger (pampiniform plexus = network of veins)
- House of the cremaster muscle (muscle that surrounds testis and spermatic cord)
excurrent duct system
- Allows for final maturation, storage, and delivery of spermatozoa to the urethra. It consists of:
- epididymal duct
- vas deferens
- accessory sex glands
epididymal duct (epididymis)
- Head, body, tail
- Convoluted tubules
- Stores sperm
- Drives further sperm maturation
vas deferens (ductus deferens)
- Connects testis to urethra
- Transport of semen
functions of the accessory sex glands
- Production of semen fluids
- Production of semen nutrients
seminal plasma is produced by …
- Epididymis
- Accessory glands:
- Ampulla
- Vesicular glands
- Prostate glands
- Bulbo-urethral gland (Cowper’s gland)
functions of seminal plasma
- Helps transport semen
- Causes final development of the sperm
- Provides energy and nutrients for sperm survival
