Reproduction: Chapter 2 Female Anatomy

What are the basic structures of the female reproductive tract?

• Ovaries

• Oviducts

• Uterus

• Cervix

• Vagina

• External Genitalia

Which parts of the female reproductive tract are tubular?

• Oviducts

• Uterus

• Cervix

• Vagina

Where is the reproductive tract located?

Beneath the rectum

What is surrounding the reproductive tract?

It is surrounded by the peritoneum which becomes a double layer of connective tissue (the suspensory tissue is then called the broad ligament)

What would happen if the reproductive tract did not have the peritoneum?

Everything would be loose and everywhere. There will be no structure

The broad ligament is the fusion of what?

Peritoneum

What are the components of the broad ligament/peritoneum?

• Mesovarium

• Mesosalpinx

• Mesometrium

Mesovarium

The anterior (cranial) portion of the BL attaches to and supports the overy

Mesosalpinx

Delicate subdivision of the BL that supports the oviducts

Mesometrium

The largest and most conspicuous part of the BL and it supports the uterine horns and the body of the uterus

What are the layers of the tubular structures?

• Serosa

• Muscularis

• Submucosa

• Mucosa

Be able to label the parts/layers of the tubular structures in the reproductive tract.

• Lumen

• Mucosa

• Submucosa

• Muscularis (2 parts)

• Serosa

What is the serosa layer?

The outer protective layer of squamous cells of the tubular structures

What is the muscarlis layer?

The next layer that contracts either in and out or shortens and lengthens

What is the Submucosa layer?

Thickness varies on region of tract; this region houses blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics (blood)

What is the mucosa layer?

A secretory layer that lines the lumen; each part of the female reproductive tract is lined by a different type of mucosal epithelium and each type performs a different function depending on the region of the tract in which it is located

Which species of animals is the MOST different from other species?

Horses

What is the pathway for the gametes from formation to exit?

Ovary —→ Oviduct —→ Uterine Horn —→ Uterus —→ Cervix —→ Vagina —→ Vulva

Which parts of the reproductive tract are paired (meaning there are two)?

• Ovary

• Oviduct

• Uterine Horn

Which species tract is this?

Cow

Which species tract is this?

Ewe

Which species tract is this?

Sow

Which species tract is this?

Mare

Which species tract is this?

Bitch

Which species tract is this?

Queen

Be able to identify the parts of the reproductive tract in the following species tract: cow, ewe, mare, sow

• Ovaries

• Uterine horns

• EUB (external uterine bi..)

• Uterine body

• Cervix

• Cranial Vagina

• Caudal Vagina

• Labia

• Vulva

What is the cervix shape for the following species?

• Mare

• Sow

• Cow

Be able to differentiate between each.

• Mare= folds

• Sow = interdigitating prominences

• Cow = rings

• Cat and dog =spinctor muscle

What is the purpose of ovaries?

To produce gametes and hormones (estrogen and progesterone)

What is the purpose of the oviducts?

Site of fertilization; capture the oocyte

What are the structures of the oviduct?

• Infundibulum (the catcher’s mit)

  • Has fimbriae

• Ampulla

  • 50% more

  • Large diameter, mucosal folds, ciliated epithelium

• Isthmus

  • Smaller diameter, more muscular, less mucosal folds

What is the purpose of the broad ligament?

A wide fold of tissue that supports and stabilizes the female reproductive tract

What is the purpose of the uterine horns?

• movement of spermatozoa

• Assists the control of cyclicality by hormone production

• Creates an environment suitable and necessary for pregancy and parturition

  • Environment

  • Placenta (maternal)

  • Expulsion

• To house, nourish, and protect developing embryos and fetuses during pregnancy

Primary site of pregnancy and helps regulate cyclist

What is the EUB?

Seperation of the uterine horns

Types of uterine horns types

1. Duplex

2. Bicornuate

3. Simplex

Duplex

Two cervices

Bicornuate

Poorly to moderately developed uterine horns

Simplex

No uterine horns

Layers of the uterus

OUTER TO INNER (THINK TUBULAR LAYERS)

• Perimetrium (serosa)

• Myometrium (Muscularis)

• Endometrium (mucosa-secrete and Submucosa-support)

  • Responsive to hormones and secretes hormones

  • Thickness and activity varies based on stage of cycle

Purpose of the cervix?

• Functions

  • Lubrication

  • Flushing system

  • BARRIER

• Passageway for sperm and baby

• Acts as a protective barrier

What are the variations of cervixes? And which species has which?

• Folds = mares

• Rings = cow, ewe

  • Single or multiple

• Interdigitating Prominences = sow

What are the parts of the vagina and which system coordinates with each?

• Cranial Vagina

  • Reproduction

• Caudal Vagina

  • Urinary and reproduction

Purpose of the labia?

The outer folds of skin that protect the internal reproductive and urinary organs

Purpose of the vulva?

The external opening of the female and it serve as a protective barrier, which is an entry point for mating, and an exit pathway for waste and offspring

What is the site of copulation in cows?

The vagina

What is the site of copulation in sows?

The cervix

What is the site of copulation in mare?

Vagina

What’s the difference in an oocyte and ovum?

Female gamete = oocyte (immature female gamete)

Ovum= occurs at fertilization and is very quick

What are the ovarian layers? (From outermost to the inner layer)

• (1) Tunica Albuginea

• (2) Ovarian Cortex

• (3) Ovarian Medulla

What is the tunica albuginea?

• the outermost layer of the ovary

• Connective tissue

  • Just protective, dense tissue

  • Protects the ovary

• Lies just beneath the “germinal” epithelium

What is the ovarian cortex?

• the next layer after the tunica albuginea

• Houses the oocytes

  • Where the oocytes are being produced

  • Corpus luteum is here

• The mare is inside out (meaning the fossa is inside and the medula is surrounding it)

What is the ovarian medulla?

• core of the ovary

• Has the vasculature, nerves, lymphatics

What is unique about the mare’s ovaries?

The cortex and medula are revered (cortex is inside and medulla is outside)

What’s unique about the mare’s ovulation?

• the cortex is inside, medulla outside

• Ovulation occurs at only one location in the mare’s ovary, while it occurs at random locations in the ovaries of the other mammals

• It occurs at the ovulation fossa

What are the ovarian structures?

In order of developmental stages…

• Primordial follicles

• Primary follicles

• Secondary folllicles

• Antral (tertiary) follicles

• Corpora lutea

• Corpora albicans

Primordial follicles

• 1st stage

• Dormant/sleeping stage

• Microscopic

Primary Follicle

• The 1st stage that is woken up; the primordial follicles Primary follicles develops into a slightly more advanced follicle

• Interacts with the environment

• Most intricate cellular layer

Secondary follicles

• next layer and has cellular layers

• Has the zona pellucida - a relatively thick translucent layer

  • Functions of the zona pellucia

    • Protects the gamete as the follicle starts growing

    • Necessary for fertilization to occur

    • Protect early development embryo

Antral (tertiary) Follicles

• Tertiary, Antral DeGaaf

• “Filling up the balloon”

• Follicle is seen by the naked eye

• Look like blisters

Corpus Lutea

Follicle turns into CL and if not pregnant, then CL will regress

• “yellow body”

• Produce progesterone (pregnancy maintenance hormone)

Corpora albicans

• Scar tissue of not being pregnant

• “White body”

What are the Antral follicle layers?

OUT TO IN

• Theca externa

• Theca interna

• Granulosal

Theca Externa

• outer layer, serosa layer

• Provides support for the follicle

Theca Interna

• Layer beneath Theca externa

• androgen production under the influence of LH

• Pituitary LH

  • LH produce testosterone

  • FSH produce estrogen

Granulosal Layer

• “Membrane granulosa”

• Pituitary FSH

  • Produce Esotrgen, follicular fluid

  • Govern maturation of oocyte

Does the bigger of the follicle mean there is more estrogen?

YES and it encourages more mating behavior

Know the layers/steps of the Antral follicle steps

:O

What is the corpus hemorrhagicum?

• “blood body”

• Delay bc trying to heal itself

• And as it heals itself it become CL

What are disorders of the ovary?

• Ovarian Cysts

• Polycystic Ovaries

• Ovarian Tumors

• Gonadal Hypoplasia

Ovarian Cysts (disorder)

• refusal to give up

• Follicle refuses to go away (basically refuses to ovulate)

Polycystic ovaries (disorder)

• single offspring

• Has one spring offspring, but many follicles are allowed to grow (but will not ovulate)

• Follicle becomes a stagnant structure and no other ovulation will occur which can cause hormone imbalances and behavioral changes

Ovarian Tumors (disorders)

Most documented in mares

Gonadal Hypoplasia

• ovarian is underdeveloped

• Unlateral= one ovary can still produce

• Bilateral= both ovaries cannot reproduce (INFERTILE)

Purpose of the vagina?

• copulatory organ in most species (not sow, sow is cervix)

• Common passageway for urine

• Fetal expulsion point

• Fornix

• Locations within

  • Cranial and caudal

Moving out of the vagina…

• Vestibule

  • vestibular glands (Submucosa)

  • Suburethral diverticulum

  • Urethral tubercle

• External Genitalia

  • Protection of reproductive tract

  • Structures

    • Vulva

    • Perineum