Female Reproductive Tract

Ovaries, oviduct, uterus, cervix, vagina, external genitalia

What are the structures of the female repro tract?

diagnose ovarian status

diagnose pregnancy

manipulate tract for AI

recover embryos using nonsurgical techniques

identify abnormalities in tract

What can you utilize palpation to do?

Serosa

single layer of transparent cells that functions to prevent adhesions

serosa

What is the outermost layer of the female reproductive tract?

Muscularis

has an inner circular and outer longitudinal layer that produces muscle contractions which help with transport and expulsion of the fetus and placenta

secretory products, gametes, early embryos

What does the muscularis transport?

Submucosa

support layer for mucosa that acts as a shock absorber and contains blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics

Mucosa

inner layer of the repro tract that surrounds the lumen

Mucosa

What is the innermost layer of the female reproductive tract?

Serosa, Muscularis, Submucosa, Mucosa

List the layers of the female reproductive tract in order from outermost to innermost.

Protection

What do squamous cells in the mucosa function in?

Secretory

What do columnar cells in the mucosa function in?

Transport

What do ciliated columnar cells in the mucosa function in?

Broad Ligament

double layered connective tissue sheet that supports and suspends the ovaries, oviduct, uterus, cervix, and anterior vagina within the body cavity

Mesovarium

component of the broad ligament associated with the ovary that forms a hilus (stalk) and contains nerves, blood vessels, and lymphatics

Utero-ovarian Ligament

attaches ovary to uterus

Mesosalpinx

thin portion of the broad ligament that surrounds and supports the oviduct and orients the infundibulum to collect oocytes

Mesometrium

largest portion of the broad ligament that hangs from the dorsal wall and supports the uterus, cervix, and vagina

Control activity of organs

Transport sperm

Produce oocyte

Facilitate fertilization

Provide environment for embryo and fetus

Give birth to fetus

Recycle to become pregnant again

Provide nutrients to young

What are overall functions for the female reproductive tract?

Ovary

round, knot-like structure that contains much vasculature and exhibits dramatic and predictable series of changes over a 3 week period

Produce female gametes

Produce the hormones estradiol and progesterone

Produce other hormones (oxytocin, relaxin, inhibin, activin)

What are functions of the ovary?

Germinal Epithelium

transparent, surface epithelium that is continuous with the peritoneal lining and prevents adhesions

Tunica Albuginea

dense connective tissue layer that provides structure to the ovary

Cortex

outer layer containing population of oocytes which will develop into mature follicles and eventually ovulate (except in mares)

Medulla

innermost layer that contains connective tissue, blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves

germinal epithelium, tunica albuginea, cortex, medulla

What is the order of layers of the ovary from outermost to innermost?

the cortex and medulla are inverted

What is special about a mare’s ovary?

Ovulation Fossa

tubular structure to get oocytes out of ovary to oviduct in mares (site of ovulation)

follicles, corpus luteum, corpus albicans

What is all contained in the ovarian cortex?

Folliculogenesis

development of immature follicles into mature follicles to become candidates for ovulation

Corpus Luteum

large “yellow body” structures that produce progesterone

Corpus Albicans

smaller “white body” structures that represent scar tissue and are of degenerate form of CL

estimates how many times animal has undergone estrous cycles

What can corpora albicantia tell us?

Primordial Follicle

smallest, most immature, microscopic ova within follicle that has one layer of squamous cells

Primary Follicle

one layer of cuboidal cells

Secondary Follicle

two or more layers of cuboidal cells

Zona Pellucida

thick, translucent layer of the secondary follicle that protects what’s inside

Antral Follicle

mature, ovulatory follicle containing cavity filled with follicular fluid

Theca Externa

loose connective tissue layer of the antral follicle that surrounds and supports the oocyte

Theca Interna

layer of the antral follicle that produces testosterone

Granulosa

layer of the antral follicle that is separated from the theca interna by a thin, basement membrane and produces estrogen and aids in maturation of the oocyte, having intimate contact with it

coverts testosterone from the theca interna to estrogen

How is estrogen produced by the granulosa?

theca externa, theca interna, granulosa

What are the three layers of the antral follicle in order from outermost to innermost?

Corpus Hemorrhagicum

“bloody body” ovulating follicle; small blood vessels ruptured and loss of antral fluid causes follicle to collapse into numerous folds

theca interna and granulosal cells

Which cells differentiate into luteal cells to form the corpus luteum?

True

True or false: females are born with a lifetime supply of primordial and primary follicles

Primary state

What state is the oocyte always in within every stage of the follicle?

Prostaglandin F2 alpha

What hormone destroys the CL and turns it into a CA if the female isn’t pregnant?

single cell

How many cells is an oocyte?

Cumulus Oophorus

Sticky cells that are ovulated with the oocyte and are a subset of granulosa cells

Corona Radiata

subset of cumulus oophorus cells that interact with the oocyte and send signals to control development

Inhibits estrus and parturition

Blocks myometrial contractions

Stimulates endometrial secretion of nutrients

Stimulates production of luteolytic agent to kill CL if no embryo is present

What does progesterone, produced by the CL, do?

Fimbria

petal-like structure that lines the infundibulum and contains ciliated cells to move ovum

Infundibulum

funnel shaped, covers ovary to pick up ovum

Ostium

opening to oviduct

Ampulla

first half of the oviduct

Many folds

Ciliated epithelium

Large diameter

Not very muscular

What are characteristics of the ampulla?

Ampullary-Isthmic Junction

sphincter between the ampulla and isthmus that serves as a control point

Ampullary-Isthmic Junction, within the ampulla

Where is the site of fertilization?

Isthmus

second half of oviduct

Few folds in lumen

Few ciliated epithelial cells

Small diameter

Very muscular

What are characteristics of the isthmus?

uterus has to prepare for embryo implantation

Why does the embryo stay in the isthmus for a few days after fertilization?

Utero-Tubal Junction

point where the uterine horn meets the oviduct and functions to block polyspermy

Transport sperm to site of fertilization

Reduce sperm numbers to prevent polyspermy

Remove oocyte from surface of ovary

Transport oocyte to site of fertilization

Provide proper environment for fertilization

Transport and facilitate development of early embryo

What are the functions of the oviduct?

isthmus

What serves as a reservoir until sperm is released into the Ampullary-Isthmic Junction?

litter bearing

Which type of species have longer uterine horns?

uterine body

What is the site of semen deposition in mares and sows, and during AI?

two cervixes

What is special about a duplex uterus?

two uterine horns and a body

What is characteristic of a bicornuate uterus?

no uterine horns

What is characteristic of a simplex uterus?

Perimetrium

Outer serosal layer of the oviduct, vagina, and uterus that is continuous with the peritoneum and blocks adhesions

Myometrium

Middle layer of the oviduct, vagina, and uterus that consists of an inner circular layer of smooth muscle and an outer longitudinal muscle layer, responsible for peristaltic contractions

Endometrium

innermost layer of the oviduct, vagina, and uterus that provides a point of placental attachment and contains glands that provide secretions for embryo development

Transport sperm when female is in heat

Absorption and phagocytosis of sperm

Partially prepare sperm for fertilization

Provide environment for embryo

Support development of fetus

Expel fetus at birth

Recover from pregnancy

Release prostaglandin to cause CL regression

What are functions of the uterus?

towards oviduct

What direction are uterine muscle contractions during estrus?

towards cervix

What direction are uterine muscle contractions following ovulation and until progesterone increases from CL?

estrogen

What stimulates uterine secretions to capacitate sperm?

uterine involution

myometrial contractions and enzymatic activity shrinking uterus back to normal size

Uterine glands

protrude from mucosa into submucosa, produce prostaglandin and have secretory functions

estrogen

Under what hormone control do uterine endometrial glands become spiralized?

Progesterone

Under what hormone control do the uterine glands reach their full secretory potential?

Cervix

thick walled, non-compliant connective tissue serving as gateway to uterus

Estrogen

Under what hormone control is the cervix open and mucus watery?

Progesterone

Under what hormone control is the cervix closed and the mucus jelly-like to act as a plug?

Vagina

copulatory organ and site for expulsion of urine

Fornix vagina

What is the site of semen deposition during natural mating in the cow and ewe?

Transport sperm

Site of stallion and boar ejaculation

Barrier to sperm

Reservoir to sperm

Blocking bacterial invasion during pregnancy

Birth canal

What are the functions of the cervix?

Cow

Which species has a cervix with 4-5 annular rings?

Sow

Which species has a cervix with many interdigitating pads?

Mare

Which species has a cervix without any obstacles after the fornix vagina?

Suburethral diverticulum

Where urine enters vagina to exit system

Copulatory organ

Birth canal

What are the functions of the vagina?

acidic

Is the vagina acidic or basic?

Cranial vagina

part of the vagina near the cervix with columnar epithelium and secretory activity

Caudal vagina

extends from external urethral orifice to labia of vulva

Vestibule

floor of the vagina

Vulva-vaginal sphincter muscle

located behind the urethra, contracts to block urine from entering the uterus

Vestibular glands

Vaginal glands that contribute to lubrication during estrus and produce pheromones

Pheromones

airborne chemical messages; odor that attracts male or female

Clitoris

Housed in the ventral commissure of the vestibule, erectile tissue that is sensitive to neural stimulation and may control a response to copulation