Chapter 3: Reproductive System

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Testis

Produces spermatozoa and hormones such as testosterone by Leydig cells and inhibin by Sertoli cells.

Testicular Capsule

Covers the testis and consists of two layers

Parenchyma of testis

Comprises seminiferous tubules, the site of spermatozoa production, and interstitial tissue containing Leydig cells.

Mediastinum of testis

Central connective tissue core that houses the rete tubules, tiny ducts for spermatozoa transport out of the testis.

Efferent Ducts

Transport spermatozoa from rete tubules to the epididymis.

Epididymis

Site of final spermatozoa maturation, where sperm gain motility and potential fertility, and acts as a reservoir.

Head of Epididymis

Involved in spermatozoa capacitation.

Body of Epididymis

Involved in spermatozoa capacitation.

Tail of Epididymis

Stores spermatozoa prior to ejaculation.

Epididymal Duct

Pathway for spermatozoa transit within the epididymis.

Ductus Deferens

Connects the tail of the epididymis to the pelvic urethra.

Scrotum

Protects the testes and aids in thermoregulation.

Inguinal Ring

Passageway from the body cavity into the scrotum.

Spermatic Cord

Facilitates heat exchange, suspends the testis in the scrotum, and provides a pathway for testicular vasculature, lymphatic vessels, and nerves. It houses the pampiniform plexus, ductus deferens, and cremaster muscle.

Cremaster Muscle

Supports the testis and assists in thermoregulation.

Pampiniform Plexus

A network of vessels that perform countercurrent heat exchange between hot arterial blood from the body and cooler venous blood from the testis.

Accessory Glands

Produce seminal plasma, crucial for sperm viability and transport.

Ampullae of Ductus Deferens

Paired enlargements of the terminal part of the ductus deferens, absent in dogs and boars.

Vesicular Gland

Located dorsocranial to the pelvic urethra, paired, with secretions emptying into the pelvic urethra. Notable differences include lobulated in bulls and rams, well-developed in boars, elongated hollow pouches in stallions, and absent in dogs.

Prostate Gland

A single gland close to the junction between the bladder and pelvic urethra, with multiple ducts. Includes corpus prostate and disseminate prostate structures, present in all domestic species.

Bulbourethral Glands (Cowper's Gland)

Paired, located near the ischiatic arch on the side of the pelvic urethra. Size and importance vary

Ampullae of Ductus Deferens

Presence in bulls, stallions, and cats; absence in boars and dogs.

Vesicular Glands

Present in bulls, boars, stallions, and cats; absent in dogs.

Prostate Gland

Present in bulls, boars, stallions, dogs, and cats.

Bulbourethral Gland

Present in bulls, boars, stallions, and cats; absent in dogs.

Urethral Muscle

Involved in erection and ejaculation processes in male reproductive system.

Bulbospongiosus Muscle

Facilitates erection and ejaculation by compressing the bulb of the penis.

Ischiocavernosus Muscle

Assists in maintaining penile erection by compressing the root of the penis.

Retractor Penis Muscle

Retracts the penis into the sheath in animals with a musculocavernous penis.

Musculocavernous Penis

Characterized by more cavernous space and less connective tissue, increases in length and girth during erection; found in horses and dogs.

Fibroelastic Penis

Contains less cavernous space and more connective tissue, extends during erection by straightening of the sigmoid flexure; common in ruminants and pigs.

Bulbus Glandis

Part of the glans in dogs that fills with blood during copulation to prolong retention of the penis.

Sigmoid Flexure

A characteristic of fibroelastic penises that extends during erection; present in bulls, rams, and boars.

Glans Penis - Boar

Corkscrew-shaped to match sow's cervix.

Glans Penis - Stallion

Bell-shaped with an urethral process to facilitate mating.

Glans Penis - Tom

Features spikes to stimulate ovulation in the queen.

Root of Penis

The base of the penis where it attaches to the body.

Os Penis

Bone within the penis, present only in dogs.

Filiform Appendage

Sprays sperm inside the vagina to enhance fertilization chances; found in rams.

Prepuce

Skin fold covering the free extremity of the penis, varies among species in structure and function.

Ovary

Produces oocytes and hormones, essential for female reproductive function.

Tunica Albuginea - Ovary

Protective connective tissue layer just under the surface epithelium of the ovary.

Ovarian Cortex

Layer beneath the tunica albuginea containing ovarian follicles; site of ovulation.

Ovarian Medulla

Central part of the ovary containing connective tissue, blood vessels, lymph vessels, and nerves.

Uterine Tube

Conducts oocytes from the ovaries to the uterine horns and is the site of fertilization, composed of the infundibulum, ampulla, and isthmus.

Uterus

Organ of pregnancy, connecting uterine tubes to the cervix, involved in sperm transport, cyclicity control, providing an environment for the embryo, contributing to the placenta, and expelling the fetus and fetal placenta.

Perimetrium

Outermost layer of the uterus.

Myometrium

Middle, muscular layer of the uterus, crucial for contractions during labor.

Endometrium

Innermost layer of the uterus, site of embryo implantation and interaction with the placenta.

Bicornuate Uterus

Features two uterine horns and one uterine body, leading into the vagina through a single cervical canal, with visible internal and external uterine bifurcation.

Simplex Uterus

Comprised of a single uterine body without uterine horns, typical of primates and humans.

Duplex Uterus

Contains two cervical canals that separate each uterine horn into two compartments, absent of a uterine body, found in rabbits.

Caruncles

Highly vascularized areas in the ruminant endometrium, representing the maternal portion of the placenta, with convex shape in bovines and concave in ovines.

Endometrial folds

Enhance the uterine surface area for placental development, present in equine and swine.

Cervix

Thick-walled organ functioning as a barrier to sperm, a reservoir for spermatozoa, a producer of mucus during estrus, and isolates the embryo/fetus during pregnancy with the cervical seal.

Cow and Ewe Cervix

Characterized by several cervical rings.

Sow Cervix

Corkscrew-shaped.

Mare Cervix

Contains loose folds.

Cow, Mare, and Bitch Cervix

Protrudes into the anterior vagina forming the fornix vagina.

Vagina

Serves as the copulatory organ, passive birth canal, and expulsion site for urine.

Clitoris

Erectile tissue of the female reproductive system.

Vulva

External portion of the female reproductive system.

Broad Ligament

Supports the female reproductive tract, consisting of the mesometrium, mesosalpinx, and mesovarium.

Mesometrium

Largest portion of the broad ligament, holds the uterus in place.

Mesosalpinx

Holds the uterine tube.

Mesovarium

Involves and supports the ovaries.