Comparative female reproductive anatomy

How is mammary tissue attached

Via lateral and median suspensory ligaments

What is the milk vein

• Subcutaneous abdominal vein

• Blood combined from cranial and caudal superficial epigastric veins

What is a simplex uterus

What is a bicornuate uterus

What is a highly developed bicornuate uterus

What is a duplex uterus

What does the uterus of a non pregnant cow look like

What does the uterus of a non pregnant ewe look like

What does the uterus of a non pregnant sow look like

What does the uterus of a non pregnant mare look like

What does the uterus of a non pregnant bitch look like

What does the uterus of a non pregnant queen look like

Why can’t you pick up the cervix in a mare

Due to tight dorsal attachment of mesometrium

Is the corpus luteum palpable

It protrudes in most species so is palpable except in the mare

What are follicles

• Thin walled and fluid filled

• Granulosa cells synthesise oestrogen

What is the corpora lutea

• Filled with luteal cells

• Sometimes central cavity

• Grey yellow with yellow cut surface

How do cows and mares ovaries compare

• Cows smaller then mare

• Mares bean shaped

• Mares ovulatory follicle bigger

• Mares have distinct ovulatory fossa

• Cows ovulates from different places

What do follicles and CLs look on ultrasound examinations

What do mares ovaries look like on ultrasound

What is the infundibulum

Funnel shaped opening at ovarian end which captures oocyte

What is the ampulla

Relatively large diameter ciliated and site of fertilisation

What is the isthmus

Small diameter with thicked muscular walls connected to the uterus at uterotubual junction used for sperm storage

Why is the mares infundibulum less extensive

The mare ovulates from a single ovulation fossa

What are the different uterine tissues

• Perimetrium

• Myometrium

• Endometrium

What do ewes distinct maternal caruncles look like

What is the cervix

• Thick walled and non complaint

• Cervical canal surrounded by folds or rings

• Barrier to sperm transport in ewe, cow, bitch and queen

What does the cervix do during pregnancy

It isolates coceptus from external environment

What does the queen and bitch cervix look like

What does the cow cervix look like

What does the ewe cervix look like

What does the sow cervix look like

What does the mare cervix look like

Why might you introduce a catheter through the cervix

• AI

• Embryo transfer

• Treating uterine infections

Where does the caudal vagina develop from

The ectoderm

Where does the cranial vagina and uterus develop from

Mesoderm which is sensitive to the effect of AMH

What is the foetal origin of the inner sac

Amnion

What is the foetal origin of the outer sac

Chorioallantois formed by fusion of inner allantois and outer chorion

What is the allantoic cavity continuous with

The baldder of developing foetus

What provides interface with the foetus and the dam

Chorionic villi

What type of placenta do cattle and sheep have

Cotyledonary - discrete button like regions of chorionic villi

What do cotyledonary placantae look like

What type of placenta do sows and mares have

Diffuse placenta with uniform distribution of chorionic villi

How many layers does the cattle, sheep pig and mare horse placentas have

6 layers

How many layers do dog and cat placentas have

5 layers

How many layers do primate placentas have

3 layers

How are primate placentas different

• They implant

• Relatively high risk of ectopic pregnancies

• High risk of excessive blood loss at parturition

What are the features of pig placentas

• Diffuse

• Epitheliochorial

What are the features of sheep placentas

• Cotyledonary

• Epitheliochorial

• Concave maternal caruncles

What are the features of cattle placentas

• Cotyleconary

• Epitheliochorial

• Convex maternal caruncles

What are the features of dog and cat placentas

• Zonary

• Endotheliochorial

• Pigment zone

What are the features of horse placentas

• Diffuse

• Epitheliochorial

• Conceptus remains spherical in early pregnancy and migrates

• Endometrial cups are transient placental endocrine gland producing eCG

What are the umbilical vessels

• Umbilical arteries

• Umbilical vein

• Urachus

What do the umbilical arteries connect

Left and right internal iliac arteries to foetal maternal blood exchange at the chorionic villi

What does the umbilical vein connect

Foetal maternal blood exchange at the chorionic villi to the ductus venosus and vena cava

What does the urachus connect

The bladder to the allantoic cavity

What happens at birth

• Amniotic membrane of cord is broken

• Umbilical arteries retract back

• Umbilical vein and urachus close and temporarily remain outside the body

What does the umbilical artery become

Round and lateral ligaments of the liver

What does the umbilical vein become

The round ligament of the liver

What does the urachus become

The median ligament of the bladder