female reproductive anatomy

what does the internal genitalia include?

• gonads

• oviduct

• uterus

• vagina

• cervix

• vestibule

what is included in external genital organs?

• vulva and clitoris

what are the general functions of:

1. ovary

2. oviduct + uterus

3. uterus

4. vagina + vestibule

1. germ cell producing organs

2. conducing organs

3. provides space for development

4. copulatory organs

what do most species ovaries contain?

• germinal epithelium in the cortex

• medulla central with lymph and vasculature

what are the 2 mains tructures found within an ovary

• follicles

  • corpus luteum

where do we find follicles on the ovary

• on the whole surface

• fluid filled with an oocyte

where do we find corpus luteum and what do they feel like

• can take up much of the ovary, often more within than on the surface

• solid tissue structure containing the oocyte

outline the morphology of the mare ovary

• very large (8-10cm)

• ovarian fossa with germinal epithelium in the medulla is where the cortex tissue is found in other species

• vascular zone is the cortex

where do follicles rupture in the mare?

• ovarian fossa

what are the 4 layers of the female reproductive tract?

1. serosa

2. muscularis

3. submucosa

4. mucosa

what are the 3 regions of the oviduct?

1. infundibulum

2. ampulla

3. isthmus

which part of the oviduct is:

1. near the ovary

2. next to the uterus

1. ampulla

2. isthmus

what is the role of the infundibulum and how is it adapted for this?

• capture the oocyte

• covered with fibriae

what are 4 functions of the oviduct

1. sperm transport and storage

2. ‘catch the oocyte’

3. oocyte transport

4. create the environment for fertilisation

what are 2 functions of oviductal secretions?

1. initiate sperm capacitation

2. aid fertilisation and early development

describe the oviduct in the mare (+other species)

• undulating

• wavy

• wide, open ovarian bursa

describe the oviduct in a female dog

• runs within the bursal wall

• high deposits of adiposal tissue with mesoalphinx present

• curves around the ovary

• only a small opening in the closed bursa

what are the 3 layers of the uterus

1. endometrium

2. myometrium

3. perimetrium

what are the two muscular layers within the myometrium?

• longitudinal

• circular

what are 5 functions of the uterus?

1. sperm transport/storage

2. production of protsaglandin F2 alpha

3. secretion of histotroph for good early embryo environment

4. contribute to the placenta

5. parturition

what hormone does the uterus secrete and why?

• prostaglandin F2 alpha

• control cyclical activity in several species

Identify the anatomy

• O = ovary

• BL = broad ligament

• CV - vagina

• VE - vestibule

• UB - urinary bladder

• UH - uterine horn

• EUB - external uterine bifurcation

what are 4 general terms used for uterus morhpology

• uterine horns

• uterine body

• uterine bifurcation

• inter-cornual ligament

Which species do we see this uterus in, describe it

• primates

• simplex - single uterine body

what is a bicornate uterus

• 2 uterine horns

• small uterine body

what is a simplex uterus

• single uterine body

what species have a bicornuate uterus?

• mare

• cow

• sheep

• bitch

• queen

• sow

Whose uterus is this

• mare

Whose uterus is this?

• cows

Whose uterus looks like this?

• bitch

• queen

• sow

describe the bicornuate morphology of a cow uterus within the body

• uterine horns curl back towards the vagina

• uterine body is short

Whose uterus is this?

• cows

Whose uterus is this?

• sows

describe the morphology of the uterus of a sow

• uterine horns are long and coiled caudally

• very small uterine body

Whose uterus is this?

• mares

describe the mare uterus morphology

• ovaries are sub-lumber and dorsal in position

• uterine horns are straight and uterine body is long

Whose uterus is this?

• female dog

describe the morphology of the uterus of a dog

• ovaries are sub-lumbar

• mesovarium is short and dorsal

• uterine horns are straight and uterine body is short

What species is this?

• dog

What species is this

dog

What species is this?

• horse

What species is this

• mare

what species is this

• sow

What species is this?

• sow

What species is this?

• cow

What species is this?

• sow

what stimulates hte histotroph secretion in the endometrium?

• progesterone

what is histotroph?

• gland secretion from the endometrium which supports early foetal growth

what are 2 functions of the myometrium?

• parturition and gamete transprot

describe the endometrium of the sow + mare

• many endometrial folds

  • contribute to maternal placenta

describe the endometrium of cows + ewes

• caruncles protrude from endometrial surface which contribute to maternal placenta

which species have a single cervical ring/fold

• bitch

• queen

whic species have multiple cervical rings/folds

• cow

• ewe

• sow

why is it important to know the shape of species cervixes?

• variable degrees of patency

describe the cervical folds of the cow and ewe

• multiple interlocking folds

describe the cervical folds of the sow

• multiple spiral interlocking folds

describe the cervical folds of the mare

• loosely apposed folds

Which species cervix is this

• cow

Which species cervix is this?

• ewe

Which species cervix is this?

• sow

Which species cervix is this?

• mare

when does the cervix act as a barrier for the uterus?

• during pregnancy and other stages - but not oestrus

in which species does the cervix act as a barrier during oestrus and to what?

• barrier to sperm

• cow, ewe

in which speices does the cervix allow sperm transport during oestrus

• mare

• sow

• bitch

what does the cervix produce?

• mucous

why does teh cervix produce muocus?

1. lubricates the vagina

2. foreign material is flushed out

3. minimises microorganism introduction

how does the cervix change during pregnancy?

• more viscous and ‘glues’ the folds together = cervical seal of pregnancy

what hormone influences the cervical seal formation during pregnancy

• prolonged progesterone

what are the 2 parts of the vagina

• cranial

• caudal

what is the cranial vagina

• closest to cervix

  • secretory in many species

what is the caudal vagina

• between cranial vagina and urethral orifice

  • stratified squamous in many species

what is the fornix vagina

• where some of the cervix protrudes into the cranial vagina

what is the vestibule

• between the urethral orifice and vulva

• stratified squamous in all species

what are 3 functions of the vagina

• copulation

• parturition

  • micturition

what does the vestibule originate from embryologically

• urogenital sinus

what is the junction b/w the vestibule and vaginal junction

• vestibulo-vaginal junction aka hymen

describe the anatomy of the vestibule

• external urethral orifice

• sub-urethral diverticulum in some species

when might the sub-urethral diverticulum be an issue?

• when performing AI

describe the anatomy of the vulva

• dorsal and ventral commissure

• clitoris

where do we find the horse clitoris?

• under transverse frenulum

what surrounds the clitoris in horses?

• clitoral fossa

what anatomical structure around the clitoris of the horse poses a risk of harbouring pathogenic bacteria?

• clitoral sinus

what are the supporting ligaments of the uterus + ovaries

• borad

• round

• proper

where is the broad ligament

• it attaches to the dorsal body of the wall

• then to the ovary, oviduct and uterus

what is the ligament that connects the ovary and kidney?

• suspensory ligament

where is the proper ligament?

• between the cranial uterus and caudoventral ovary

where is the round ligament?

• from the cranial uterus to the deep inguinal ring

what is the function of the broad ligament

• supports and suspends reproductive organs

• houses vessels, lymph and nerves

what are the 3 components of the broad ligament

1. mesovarium

2. mesosalphinx

3. mesometrium

how does the proper ligament compare in dogs to cats/

• more fragile in cats than dogs

Waht are the 3 ligaments identified?

• top = suspensory

• middle = proper lig of ovary

• bottom = round ligament of uterus

describe the round ligament of the uterus in dogs

• runs caudal from oviduct tip to inguinal canal of vulva

describe the function of the round ligament

• provides secondary support for uterus within pelvis

• keeps uterus anteverted position flexed forward over bladder

what is the round ligament in the female dog equivalent to in male dogs

• gubernaculum

describe the uterine artery

• branch of the internal iliac artery running with the broad ligament

which species don’t have an uterine artery?

• dogs and cats

describe the ovarian artery

• directly from the aorta

• supplies the ovary

• supplies tip of uterine horn

• anastomoses with uterine artery in broad ligament

what does the vaginal artery come from

• internal iliac artery

describe the utero-ovarnian counter-current transport system

1. PGF2 alpha secreted from endometrium

2. passes into ovarian vein

3. PGF2a diffuses to the ovarian artery

4. high conc of PGF2a delivered to the ovary

in which species is there no utero-ovarian counter current transport system?

• mares