L67: female reproductive system

MCQ: where is the specific location of the round ligament in the female reproductive tract?

Lateral edge of the mesometrium

MCQ: in what species does the vaginal Formica form a circumferential ring-like recess that can impede the advancement of the artificial insemination catheter?

Equine and bovine

What are the major components of the female reproductive system?

1. Ovaries

2. Uterine tube

3. Uterus (uterine horns and body)

4. Cervix

5. Vagina

6. Vestibule

7. Vulva

what are the other names for the uterine tube?

1. fallopian tube

2. Oviduct

where do the ovaries develop and remain in the cat and dog?

Ventral to lumbar vertebrae (L3-L4), caudal to the kidneys

which ovary is more cranial in dogs and cats?

Right

what structure are ovaries cranial to?

Tips of the uterine horn

which ovary in more difficult to access during spays?

Right ovary

what in the right ovary dorsal to in dogs and cats?

The descending duodenum and ascending colon

what structure is the left ovary between in dogs and cats?

Descending colon and abdominal wall

what in the shape of inactive ovaries?

Ellipsoidal, oval, round

what in the shape of active ovaries (in estrus)?

Irregularly shaped because of follicles and corpora lutea

what is “polytocous”?

• produce multiple offspring

• examples: Dogs, cats, and pigs

What does “monotocous” mean?

• produce one offspring

• examples: Horses and cows

Will polytocous of monotocous show more irregularity?

Polytocous

How in the ovarian bursa formed?

By fusion of the distal mesovarium and mesosalpinx

how can the ovarian bursa make it difficult to find the ovary?

• Amount of fat

• Ex: dogs have more fat= more difficult to find

how does the ovarian bursa cover the ovary in dogs?

Completely surrounds ovary with a small slit like opening

how does the ovarian bursa cover the ovary in Cats?

Covers lateral surface of ovary, fairly large opening

how does the ovarian bursa cover the ovary in large animals?

Forms a cape of jacket covering the ovaries, BUT ovaries too large to be fully housed in the bursa

What structure begins the tubular organs of the reproductive tract?

Uterine tube

what supports the uterine tube?

Mesosalpinx = loose connective tissue that covers uterine tube

what is the function of the uterine tube?

Transports ovum to the uterus / site of fertilization

what are the divisions of the uterine tube?

1. Infundinulum

2. Ampulla

3. Isthmus

Infundibulum

• The funnel-shaped ovarian end of the uterine tube

• Free border lined by fimbrae projections that trapped the released ovum

ampulla

Convoluted with the widest diameter of the tube

isthmus

straight and narrow in diameter

how does the isthmus join to the uterine horn in dogs and cats?

Joins the uterine horn abruptly at a sphinctered papilla

how does the isthmus join to the uterine horn in ruminants?

Gradually widens in diameter as in connects to uterine horn

Which species have a bicornuate (2 horns) uterus?

Dogs

where is the uterus located in dogs?

• Dorso-lateral to the loops of the intestines

• Ventral to digestive tract in the pelvic cavity

what suspends the uterine horns in the abdominal cavity?

Broad ligaments

what is the function of the uterine horns?

Site of implantation

what is the shape of the uterine horns in small animals?

Y-shaped

what structures are part of the uterus?

1. uterine horns

2. Uterine body

what is the uterine body?

Part of the uterus between the uterine horns and cervix

What in the uterine body important for?

• Important surgical relevance in spays

• Short in dogs, longer in cats

describe the uterus in rabbits and rodents?

• “uterus duplex”= 2 uterus and 2 cervix

• Only fusion at the vagina

Describe the structure of the cervix

Has the narrowest luminal and thickest wall

what is the function of the cervix?

joins the uterus to the vaginaServes as a sphincter

portio vaginalis

The vaginal portion of the cervix

fornix vagina

• recess around the vaginal portion of the cervix

• Site of obstruction when passing AI catheter

what forms the ends of the cervical canal?

Internal ostium (towards body of the uterus) and external ostium (towards vagina)

what makes up the copulatory organs and birth canal in dogs?

Vagina and vestibule together

what is the structure of the vagina in dogs?

Transverse mucosal ridge and urethral tubercle

what is the structure of the vagina in cats?

Transverse mucosal ridge and Groove

what in the structure of the vagina in horses?

Transverse mucosal fold (hymen)

What systems is the vestibule part of?

Urinary tract, birth canal, and female copulatory organ

where are the female accessory sex glands located?

The wall of the vestibule

What vestibular glands do dogs have?

Minor vestibular glands only

what vestibular glands do cats have?

Both major and minor (bartholin gland)

which species have vestibular bulbs?

Dogs and horses

what are vestibular bulbs?

Dark patches on the mucosa of walls that are concentrations of erectile tissues with venous sinuses that help “tie” during sex

Fossa clitoridis

An invagination that houses the clitoris at the caudal end of the vestibule

what in the clitorid homologous to in the male?

The penis

vulval cleft

Space between the labia

what do the vulvar lips fuse to form?

Fuse dorsal and centrally to form vulva comissures

how is the dorsal commissure shaped?

Rounded

how is the ventral commissure shaped in dogs?

Pointed

What in the correct arrangement of the reproductive tract from external to internal?

1. Vulva

2. Vestibule

3. Vagina

4. Cervix

5. Uterine body and horns

6. Uterine tube

7. Ovaries

What are the broad ligaments?

Bilateral sheets that suspend the ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, and cranial vagina from abdominal roof and pelvic walls

What are the sections of the broad ligaments?

1. Mesovarium

2. Mesosalpinx

3. Mesometrium

what in the function of the mesovarium?

Connects the ovaries to the dorsolateral abdominal wall

what structure is at the cranial end of the mesovarium?

Suspensory ligament

what do the caudal end of the mesovarium form?

Forms the proper ligament of the ovary

what travels in the broad ligament and what is the clinical relevance?

ovarian artery and veinIn spays where we ligate and transect the ovarian pedicle

what is the function of the mesosalpinx?

Holds the uterine tube between the mesovarium and mesometrium

what is the only part of the broad ligaments not directly attached to the abdominal wall?

Mesosalpinx

what does the mesometrium of the broad ligament do?

• Attaches uterine horns, uterine body, and cranial vagina to the dorsolateral body wall

• Conducts uterine vessels

what structures make up the ovarian bursa?

Mesovarium and mesosalpinx

Suspensory ligament

The cranial free edge of the mesovarium attaching the ovary to the last few ribs and transversalis fascia

what is the clinical relevance of the suspensory ligament?

Usually ruptured to free the ovary to allow easier access for removal during spay

proper ligament of the ovary

The caudal continuation of the free edge of the mesovarium

what is the function of the proper ligament of the ovary?

Connects the ovary to the uterine horn

what does the round ligament of the uterus form IN DOGS ONLY?

Forms vaginal process

what in the clinical relevance of the round ligament in DOGS?

Passes through the vaginal ring (inguinal canal) predisposing dogs to INGUINAL HERNIAS

what structure is the lateral edge of the mesometrium?

Round ligament of uterus

What in the function of the round ligament?

Supports the pregnant uterus

What are the muscles of the female reproductive system?

1. Constrictor vestibuli muscle

2. Constrictor vulvae muscle

3. Retractor clitoridis muscle

what muscles of the female reproductive system are importantly for “tie/lock” during mating?

Constrictor vestibuli and constrictor vulvae muscle

What does the ovarian artery branch from?

Directly from aorta

What branches off the ovarian artery?

Uterine branch of ovarian artery

what does the vaginal artery branch from?

Internal pudendal artery

what branches off the vaginal artery?

Cranial branch of uterine artery

what is the clinical relevance of the vaginal artery and ovarian artery?

Vessels anastomose within the broad ligament and must be ligated when ovariohysterectomy in performed

What provides the major drainage of the female genitalia?

Ovarian vein

What drains the uterus?

Left and right uterine veins

what does the uterine veins empty into?

The renal vein and the caudal vena cava

what provides innervation to the female genitalia organs?

Autonomic nervous system

Where do the sympathetic fibers of the ovaries come from?

Caudal mesenteric plexus

where do parasympathetic fibers of the ovaries come from?

Vagus nerve

where does the rest of the reproductive tract (excluding ovaries) receive their sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers from?

Pelvic plexus

what does the pudendal nerve innervate?

Motor innervation to the constrictor vestibuli and constrictor vulvae muscle

MCQ: what animal’s ovary shows the greatest degree of surface irregularity?

Sow

what is the structure of the ovary in cows?

Oval and relatively small

Which species do the ovaries have the most caudal migration?

• Cows

• Their ovaries are just cranial to pelvic inlet

what projects above the ovary in the cow and what in the clinical relevance?

follicles and corpora luteaStructure palpable per rectum to help distinguish estrus cycles

What are the two divisions of the ovaries?

1. Outer cortex

2. Medulla (inner region)

what does the cortex of the ovary contain?

Ovarian follicles and corpeus luteum

describe the medulla of the ovary

Less compact one with blood vessels, nerves, lymphatic tissue, smooth ,uncle fibers, and connective tissue