Female reproductive system

• The female reproductive tract consists of 2 ovaries, uterine tube, uterus, cervix, vagina, vestibule, vulva
• what 2 terms can we use to describe the uterine tract and what do they mean

  bicornuate: 2 uterine horns carrying several foetuses at once

  multiparous: carry litters
• what is the infundibulum

  cup shape structure that catches the egg
• what are the main functions of the digestive tract?

  oogenesis

  fertilisation of ova

  zygote implantation

  foetal growth

  parturition
• what is the ovary also known as

  the female gonad
• where is the ovary found

  caudal abdomen, in the fold of mesentery called mesovarium
• ovaries are enclosed in a pouch called the ovarian bursa
• ovaries are attached to dorsal body wall by suspensory ligament
• ovary covered in smooth muscle meaning contractions are involuntary
• what are primary follicles

  immature ova
• what are graafian follicles

  where ova are developed and produce oestrogen, aiding in the production of ova. oestrogen may be responsible for small amounts of aggression
• what is a ruptured follicle

  mature egg- the beginning of ovulation
• what is the corpus luteum in the ovary

  point the ova was sat. previously it produced oestrogen but now produces progesterone to maintain pregnancy. no progesterone, no pregancy
• what is the ovarian artery

  blood vessel from aorta caudal to renal artery. it supplies ovary, uterine tract and uterine horn with
• what is the uterine artery

  anastomoses with the ovarian artery and supplies the caudal part of the tract
• why dont vets spay during season

  large blood supply therefore increased risk of post operative bleed
• what are the functions of the ovary

  1. production of ova for fertilisation
  2. acts as endocrine gland
  3. secretes oestrogen and progesterone
• functions of uterine tube

  1. collects ova from graafian follicles
  2. moves the ova from ovaries to uterine horns
  3. provides correct environment for the survival of ova and sperm
  4. site of fertilisation
• what are uterine tubes also known as

  fallopian tubes and oviduct
• what is the infundibulum

  funnel shape cup that hold egg

  has finger like projections which waft air called fimbriae

  part of uterine tube next to ovary

  capture ova at ovulation and direct them to the uterine tube

  the uterine tube is lined with ciliated columnar epithelium to help move ova to uterine horns
• what are the three layers of the uterine wall

  1. endometrium
  2. myometrium
  3. mesometrium
• describe the endometrium

  inner most layer of uterine wall

  columnar mucus membrane

  highly glandular

  thickens during pregnancy to provide nutrition for the embryo before implantation
• describe the myometrium 


  middle layer of the uterine wall

  layers of smooth muscles (involuntary) producing contractions during parturition
• describe the mesometrium 


  outer layer of the uterine wall

  aka broad ligament

  it suspends the uterus from the dorsal body wall

  the round ligament lies in a fold of the broad ligament
• functions of uterus 


  1. site for developing embryos
  2. provides nutrition and protection
  3. site of expulsion at parturition
• describe the cervix 


  short thick walled muscular sphincter
• what does the cervix connect

  the uterus and vagina
• what is the cervical canal

  narrow opening in the centre
• the cervical canal relaxes during oestrus to allow a passage of sperm and during parturition to allow explosion of foetus
• in the cervix, sphincter muscles keep the cervix closed at all times to prevent infection tracking up the uterus
• during pregnancy, a plug of mucus that protects the conceptus from infection blocks the canal
• what are some causes of pyometra

  1. bitches who have multiple pregnancies
  2. false pregnancies
  3. older bitches
• longitudinal folds of walls enable vagina and vestibule to expand during parturition
• lumen lined with stratified squamos cells show hormonal changes durign oestrus cycle enabling them to go through trauma during mating and parturition
• what is exfoliative vaginal cytology

  non invasive method of determining phases during oestrus cycle. it is very costly
• describe the vagina 


  cervix to external urethral orifice- point at which the urethra joins the reproductive tract
• describe the vestibule


  from external urethral orifice to vulva. shared by urinary and reproductive tract
• functions of vagina and vestibule

  1. moves sperm from penis to female tract
  2. produces lubrication during mating and parturition
  3. the cingulum muscles at the vaginal entrance help to hold the penis in place during mating like a tie
  4. moves foetus from uterus to outside during parturition
  5. vestibule moves urine from bladder to outside of body
• what is the vulva

  external opening of urogenital tract
• all mammals feed their young milk by lactation