Female gross

• Female reproductive system

  Part of the female animal responsible for the production of oocytes
• Components of the female reproductive system

  • Paired ovaries
  • Oviduct
  • Uterus
  • Vagina
  • Vestibule
  • Vulva
• Ovaries

  • Possess both gametogenic and endocrine functions
  • Solid, basically ellipsoidal body
  • Irregularity greatest in polytocous animals where follicles ripen in batches
• Ovarian morphology variations

  • Oval shape with rough, nodular surface in sow
  • Relatively small, firm, irregular ovoid body in cow
  • Kidney or bean shape with ovulation fossa in mare
• Ovarian structure

  • Divided into cortex (parenchymatous zone with follicles) and medulla (vascular zone)
  • Reversed in mare where parenchymatous zone is in the center
• Oviduct


  • Composed of infundibulum, ampulla, isthmus, and two openings (abdominal and uterine ostia)
  • No major differences among domestic animals except for length
• Uterotubal junction


  Gradual in ruminants and pigs, abrupt with uterine ostium on a papilla in horse and carnivores
• Uterus

  • Bicornuate with single cervix, single uterine body, and paired uterine horns
  • Short body and long, coiled horns in sow
  • Short body, long ventrally coiled horns in cow
  • Relatively large body, wide lumen in mare
• Cervix

  • Longitudinal and transverse folds in cow
  • Rows of prominences (pulvini cervicales) in sow
  • Longitudinal folds in mare, beach, and queen
• Vagina

  Extends from external uterine ostium to entrance of urethra
• Vestibule

  Extends from external urethral opening to external vulva
• Vulva


  Outermost part of female reproductive tract, formed by two labia meeting at dorsal and ventral commissures
• Female bird reproductive system

  • Only left side reaches functional maturity, right-sided structures regress
  • Ovary resembles bunch of grapes attached to left kidney
  • Oviduct composed of infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, uterus, and vagina
  • Infundibulum for fertilization, magnum for albumin production, isthmus for shell membrane formation, uterus for shell deposition, vagina for sperm storage