Animal Science/Dairy Science 434

Reproductive Physiology

Female Anatomy

Female Reproductive Tract Anatomy

•To be able to describe the female reproductive system in cattle.»Structure

»Function

Learning Objectives

Updated:04/22/23

Equine - Horse

Female MareMale Stallion

Updated:04/22/23

Bovine - CattleFemale CowMale Bull

Updated:04/22/23

Ovine - SheepFemale EweMale Ram

Updated:04/22/23

Porcine - Swine - Pig

Female SowMale Boar

Updated:04/22/23

Avian - Chicken

Female HenMale Rooster

Updated:04/22/23

Vulva

Vagina

Cervix

Uterine Body

Clitoris

Urethra

Bladder

Uterine HornUterine Horn

OvaryOvary

Oviduct

Oviduct

Updated:04/22/23

Uterus

Ovary

Oviduct

Broad Ligament

CervixBladder

PelvisVagina

Vulva

Rectum

Updated:04/22/23

Broad Ligament

• connective tissue sheet which supports and suspends the reproductive tract

BL - Broad LigamentUH - Uterine HornO - OvaryOD - Oviduct

Broad Ligament

• Mesometrium» Supports Uterus

• Mesosalpinx» Supports Oviduct

• Mesovarium» Supports Ovary

Ovary - Primary Sex Organ

Updated:04/22/23

•Functions»Hormonal

•Estrogen•Progesterone

»Female gamete•Oocyte

Updated:04/22/23

Ovary

Corpus Luteum Corpus Luteum

Follicle - Estrogen, Oocyte

Progesterone Progesterone

Updated:04/22/23

Blood and lymphaticVessels & nerves Hilus}

OvaryGerminal

Epithelium

TunicaAlbuginea

TunicaAlbuginea

85% of Ovarian Cancers

85% of Ovarian Cancers

Cortex

Medulla

Updated:04/22/23

Tertiary folliclePrimary follicle

Tertiaryfollicle

Egg nest

Secondary follicle

Atretic follicle

Corpus albicansCorpus luteumCorpushemorrhagicum

Ruptured follicle(ovulation)

Updated:04/22/23

Tertiary folliclePrimary follicle

Tertiaryfollicle

Secondary follicle

Atretic follicle

Corpus albicansCorpus luteumCorpushemorrhagicum

Ruptured follicle(ovulation)

Updated:04/22/23

Tertiary folliclePrimary follicle

Tertiaryfollicle

Secondary follicle

Atretic follicle

Corpus albicansCorpus luteumCorpushemorrhagicum

Ruptured follicle(ovulation)

Updated:04/22/23

Tertiary folliclePrimary follicle

Tertiaryfollicle

Secondary follicle

Atretic follicle

Corpus albicansCorpus luteumCorpushemorrhagicum

Ruptured follicle(ovulation)

Primordial Follicle

Primary Follicle

Secondary follicle

Tertiary follicle

Follicle Cells• Flattened cells

surround oocyte

• Increase in size of oocyte andheight of follicular cells

• Surrounded by severallayers of follicular cells

Nucleus

Ooplasma

Follicular Cells

• Follicle forms a fluidfilled cavity

• Differentiation of cell layersin the follicle wall

Oocyte

Antrum

Updated:04/22/23

Antrum

Theca Externa

Theca Interna

Granulosa

Cumulus Oophorus

Oocyte

(Follicular Fluid)

Tertiary Follicle

BasementMembrane

Updated:04/22/23

Tertiary Follicle

Granulosa

Theca Interna

CumulusOophorus

Antrum

Oocyte

Updated:04/22/23

Follicular Blood SupplyTheca interna cells

Granulosa cells

Follicularfluid

Capillarynetwork

Basement Membrane

Updated:04/22/23

Circular smoothmuscle layerCircular smoothmuscle layer

Longitudinal smoothmuscle layerLongitudinal smoothmuscle layer

MuscularisMuscularis

SerosaSerosa

SubmucosaSubmucosa

LumenLumen

MucosaMucosa

Secondary Sex Organ: A Series of Tubes to Convey the Oocyte/Embryo/Fetus to the Outside

Secondary Sex Organ: A Series of Tubes to Convey the Oocyte/Embryo/Fetus to the Outside

Updated:04/22/23

Functions of Oviduct

•Gamete Transport»Sperm

»Oocyte

•Supports early embryo development

•Transport of embryo to uterus

Updated:04/22/23

Oviduct

Uterine Horn

Utero-Tubal Junction

Ampullary-IsthmicJunction

Isthmus

Ampulla

Infundibulum(20 - 30 cm2)

Fimbria

Ostium

FollicleOvary

Cumulus Oophorusand Oocyte

Oviduct

Oviduct

Updated:04/22/23

Oviduct Histology

•Ciliated Columnar•Nonciliated Columnar

Mucosa

Updated:04/22/23

Functions of the Uterus• Muscle contractions

»Transport sperm

»Expel fetus and placenta

• Absorption and phagocytosis

• Partially prepares sperm for fertilization»capacitation

• Provides environment for embryo and fetal growth

• Hormone production»Prostaglandin F2 production

Updated:04/22/23

Uterus (bovine)

•Bicornuate»poorly to

moderately developed uterine horns

»uterine body

»one cervix

cervix

body

horn

Uterus

Updated:04/22/23

Uterine Histology

Perimetrium

Endometrium

MyometriumEndometrial

Glands

Updated:04/22/23

Mucosa

Submucosa

Myometrium

EndometriumEndometrial

Gland

Perimetrium

Uterine Histology

Updated:04/22/23

Functions of the Cervix

•Transport of sperm

•Barrier to sperm (species dependent)

•Reservoir for sperm

•Blocking bacterial invasion during pregnancy

•Birth canal

Updated:04/22/23

Cervix

•Cervix is composed of thick connective tissue

COW

Cow has 4-5annular rings

Uterine Body

Vagina

External Cervical Os

Internal Cervical Os

• Mucus is secreted near the time of breeding and ovulation.

External Cervical

Os

Updated:04/22/23

Functions of the Vagina

•Copulatory organ

•Glands secrete lubrication

•Birth canal

•Glands secrete pheromones

Updated:04/22/23

Vagina Anterior Vagina Posterior Vagina (Vestibule)

ColumnarEpithelium

StratifiedSquamousEpithelium

Submucosa

Urethra

Submucosa

Mucosa

FornixFornix

Vulva-Vaginal Sphincter

Vulva-Vaginal Sphincter

Cervix

Updated:04/22/23

Posterior Vaginal Histology

Stratified SquamousEpithelium

MucosaMucosa

SubmucosaSubmucosa

Updated:04/22/23

Function of External Genitalia

•Labia»Closes entrance to vagina

•Clitoris»Female sensory organ

Updated:04/22/23

External Genitalia of the Cow

Anus

Labia

Clitoris

Labia

Vulva

Updated:04/22/23

Phenomena For Fertility• vagina dentata - a vagina with teeth

• female bedbug - no vagina

• hysterectomy - if woman went to long without becoming pregnant then uterus would wonder in body causing hysteria and other distresses

• hyena - clitoris is very large and looks like the male penis; female also has a false scrotum (labia); female is the dominate sex and produces more testosterone than male