1. Female Reproductive System
Functions:
Produce female sex hormones
Provide fertile ovum via oogenesis
Receive sperm and provide site for fertilization
Provide environment for embryo to grow
Push offspring into world
Provide nutrition for newborn (lactation)

2. Female Reproductive Organs
Ovaries
Oviducts
Uterus
Cervix
Vagina
Vulva
Ovary
Oviduct
jcow

3. Female Reproductive Organs
bitch
Ovaries
Oviducts
Uterus
Cervix
Vagina
Vulva 3

4. Broad ligaments: sheets of peritoneum by which the ovaries, oviducts, and uterus are suspended.
Mesovarium – supports ovary
Mesosalpinx – supports oviduct
Mesometrium – supports uterus
Contain blood vessels, nerves, and fat
Round ligament of uterus: Cord of fibrous tissue and smooth muscle in the broad ligament that extends from the uterine horn to the inguinal ring.
Cut during an OHE to allow removal of the uterine horn.
Ligaments

5. Suspensory ligament of ovary: Formed by the ovarian end of broad ligament attached to body wall in area of last rib
During an OHE, it is “popped” to allow visualization and removal of the ovary.

6. Ovaries Female gonads In dorsal abdomen near kidneys
Species variation in appearance
Functions
Site of oogenesis (however, the animal was born with a predetermined number of oocytes)
Production of estrogens and progestins

7. Hormones (that control estrous cycle)
Source Hormone Effect
Ant Pituitary
LH -causes Granulosa cells to develop
-causes production of estrogen
-surge causes ovulation
FSH -stimulates egg production
Ovary
Granulosa cells Estrogen -makes female receptive to male
-causes proliferation of uterine tissue
-produces female characteristics
Corpus Progesterone -prepares uterus for zygote (fert egg)
Luteum -maintains pregnancy

8. Ovarian Cycle
Each cycles consists of the development of ovum, ovulation, formation of corpus luteum, and degeneration of unripened follicles and corpus luteum
Influenced by follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)
Number of follicles produced is dependent on the species
Uniparous species: normally give birth to one offspring at a time
Multiparous species: give birth to litters due to multiple ova production per cycle

9. Primary/primordial follicle: immature oocyte surrounded by a single layer of follicular cells
Stage that immature oocytes reside in until they become activated to mature
Activated by FSH to begin developing (follicular recruitment/activation)
Once activated, they are called growing follicles.
Growing follicle: cells of the follicle become thickened and start to multiply in layers around the developing oocyte.
These thickened cells are called granulosa cells.
produce estrogen to prepare for breeding and pregnancy
follicle grows rapidly in size
Ovarian Cycle
Follicular cells

10. Granulosa cells produce increasing amounts of estrogens as follicle becomes larger
Fluid-filled spaces form between granulosa cells
Spaces gradually merge into one large fluid-filled space: the antrum
Mature follicle (graafian follicle): follicle has reached maximum size
Oocyte sits on top of granulosa cell mound (cumulus oophorus),
surrounded by thin layer of granulosa cells (corona radiata)
production of estrogen peaks, along with LH production, causing ovulation to occur
Ovarian Cycle
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11. Rupture of mature follicle and release of ovum (egg) into oviduct as a result of the rising LH levels
Surface of mature follicle weakens and ruptures
Fluid from antrum is released, carrying the ovum with it
Empty follicle fills with blood (corpus hemorrhagicum).
Induced ovulators: ovulation
only occursafter breeding
Cat, rabbit, and ferret
Ovulation
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12. Corpus Luteum High levels of LH stiumulates the formation of the CL
Formed by divisions of granulosa cells that line the corpus hemorrhagicum.
Produces progestins (primarily progesterone)
Necessary for maintenance of pregnancy
If ovum implants in uterus, an endocrine signal is sent from placenta to ovary and the corpus luteum is maintained.
If ovum is not fertilized, the corpus luteum will degenerate.
Any follicle that doesn’t develop undergoes atresia.
Corpus Luteum
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13. Oviducts a.k.a. fallopian tubes Extend from tips of uterine horns
Infundibulum: enlarged opening at ovarian end of each oviduct
not attached to oviduct
Fimbriae: muscular projections form margin of infundibulum; help properly position infundibulum
Smooth muscle fibers in walls
Muscle contractions and cilia
lining guide ovum toward
uterus
Usual site of fertilization
Oviducts
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14. Uterus hollow, muscular womb where fertilized ovum implants
forms part of placenta that keeps fetus alive
grows during pregnancy
Usually Y shaped
Uterine body forms base of Y
Two uterine horns form arms
Cat
Cow
Human
Horse

15. Uterus Uterine wall layers: Endometrium: Myometrium: Perimetrium:
Inner layer composed of simple columnar epithelium and glands that secrete mucus and other substances
Myometrium:
Thickest layer, made of smooth muscle
Perimetrium:
Outermost layer, covered by visceral peritoneum
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Uterus

16. Cervix Smooth muscle sphincter between body of uterus and vagina
Controls access to lumen of uterus from vagina
Normally tightly closed, except during estrus and parturition
opens to admit sperm during breeding
at birth, fetus is pushed against cervix until it dilates or opens.
Cervix
Mare Cow Sow Bitch

17. Vagina and Vulva Vagina: Vulva:
Muscular tube extends caudally from cervix and connects it with vulva
receives penis at breeding
birth canal during parturition
stretchable and is lined with mucous glands.
Vulva:
Only portion of female repro tract that is visible from the outside
Labia (lips) - external boundary
Clitorus – equivalent to penis
erectile tissue and a sensitive glans
Vestibule – entrance to vagina, location of urethral opening
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Urethral opening
Vagina and Vulva

18. Estrous Cycle
Spermatozoa are constantly produced so testosterone is fairly constant in male and he is always ready for breeding.
In domestic animals, breeding takes place only when chances for pregnancy are the greatest.
This is known as estrus or heat
timing of breeding is controlled by the estrous cycle of the female
Estrous cycle is beginning of one heat period to beginning of the next.
Controlled by FSH and LH
Different species have different estrous cycle patterns.

19. Estrous Cycle Intervals
Polyestrous: animals that cycle continuously throughout the year if they are not pregnant
cattle and swine
Seasonally polyestrous: animals with seasonal variations in estrous cycles
horse, sheep, cat
Diestrous: animals with two cycles per year, usually spring and fall
dog
Monoestrous: animals with one cycle per year
fox and mink
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20. Estrous Cycle Estrous cycle stages: Proestrus Estrus Metestrus
Diestrus
Anestrus (in some species)

21. Proestrus Estrus Follicles begin developing and growing
Output of estrogen increases accordingly
Linings of the oviduct, uterus, and vagina thicken to protect against breeding trauma
Vaginal smear can be done to determine heat
Heat
Period of sexual receptivity in the female; signals male that female is ready
Estrogen level production peaks
Ovulation occurs near end of estrus in some species
Induced ovulator species remain in a prolonged state of estrus if not bred
cat, rabbit
Estrus

22. Metestrus Diestrus Anestrus
Period after ovulation during which corpus luteum (CL) develops
Progesterone produced by corpus luteum temporarily inhibits other follicles to develop in ovary
Lining of uterus prepared for implantation of a fertilized ovum
Corpus luteum at maximum size and exerting maximum effect
If fertilized ovum implants, CL is retained well into pregnancy
If no pregnancy occurs, CL degenerates at end of diestrus
Animal then either goes back into proestrus or ovary shuts down and animal goes into anestrus
Temporary ovarian inactivity
Seen in seasonally polyestrous, diestrous, and monoestrous animals
Diestrus
Anestrus

23. False Pregnancy Also called pseudocyesis or pseudopregnancy
Affected animals may act or look pregnant
Is an exaggerated diestrous period
Usually resolves spontaneously or through the use of hormones.
Signs: builds nest, hoards/mothers toys, mammary glands enlarge/produce milk, pyometra
Picture from a client. 'She adopted these latex chickens as her puppies.  I had to create a "whelping box" for her and the pups.  She had milk, was panting, not eating, cried when a "pup" squeaked, VERY attentive to her litter, etc. this lasted until  "weaning".  So for about 3-4 weeks we had to live with this madness!!  It was almost as bad as having a real litter!'

24. Meiosis Stem cell has same chromosomes as other somatic cells (2n)
Which chromosomes go to which daughter cell is entirely random
Chromosomes
from mother
2n=4
Chromosomes
from father
and become attached
n=2
n=2