female reproductive system

female reproductive system

1. Vestibule- vulva to external urethral orifice

2. Vagina

   • lined stratified squamous epithelium
     • smooth muscle helps maintain tie

3. vulva

   • labia-fatty vertical lips
     • clitoris
       • erectile tissue situated in clitoral fossa inside ventral vulval cleft

4. cervix - connects vagina-uterus

   • sits in pelvic cavity
     • usually closed
     • pulled cranially over pelvic brim

5. Uterus- dorsal abdomen

   • facilitate nourishment from placenta
     • consists of uterine horns & body
       • Uterine body
         • endometrium- inner layer- vessels, glandu;ar tissue
           • myometrium- smooth muscles-contractions
             • Mesometrium, broad ligament- LCT - suspends uterus from dorsal body wall
               • Uterine Horns
                 • pregnancy- contain developing embryos

6. Rabbits- dont have uterine body- just 2 horns with 2 cervix -duplex

   • mesometrium also used to store fat

7. guinea pig- 2 seperate horns,single body & cervix-bicornate uterus

8. Uterine tubes/oviduct

   • End of tubes infundibulum- funnels with fringes frimbriae to capture ova-
     • lined with ciliated columnar epithelium
       • collect ova from graafian follicles
         • transport ova from ovaries to horns

9. Ovary

   • dorsal abdo cavity ,caudal to kidneys
     • ova production
       • endocrine gland-smooth muscle
         • MESOVARIUM-Encloses infundibulum of uterine tube
           • part of this forms ovarian bursa (opening allows ova to leave )
             • ovarian tissue - connective ,smooth muscle, germ cells, developing follicles
               • ovary changes during oestrus cycle- nodular
               • graafian follicles- each follicle = 1 egg by layers follicle cells
                 • follicles nourish & protect egg
                   • upon release egg caught by infundibulum & transfers along oviduct

10. Hormones

    • FSH Follicle stimulating hormone
      • anterior pituitary gland
        • stimulates ova - develop graafian follicles
          • follicles released increase oestrogen
            • Oestrogen
              • produced by graafin follicle
                • prepares reproductive tract & external genitalia for mating
                  • associated with oestrus
                    • LH-Leuteinizing
                      • anterior pituitary gland
                        • oestrogen stimulates secretion
                          • follicle ruptures leaving scar tissue - corpus leuteum
                            • corpus leutum maintained by LH , producing progesterone
                              • Progesterone
                                • released from corpus luteum
                                  • progesterone prepares uterus for fertilized ova
                                    • produces mammary gland enlargement
                                    • progesterone levels high during pregnacy
                                      • inhibiting FSH- No more follicles develop
                          • surge prior ovulation release ovum form follicle