The Female Reproductive Tract

Information taken from the IMS 8405 Animal Science Curriculum and

website from OK State.

Objectives

• Students will discover parts of all male livestock animals.

• Students will learn vocabulary relating to male reproduction

• Students will learn the functions of all the parts of male livestock.

Introduction

• Animal repro is a complex but interesting topic

• It requires a basic knowledge of reproductive anatomy and physiology

• Reproduction is the process of producing offspring for the purpose of continuing a species.

Purpose

1. To produce eggs or ova to be fertilized to from the embryo.

2. Serves as a receptacle for the penis during copulation and houses and nourishes the fetus until parturition.

3. Produce female hormones

The Tract

• The tract is made up of several organs and muscles, each having a specific function.

• The next couple of slides.

The Tract

The Tract

Tract Types

Bovine Repro Tract

The Ovaries

The Ovaries

• They are supported in place, along with the rest of the tract, in the abdominal cavity by the broad ligaments

• The arteries, veins, and nerves of the ovaries are located in these ligaments as well.

Inside the Ovary

Ovary Functions

• There are two ovaries which function to produce eggs or ova.

• The ovaries also produce estrogen and progesterone.

Ovary Hormones

• Progesterone = hormone produced by the corpus luteum on an ovary during pregnancy which keeps estrus from occurring and causes the mammary system to develop.

• Estrogen = the female hormone produced by the developing follicle on an ovary to regulate heat period and cause male receptiveness by the female at the time of ovulation

Video Review

• http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/course/3443/study/video/cowanat1.mov

Ovulation Video Clip

• http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/course/3443/study/video/ovulation-and-egg-transport.wmv

• http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/course/3443/study/video/OVUL.MOV

Infudibulums• Just below the ovaries, are two funnel-

like openings called the infundibulums, which pick up the eggs at ovulation.

Oviducts

• Once the ova is in the infundibulum, the travel through the fallopian tubes (oviducts).

• 1. Oviduct is the site of fertilization

• 2. Oviduct transports the egg on into the uterine horn.

Oviducts

Uterus

• In the uterine horn, the embryo usually attaches, received nourishment, and develops until parturition.

Uterine Horn

Uterine body

• Place where the horns join.

• Layers:– Outer = perimetrium– Middle = myometrium– Inner = endometrium

Swine Tract

Uterus Functions

1. Transports sperm

2. Muscle contractions and expelling of young

3. Absorption and phagocytosis

4. Support development of fetus

5. Makes the Corpus Luteum regress

Cervix

• The “Main Gate” controlled by hormones.• Thick-walled mass of concentric muscles with a

small tube-like opening which joins the uterus and the vagina

Cervix

• Functions1. Barrier to sperm to stop polyspermy

2. Reservoir for sperm

3. Block bacterial infection during pregnancy

4. Gate of birth canal

5. Glands that secrete waxy-like substance that which seals off the uterus during pregnancy

BovineCervix

Equine Cervix

Porcine Cervix

Porcine Cervix

Vagina

1. Receptacle for the penis during copulation

2. Passage way for the body to expel liquid waste.

3. The urethra joins the bladder to the vagina.

Vulva

• The external portion of the female repro tract

• Serves to protect the internal system from infection.

Clitoris

• Just inside the vulva

• Sensory erectile organ

• “wink”

Review

• http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/course/3443/study/video/cowanat2.mov

Egg Factory!

• The following slides will talk about egg production!

O O O

• Oogenesis - Process of egg creation

• Oogonia – cells in a fetus that turn into ovaries

• Oocytes – matured oogonia

• There are thousand oocytes at the time of birth, but only a small proportion of these develop into ova or reach ovulation.

Steps in the process

Terms of Process

• When the follicle ruptures, a blood clotted area is formed

• This is called a corpus hemorrhagicum and last two or three days.

Terms of Process

• The C.H. area begins to fill with a mass of yellow cells called the corpus luteum.

• Its cells have the primary purpose of producing the second female sex hormone progesterone.

• Progesterone prepares the female repro anatomy for pregnancy and last approx. twelve days, unless the egg is fertilized, and then the C.L. stays until parturition.

Terms of Process

• A degenerating C.L. becomes covered by connective tissue called corpus albicans.

• Its function is to remove the yellow cells of the C.L. and return the ovary to its normal shape.

Estrous Cycle

• Is the process of oogenesis – the period of time from the beginning of one heat period(estrus) to the beginning of the next.

• A cow or mare normally produces one ovum per cycle. An ewe produces two and a sow eight to fifteen.

Time

• Differs from one species of livestock to another: cattle is from 18 to 25 days = avg 21 days.

The End!All pictures taken from:http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/course/3443/study/index.htm