Female Reproductive Tract

1
Female Reproductive Tract
2
Broad Ligament

• suspends the female reproductive tract in the
  pelvic cavity
• has three portions

3
Ovary

• release ova- egg
• 50,000 - 150,000 potential eggs present at birth
• release hormones
• progesterone
• estrogen

4
Oviduct

• (fallopian tube)
• connect ovary to uterine horns

5
Oviduct

• three portions
• infundibulum
• ampulla
• isthmus

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Oviduct

• ova remains in oviduct for 3-6 days
• 1/8 inch in diameter
• 20 cm. Long in a cow

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Uterus

• passageway for sperm cells from cervix to oviduct
• produce histotroph - nourishes developing embryo
  until placenta forms
• expel fetus at parturition

8
Parturition

• birth

9
Uterus

• site of pregnancy

10
Cervix

• located between uterus and vagina
• forms a barrier between the internal and external
  environment
• thick walled, many ringed organ

11
Vagina

• point where urinary and reproductive tracts join
• receptacle for semen
• passageway for fetus

12
Vulva

• outer opening of reproductive tract

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Clitoris

• sensory organ

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Hormones

• estrogen
• progesterone
• FSH
• LH
• HCG

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Estrogen

• produced by the follicle in non pregnant female
  and placenta in late pregnancy
• induce estrus - heat
• responsible for female contour

16
Estrogen

• develop duct system of mammary gland
• causes edema - retention of water
• increases muscle development

17
Progesterone

• hormone that keeps female out of heat
• relaxes uterus
• secretion of histotroph

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FSH

• follicle stimulating hormone
• development of follicles on ovary
• ova are released from follicle

19
FSH

• indirectly responsible for estrogen production

20
LH

• Lutenizing hormone
• causes ovulation
• ova is released from the follicle

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HCG

• Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
• produced by the placenta of pregnant women early
  in pregnancy

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HCG

• used on cows that are cystic - wont ovulate
• causes ovulation

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Ovulation

• release of ova from ovary
• follicle develops - blister on ovary
• follicle bursts - egg is released

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Ovulation

• a hole is left where the ova was
• forms a C.L. (Corpus Luteum) - yellow body

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C.L.

• produces progesterone
• if female becomes pregnant a new follicle does
  not burst and estrogen production is reduced

26
Gestation

• length of time from conception till birth
• cows - 281 days
• pigs - 114 days (3 mos, 3 weeks, 3 days)
• horses - 336 days

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Gestation

• sheep - 148 days
• goats - 151 days