The Female Reproductive Tract

1. The Female Reproductive Tract Information taken from the IMS 8405 Animal Science Curriculum and website from OK State.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Purpose • To produce eggs or ova to be fertilized to from the embryo. • Serves as a receptacle for the penis during copulation and houses and nourishes the fetus until parturition. • Produce female hormones

5. The Tract • The tract is made up of several organs and muscles, each having a specific function. • The next couple of slides.

6. The Tract

7. The Tract

8. Tract Types

9. Bovine Repro Tract

10. The Ovaries

11. 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.

12. Inside the Ovary

13. Ovary Functions • There are two ovaries which function to produce eggs or ova. • The ovaries also produce estrogen and progesterone.

14. 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

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

16. 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

17. Infudibulums • Just below the ovaries, are two funnel-like openings called the infundibulums, which pick up the eggs at ovulation.

18. 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.

19. Oviducts

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

21. Uterine Horn

22. Uterine body • Place where the horns join. • Layers: • Outer = perimetrium • Middle = myometrium • Inner = endometrium

24. Swine Tract

25. Uterus Functions • Transports sperm • Muscle contractions and expelling of young • Absorption and phagocytosis • Support development of fetus • Makes the Corpus Luteum regress

26. 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

27. Cervix • Functions • Barrier to sperm to stop polyspermy • Reservoir for sperm • Block bacterial infection during pregnancy • Gate of birth canal • Glands that secrete waxy-like substance that which seals off the uterus during pregnancy

28. BovineCervix

29. Equine Cervix

30. Porcine Cervix

31. Porcine Cervix

32. Vagina • Receptacle for the penis during copulation • Passage way for the body to expel liquid waste. • The urethra joins the bladder to the vagina.

34. Vulva • The external portion of the female repro tract • Serves to protect the internal system from infection.

35. Clitoris • Just inside the vulva • Sensory erectile organ • “wink”

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

37. Egg Factory! • The following slides will talk about egg production!

38. 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.

39. Steps in the process

40. 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.

41. 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.

42. 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.

43. 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.

44. 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