I. Ovary A. Function 1. Exocrine a. Egg Release 2. Endocrine a. Steroid Hormones i. Progesterone ii. Estrogen b. Peptide Hormones i. Inhibin ii. Activin iii. Relaxin iv. Oxytocin v. Others B. Structure 1. Shape a. Cow & Ewe Almond Shaped b. Sow Cluster of Grapes c. Mare Kidney Shape 2. Medulla a. Fibroelastic connective tissue b. Nerves and Vascularization through Hilus connected to Mesovarian Ligament. 3. Cortex a. Follicles b. Corpora Lutea c. Stroma, blood vessels, lymph vessels, smooth muscle fibers 4. Germinal Epithelium & Tunica Albuginea a. Surrounds ovary C. Follicles 1. Contain the oocyte (egg) a. Surrounded by specialized follicular cells (granulosa-like) i. Corona radiata ii. Cumulus oophorus 2. Folliculogenesis a. Primary Follicle b. Secondary Follicle c. Tertiary Follicle d. Graafian Follicle 3. Follicle Cell Types a. Granulosa Cells b. Theca Interna c. Theca Externa D. Corpus Luteum (CL) 1. Development Luteinization a. Stages: i. Corpus Hemorrhagicum --Bloody Body --Post-ovulation ii. Corpus Luteum --Yellow Body --Active iii. Corpus Albicans --White Body --Degenerative body 2. Luteal (Lutein) Cells a. Large cells --From Granulosa Cells b. Small cells --From Theca Cells c. Both produce progesterone 3. Corpus Luteum Spurium a. CL of Estrous Cycle b. Last for over ½ the cycle Luteal Phase 4. Luteal Regression Luteolysis a. Induced by Prostaglandin-F2alpha b. Corpus Albicans forms 5. Corpus Luteum Verum a. CL of Pregnancy b. Needed for maintenance of pregnancy (early stages) c. Remains after Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy --Luteolysis inhibited II. Oviduct (Fallopian Tube) A. Functions 1. Oocyte retrieval after ovulation 2. Site of Fertilization 3. Oocyte/Ovum transport to Uterus B. Gross Anatomy 1. Fimbria a. Finger-like processes at end of infundibulum 2. Infundibulum a. Funnel-shaped opening 3. Ampulla a. Distal dilated portion b. Opening=Ostium 4. Ampullary-Isthmic Junction a. Connects ampulla to isthmus b. Usual site of Fertilization 5. Isthmus a. Proximal narrow portion b. Connects oviduct to uterus 6. Uterotubule Junction (Utero-isthmic Junction) a. No defined sphincter i. Small papilla--mare ii. Guarded by long finger-like mucosal process--Sow iii. Flexure (Kink)--Cows & Ewes 7. Mesosalpinx a. Ligament that harnesses in place b. Part of Broad Ligament C. Oviductal Wall 1. Primary, Secondary, & Tertiary Folds a. Ampulla--High folds b. Isthmus--Decrease in height c. UT Junction--Low ridges 2. Layers a. Mucosa--Ciliated & Non-ciliated cells b. Submucosa--CT, nerves, & vascularization c. Muscularis--Organized smooth muscle c. Serosa--Epithelial layer 3. Ciliated Cells a. Kinocilia--Beat towards uterus b. Controlled by ovarian hormones (estrogen) --Greatest activity at ovulation c. Very synchronized at fimbria d. Greatest number at apices of folds e. Decrease in number: Infundibulum to Isthmus f. Keeps egg rotating i. Helps in fertilization ii. Disallows oviductal implantation 4. Non-ciliated cells a. Secretory cells b. Release contents at ovulation c. Oviductal fluid needed for fertilization III. Uterus A. Anatomy 1. Two Uterine Horns (cornua) 2. Body 3. Cervix (neck) 4. Broad ligament (Mesometrium) B. Type 1. Bicornuate--Swine, Cattle, Sheep, Horses, Cats, and Dogs a. Long horns, short body b. Bipartite--Horses i. Larger Uterine body ii. Smaller horns 3. Duplex--Rodents a. Two horns, separate cervical canals 4. Simple--Primates a. No real uterine horns C. Uterine Wall 1. Endometrium a. Mucosa & Submucosa b. Very Glandular c. Caruncles (implantation sites) present in ruminants d. Longitudinal Folds--Sows & Mares e. Lumenal Epithelium i. Columnar--Estrus ii. Cuboidal--Luteal Phase 2. Myometrium a. Muscle b. Circular & Longitudinal 3. Perimetrium a. Serosa D. Functions of the Uterus 1. Sperm Transport a. Myometrium--Contractions help move sperm to oviduct b. Endometrium--Capacitation 2. CL control a. Luteolysis--PGF2alpha b. Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy--PGE2, etc. 3. Implantation & Gestation a. Provides nutrition and protection to conceptus b. Maintain Blood Supply 4. Parturition & Postpartum Involution a. Myometrium plays a major role in fetal expulsion b. Involution prepares uterus for next pregnancy IV. Cervix A. Gross Anatomy 1. Fibrous 2. Thick walled 3. Constricted Lumen a. Tightly closed except at estrus b. Annular Rings--Cows & Sows c. Cork-screwed--Sows d. Multiple Conspicuous Folds--Mare e. Single Fold--Queen and Bitch 4. Os--Openings a. Internal--Uterine or Cranial side b. External--Vaginal or Caudal side B. Cervical Stroma--Connective Tissue 1. Connective Tissue Types a. Ground Substance --Proteoglycans, hyluronic acid, chondroitin... b. Fibrous constituents --Collagen, elastin, & reticulin c. Cellular elements --Mast cells & fibroblasts 2. Cervix changes drastically during pregnancy a. 8-fold increase in mass during pregnancy b. Softening at parturition --Effacement C. Function 1. Sperm Transport a. Depends on hormonal state 2. Sperm Reservoir & Selector of viable sperm a. Cervical crypts b. Sperm have prolonged survival c. Traps non-viable sperm 3. Dilation and effacement to permit parturition and expulsion of fetal membranes IV. Vagina A. Function 1. Copulatory organ 2. Sperm Transport and Temporary Storage 3. Excretory duct from upper tract 4. Birth Canal B. Anatomy 1. Mucosa a. Cranial Vagina i. Simple Columnar ii. Highly secretory b. Caudal Vagina i. Stratified Squamous Epithelium ii. Contains no glands 2. Muscularis a. Thick Inner Circular Muscles i. Fence-like, rhomboid-shaped arrangement ii. Allows for distension during mating and birth b. Thin Outer Longitudinal Muscles i. Posterior Sphincter at Vestibule Junction ii. Cows also have an anterior sphincter VI. External Genitalia A. Vestibule 1. Hymen a. Ridge-like structure b. Well Defined--Mares & Ewes c. Can sometimes interfere with copulation 2. Urethral Orifice a. Ventral Side b. Bitches have Urethral tubercle which lies Urethral orifice 3. Suburethral Diverticulum a. Blind pouch b. Ventral/Caudal of Urethral Orifice 4. Gartner's tubes a. Wolffian duct remnants b. Lateral pair 5. Glands of Bartholin a. Lubricating gland B. Labia 1. Majora a. Fat deposits b. Elastic Tissue c. Glandular 2. Minora a. Spongy CT b. Glandular C. Clitoris 1. Erectile tissue 2. Cow--Mostly buried in mucosa Mare--Well Developed Sow--Long, sinuous, coneshaped