Female
Reproductive Anatomy
Animal Breeding
Pensacola Jr College
Overview of Female
Tract
w Ovaries = site of egg
development and hormone secretion
w Oviducts (Fallopian tubes) =
carries egg, site of fertilization
w Uterus = site of embryo
development
Overview (cont’d)
w Cervix = barrier to uterine
contamination from outside
w Vagina = Organ of copulation
/ receives sperm
w Vulva = external genitals
w Broad Ligament = main
supporting structure for tract
Overview (cont’d)
w Ovarian arteries = blood
supply for ovaries, oviducts, and top of uterus
w Uterine arteries = blood
supply for most of uterus
Reproductive Tract
(cow)
Reproductive Tract
(cow)
Reproductive Tract
(human)
Ovaries
w Paired gonads in females
w Develop due to lack of Y
chromosome, otherwise differentiate into testes
w Produce mature egg cells
w Produce reproductive
hormones of estrus / pregnancy
Ovaries (cont’d)
w Consist of:
• Outer single layer of
flattened cells
• Middle layer of connective
tissue
• Inner functional layer
Ovary Diagram
Primary Follicle
w Begins in embryonic gut
w Moves through bloodstream to
ovary
w Moves to inner layer of
ovary
w Develops a coating of a
single granulosa cell layer
w All formed before birth
w Most become atretic
Primary Follicle
Secondary Follicle
w Egg cell surrounded by 2 or
more layers of granulosa cells
Secondary Follicle
Tertiary Follicle
w Has fluid filled antrum
containing hormones
w Granulosa cells directly surrounding
egg cell are the corona
w Hill of granulosa cells the
egg sits in is the cumulus
Tertiary Follicle
Graafian Follicle
w Similar to tertiary follicle
in structure
w Located as a blister on the
surface of the ovary
Graafian Follicle
Tertiary / Graafian
structure
Ovary with CL
(cow)
Structures after
ovulation
w Corpus hemorrhagicum = blood
filled cavity of follicle after it ruptures
w Corpus luteum = solid large
mass from ovulated follicle, produces pregnancy hormones
w Corpus albicans= scar tissue
Post-ovulation
structures
Oviducts
w Paired tubes leading from
ovaries to uterus
w Conduct eggs to uterus
w Serve as site of
fertilization
w Infundibulum is a funnel
that surrounds ovary
w Fimbria with cilia capture
egg
w Cilia and smooth muscle
contraction move egg – estrogen stimulates this
Oviduct
Infundibulum (cow)
Uterus
w Single organ, may be more or
less divided in some groups of mammals
w Myometrium = muscle layer of
uterus
w Endometrium = inner
glandular layer of uterus, where embryo attaches and placenta forms
Uterus Types
w Simple = one large organ
w Bipartite = one large organ
with minor degree of separation into 2 horns
w Bicornuate = two horns
throughout most of uterus
w Duplex = two uterine horns,
separate cervices
Comparison of
Uteri
Cervix
w Thick-walled end of uterus,
protrudes into vagina
w Prevents contamination of
uterus with microbes and dead sperm
w Sperm can be stored in folds
w Muscular layer rigid
w Inner layer secretory
Cervix (cont’d)
w Variety of structures
prevent entrance
• Annular rings in cow
• Corkscrew shape in sow
w Must dialate during estrus
(estrogen) and birth (relaxin)
w Inner layer then secretes
antibacterial mucous
w Mucous plug may form
Cervix structure
(cow)
Cervix (cow)
Vagina
w Muscular and elastic organ
allowing copulation
w Mucosa = inner layer
• Contains epithelial cells
that flatten, die, and slough off when estrogen present
• Estrus detected by cells in
vaginal smear
• Progesterone regenerates
cells
Vagina (cow)
Estrus vaginal
smear
Vulva
w Includes all external
genitals, protects inner organs
w Vestibule = common area with
openings to urinary and repro systems, contains mucus glands
w Labia minora = inner folds
w Labia majora = outer folds
w Clitoris= erectile/sensory
tissue
Vulva Diagram