Female Reproductive Tract

Broad Ligament

• suspends the female reproductive tract in the pelvic cavity

• has three portions

Ovary• release ova- egg• 50,000 - 150,000 potential eggs

present at birth• release hormones• progesterone• estrogen

Oviduct

• (fallopian tube)

• connect ovary to uterine horns

Oviduct

• three portions

• infundibulum

• ampulla

• isthmus

Oviduct

• ova remains in oviduct for 3-6 days

• 1/8 inch in diameter

• 20 cm. Long in a cow

Uterus• passageway for sperm cells from

cervix to oviduct

• produce histotroph - nourishes developing embryo until placenta forms

• expel fetus at parturition

Parturition

• birth

Uterus

• site of pregnancy

Cervix• located between uterus and vagina

• forms a barrier between the internal and external environment

• thick walled, many ringed organ

Vagina

• point where urinary and reproductive tracts join

• receptacle for semen

• passageway for fetus

Vulva

• outer opening of reproductive tract

Clitoris

• sensory organ

Hormones

• estrogen

• progesterone

• FSH

• LH

• HCG

Estrogen

• produced by the follicle in non pregnant female and placenta in late pregnancy

• induce estrus - heat

• responsible for female contour

Estrogen

• develop duct system of mammary gland

• causes edema - retention of water

• increases muscle development

Progesterone

• hormone that keeps female out of heat

• relaxes uterus

• secretion of histotroph

FSH

• follicle stimulating hormone

• development of follicles on ovary

• ova are released from follicle

FSH

• indirectly responsible for estrogen production

LH

• Lutenizing hormone

• causes ovulation

• ova is released from the follicle

HCG

• Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

• produced by the placenta of pregnant women early in pregnancy

HCG

• used on cows that are cystic - won’t ovulate

• causes ovulation

Ovulation

• release of ova from ovary

• follicle develops - blister on ovary

• follicle bursts - egg is released

Ovulation

• a hole is left where the ova was

• forms a C.L. (Corpus Luteum) - yellow body

C.L.

• produces progesterone

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

Gestation• length of time from conception till

birth

• cows - 281 days

• pigs - 114 days (3 mos, 3 weeks, 3 days)

• horses - 336 days

Gestation

• sheep - 148 days

• goats - 151 days