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