PART-I
Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology of reproduction in
female
Lesson 1.- Female Reproductive Anatomy
The genitilia of the cow consist of the pelvic cavity and the organs contained therein.
Pelvic Cavity: consist of basically three bones and three ligamentous structure.
The bony part comprise of :
1. Sacrum
2. The first to third coccygeal vertebrae
3. Os coxae
Tuber
sacral
Wing of
Sacrum
Tuber Coxae
Body of
Sacrum
Sacro-pubic
diameter
Shaft of Ilium
Bis-iliac
diameter
Tuber Ischii
Acetabulum
Pubic
symphysis
Ischium
Pubis
Sacrum:
Sacrum forms the roof of the pelvis and is composed of five fused vertebrae in the cow.It
is somewhat triangular in shape with the base articulating crainally with the last vertebra
and caudally with the first coccygeal vertebra. The dorsal side has the sacral spine and the
ventral side is smooth.The wing of the sacrum articulates or fuses with the ilium laterally.
In older cows the first coccygeal vertebra may be fused with the sacrum.
Ilium:
Is irregularly triangular in shape and form part of the lateral wall of the pelvis. The broad,
flat, dorsal part of the ilium is called the wing.The medial portion of the wing is called as
the Tuber sacral and its ventral medial aspects articulates with the the wings of the
sacrum.The external portion of the wing of the ilium is called as tuber coxae or “.hip
bone”. Dorsally the wing is cincave providing attachment for the gluteal muscles and
back muscles. The narrow ventral part of the ilium is calle the Body or shaft. This shaft
ventrally fuses with the Ischium and pubis at the acetabulum. Its medial pelvic surface is
groved for obturator vessels and nerve.
Ischium:
forms the caudal part of the ventral floor of the pelvis. The caudal border slopes inward
and forward to join the opposite ischium to form the ischiatic arch. The caudal lateral part
of the bones ar called as the tuber ischii or “Pin bones”. The crainial border of the
ischium forms the caudal margin of the obturator foramen. Dorsally ischium bears the
ischial spines ,crainial and caudal to which are the greater and lesser sciatic notches
respectively. The notches becomes foramina when the sacrosciatic ligament completes
their boundaries. Medially the ischial and pubis fuse to form the pelvic symphysis.
Pubis :
is the smallest bone of the ox coxae. The dorsal pelvic surface is smooth and usually
concave in female. The crainaial medial border provides attachment for the prepubic
tendon and the caudal border forms the cranial border of the obturator foramen.
Acetabulum :
It is cotyloid cavity formed by fusion of ilium,ischium and pubis.The head of the Femur
lodge into this cavity and is attached to it by the round ligament.
Ligaments and tendon:
Ligaments help to maintain the relationship of the pelvis to the spinal column.
There are two ligaments and a tendon involved in the formation of the pelvic cavity.
These are.
1. Dorsal and lateral sacro-iliac ligament.
 This ligamant is attached to medial wing of the ilium and the lateral portion of
the sacrum and the summit of the sacral spines.
2. Sacro-shiatic ligamant.
 It is a quardilateral ligamantous sheet that completes the lateral wall of the
pelvic cavity.
 It extends from the lateral border of the sacrum and the transverse process of
the first coccygeal vertebra to the ischiatic spine and tuber ischii.
3. Prepubic tendon.
 It is the tendon of insertion of the recti abdominis muscle
 It is attached strongly to the cranial border of the pubic bone.
The pelvic cavity is somewhat cone shaped and the inlet is roughly oval shaped with the
largest diameter being sacro- pubic. Size varies between species, breed, age and size. The
approximate diameter of the pelvis are:
Species
Mare
Cow
Ewe
Sow
Sacro-pubic
20.3-25.4 cm
19.0- 24.1
7,6-10.8
9.5-15.2
Bis-iliac
19.0-24.1
14.6 -19.0
5.7-8.9
6.3 -10.2
Bitch
3.3-6.3
2.8-5.7
Comparative anatomy of different species:
Mare:



Transverse or bis-iliac and sacro-pubic diameter are nearly equal, making the pelvic
inlet almost spherical.
The coxal tuberosities are larger and prominent.
Wings of iliac are nearly perpendicular to the long axis of the body.
Cow:


Ischial tuberosities are high and prominent.
The pelvic inlet is more elliptical.
Ewe:

Similar to cow except that the ischial tuberosities are relatively smaller.
Sow:




Pelvic inlet is log and narrow
wing of the ilium are not prominent
The pubic symphysis is not completely fused
The tuber ischii are largerly cartilagenous.
Bitch:


Wing of iliac are smaller and nearly parallel to the medial plane
the ilium has a twisted appearance.
The reproductive tract consist of the following organs.







Ovaries
Oviduct
Uterus
Cervix
Vagina
Vestibule
Valva
Uterine Horn
Ovary
Uterine body
Oviduct
Ovarian Bursa
Cervix
Vagina
Genital tract of cow
Ovaries:
The main function of the Ovaries is to produce ova and ovarian hormones.
In cow the ovary are oval in shape and about 1.3-5cm in length ; 1.3-3.2 cm in width; and
0.6 - 1.9 cm in thickness. In mare, it is bean shaped.The ovaries consist of a stroma of
connective tissue and blood vessel surrounded by covering of peritoneum except at the
attached border or hilus where blood vessels and nerves entres.
Within the ovary are interstitial cells,primitive ova, developing or secondary ova or
follicles, maturing graffain follicles, atretic follicles or developing or maturing Corpus
luteum.
The ovaries are attached by the broad ligament called as Mesovarian dorsally and
laterally ; by the utero-ovarian ligament medially. Blood suppy is by the Ovarian artery.
Ovary and its associated structures
Oviduct:
Oviducts are the site of fertilization.In cow, the oviduct is 20-30 cm long and 1.5-3 mm
in diameter. They are torturous,wiry and hard and are difficult to palpate. The oviduct is
divide into three parts.
 Infundibulum :
The part nearest to the ovary is the infundibulum which is funnel shaped.
It has
finger
like projection called as frimbrae which aids in the collection of the ovum
into the
oviduct.
 Ampulla :
Is the middle part which joins the isthmus at the isthmus- ampullary junction which
is believed to be the real site of fertilization.
 Isthmus :
Isthmus joins the tip of the uterine horns at the utero-tubal junction.
The oviduct is lined by hair like projection called as cilia the wave like movement of
which helps in the transportation of the ovum through the oviduct and into the uterus.
Uterus:
Uterus is the site of carrying the foetus during gestation.Is a muscular structure. The
endometrium is the layer of mucous membrane while the mesometrium is made of
circular and longitudinal muscle. In cow, the uterus is cornuate in shape with two horns.
The body of the uterus is about 2.5-5 cm in length; 1.25-5cm in diameter while the horms
measure about 2-040 cm in length. The horns are joined by a intercornual ligament for
about 1/3 of its length. Normally uterus lies on the floor of the pelvic cavity but
sometimes especially in matured cows it the horns may be found over the pelvic brim.
Uterus is attached dorsolaterally by the broad ligament.
Cervix:
The main function of the cervix is to form a barrier between the uterus and the vagina.
Is a powerful tubular sphincter like muscular structure between the uterus and the vagina
about 5-10 cm in length; 1.5-7cm in diameter. The wall is thick and hard and composed
of 3-5 muscular fibrous transverse annular folds. The opening into vagina is called
external os.
Vagina:
Vagina is the copulatory organ and also serves as the passage of the foetus. It is capable
of great dilation. It is a muscular membranous structure lying in the pelvic cavity. The
slight cricular constriction between vagina and valva is the hymen. The vagina is
surrounded by connective tissues and fats. In cow it is about 25-30 cm in length.
Vestibule:
The vestibule is located between the vulva and the vagina and extends for 10-12 cm.It has
several circular muscles that closes the genital tract to the outside. The urethra opens into
the cranial- ventral portion of the vestibule. Below the urethral opening is the suburethral
diverticulum.
Vulva:
The vulva comprise of two labia- the inner lip is called the labia major and the outer lip
the labia minor.
Clitoris:
It is the homologue of the penis.The clitoris which is about 5-10 cm in length is located in
the caudal portion of the vestibule at the ventral commissure.