Some Developmental Disorders in the Female Reproductive System

Some defects may cause abnormal development of the female reproductive system. The formation of ovotestes and/or hypoplastic gonads is seen due to chromosomal disorders. Instead of a bipartite uterus, hypoplastic uterine horns and a single uterine body may form in cattle, horses and other animals.

Learning Outcomes

The female reproductive system comprises of two ovaries with a reproductive tract constituting oviducts, uterus, cervix, vagina and vulva. The histo- morphology of ovaries and reproductive tract are vari­able in different species, breeds, seasons, breeding times and phases of the reproductive cycle. The broad ligament is the main supporting ligament that holds the different parts of the female reproductive tract in position.

• Ovary: Ovary is generally oval with pointed ends. Normally, the right ovary is more active in almost all mammals. In birds, the left ovary is functional. The position of the ovary is variable in different species. The ovary is divided into the outer cortex and inner medulla, and the blood vessels, lymphatics and nerves are entered through the hilum. Cortex is involved in ova and hormone production.

• Oviduct or fallopian tube: Fallopian tube captures the ovum through its finger-like projection called fimbriae at the infundibulum. The remaining portion of the oviduct consists of the ampulla and isthmus. The ampullary-isthmic junction is the site of fertilisation in mammals, and the isthmus joins the uterus through utero-tubal junction.

• Uterus: The uterus consists of two uterine horns, the neck and body of the uterus, which communicates with the vagina through the cervix. Generally, four

(continued) types of uterine structure are found in various mammals. The uterus is morphologically classified as bipartite, bicornuate, simplex and duplex uterus. It supports the pregnancy with its varied patterns of cellular structures and fleshy vascular growths over the endometrium, caruncles and lobules of the foetal membrane, the cotyledons.

• Cervix: The cervix is a thick-walled heavy sphincter-like configuration that divides the internal environment of the uterus from the external envi­ronment of the vagina. The cervical canal is characterised by transverse or spirally interlocking ridges called annular folds. It acts as a physical barrier to protect the uterus from the invasion of foreign materials, particularly during pregnancy.

• Vagina: Vagina is a female’s copulatory organ and also serves as the organ of urination. This thin­walled tube is highly elastic and able to expand considerably during the expulsion of the foetus; hence, it is also called the birth canal. The opening of urethra at the vagina form a blind sac is called the suburethral diverticulum, which assists during catheterisation.

• Vulva: The exterior opening of the female repro­ductive tract is the vulva, consisting of two lips, the labia majora and labia minora. The secretion of vestibular glands moistens the passage during copu­lation and parturition and secretes pheromone dur­ing oestrus. There are two additional structures, the hymen and clitoris, which play a role during coitus and tactile sexual stimulation.

• Secondary sex organs of birds: Birds have infun­dibulum, magnum, isthmus, uterus (shell gland), vagina and cloaca as secondary sex organs.

Exercises

Objective Questions

Q1. Which part of the broad ligament is attached to the fallopian tubes?

Q2. Which part of the ovary (cortex or medulla) exhibits gametogenic function?

Q3. Which ovary is functional in almost all mammals? Q4. Ovulation fossa is present in which animal species? Q5. Which is the site of fertilisation in most mammals?

Q6. The ovarian bursa is well developed in which of the following animals—cow, ewe and mice?

Q7. Whether the appearance of fimbriae endocrine dependent?

Q8. Which type of uterine configuration is found in the dog?

Q9. What are the major features of the bipartite uterus? Q10. How many cervixes are found in duplexes?

Q11. Which parts of the female reproductive tract are involved in the formation of bloom in the bird?

Q12. Which gland of the female reproductive system secretes pheromone during oestrus?

Q13. Which physiological configuration of the cervix blocks the passage of spermatozoa?

Q14. In which particular phase(s) of the reproductive cycle does the vagina become open in animals?

Q15. In which animal the spermatozoa may be stored in a vaginal pouch during the non-breeding season?

Q16. Which structure of the vagina assists catheterisation?

Q17. Which organ of the female reproductive system is analogous to the male’s scrotum?

Q18. Which parts of the female reproductive tract of birds secrete albumin?

Q19. Which structure of the female reproductive system is homologous to the cavernous structure of the penis?

Q20. Name the special vaginal tubules of birds that hold the spermatozoa.

Subjective Questions

Q1. Describe the various pattern of the uterus according to its structural configuration.

Q2. Write the various functional roles of the cervix in differ­ent phases of the reproductive cycle.

Q3. Describe the physiological role of the vagina in reproduction.

Q4. Describe the role of the vulva and its accessory structures in mating.

Q5. Write the role of various parts of secondary sex organs in birds in egg formation.

Answer to Objective Questions

A1. Mesosalpinx

A2. Cortex

A3. Right

A4. Horse

A5. Ampullary-isthmic junction

A6. Mice

A7. Yes

A8. Bicornuate

A9. Two moderate to poorly developed horns with a mod­erate to well-developed single uterus and cervix

A10. Two

A11. Uterus

A12. Vestibular glands

A13. Cervicalplug

A14. During oestrus and parturition

A15. Bat

A16. Suburethral diverticulum

A17. Labia majora of vulva

A18. Magnum

A19. Vestibularbulbs

A20. Spermatheca

Keywords for the Answer to Subjective Questions

A1. Bicornuate uterus, bipartite uterus, simplex and duplex

A2. Physical barrier, role of progesterone, cervical plug

A3. Copulatory organ, birth canal, chemotactic receptors

A4. Influence of oestrogens on vulva, vestibule and its glands and bulbs, hymen and clitoris

A5. Role of secretion of various parts of the tract, formation of chalazae, bloom

Further Reading

Textbooks

McAuliffe SB (2013) Reproductive disorders (Chapter 12). In: Knottenbelt and Pascoe’s color atlas of diseases and disorders of the horse, 2nd edn. Elsevier Ltd., Philadelphia, PA, pp 443-513. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2010-0-66008-1

Morel MCGD (2015) Equine reproductive physiology, breeding and stud management, 4th edn. CABI, Wallingford, pp 1-411. ISBN: 978-1-78064-442-4.

Pineda MH, Dooley MP (2003) McDonald’s veterinary endocrinology and reproduction, 5th edn. Iowa State Press, Ames, IA, p 597

Research Articles

Abiaezute CN, Nwaogu IC, Okoye CN (2017) Morphological features of the uterus during postnatal development in the West African Dwarf goat (Caprahircus). Anim Reprod 14(4):1062-1071. https:// doi.org/10.21451/1984-3143-AR886

Alwan AF, Al-Saffar HE, Khammas DJ (2005) Biometry of genital organs in Iraqi female buffalo.

Bergfelt DR (2016) Anatomy and physiology of the mare. In: Equine medicine (11 chapter). Available at: https://veteriankey.com/ anatomy-and-physiology-of-the-mare/

Carvalho NAT, Gimenes LU, Reis EL, Cavalcante AKS, Mello JE, Nichi M, Nicacio AC, Nasser LFT, Rezende LFC, Wisnesck CA, Moura CEB, Benedicto HB, Bombonato PP, Baruselli PS (2010) Biometry of genital system from buffalo (Murrah) and bovine (Nelore) females. In: Anatomy and fisiology, Proceedings 9th World Buffalo Congress, pp 276-290

Conze T, Wehrend A (2017) Sonographische Darstellung der physiologischen Ovarienbei der Katze. Tierarztl Prax Ausg K 45(3):199-203. https://doi.org/10.15654/TPK-160164

Devkota B, Singh AK (2017) Morphometry of the female reproductive organs of the Murrahcross buffaloes in Chitwan. Nepal J Agric ForestUniv 1:113-117

Drennan WG, Macpherson JW (1966) The reproductive tract of bovine slaughter heifers (a biometrical study). Can J Comp Med Vet Sci 30: 224-227

Eker K, Salmanoglu MR (2006) Ultrasonographic monitoring of follic­ular development, ovulation and corpora lutea formation in a bitch. Turk J Vet Anim Sci 30:589-592

Gupta MD, Akter MM, Gupta AD, Das A (2011) Biometry of female genital organs of back Bengal goat. Int J Nat Sci 1(1):12-17. https:// doi.org/10.3329/ijns.v1i1.8609

Haque Z, Haque A, Quasem MA (2016) Morphologic and morphomet­ric analysis of the ovary of black Bengal goat (Capra hircus). Int J Morphol 34(1):13-16

Hewitt SC, Winuthayanon W, Korach KS (2016) What’s new in estro­gen receptor action in the female reproductive tract. J Mol Endocrinol 56(2):R55-R71. https://doi.org/10.1530/JME-15-0254

Hoque MSA, Islam Md M, Selim Md AS (2016) Interspecies differences on ovarian parameters between black Bengal goat and indigenous Bengal sheep in view of in vitro maturation. Adv Life Sci 6(3):54-60. https://doi.org/10.5923fj.als.20160603.02

Jaji AZ, Buduwara RA, Akanmu AI, Zachariah M, Luka J, Gambo B (2012) Pregnancy related biometric changes in the ovaries and uterus of the Sahelian goat.

Jaji AZ, Akanmu AI, Buduwara RA, Elelu N, Kigir E, Mahre MB, Gambo B (2013) Pregnancy related biometrical changes in the ovaries and uterus of the Balami sheep. Glob J Med Res Vet Sci VetMed 13(2):1-7

Jones SM, Troxel TR (2019) Understanding reproductive physiology and anatomy of the mare. In: Horses. National Institute of Food and Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, Corp Ext. Available at: https://horses.extension.org/2019/07/understanding- reproductive-physiology-and-anatomy-of-the-mare/. 3.10.2019

Khaton R, Sarder MJU, Gofur MR (2015) Biometrical studies of repro­ductive organs of dairy cows of different genotypes in Bangladesh. Asian J Anim Sci 9:388-395. https://doi.org/10.3923/ajas.2015. 388.395

Knight KM, Moalli PA, Nolfi A, Palcsey S, Barone WR, Abramowitch SD (2016) Impact of parity on ewe vaginal mechanical properties relative to the nonhuman primate and rodent. Int Urogynecol J 27(8):1255-1263. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-016-2963-2

Levy X (2016) Videovaginoscopy of the canine vagina. Reprod Domest Anim 51(Suppl. 1):31-36. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.12785

Lohachit C, Bodhipaksha P, Tesprateep T (1981) Studies on the biome­try of the reproductive tract in Thai female swamp buffalo. Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United States, AGRIS. Available at: http://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=XB8121585

Ono M, Akuzawa H, Nambo Y, Hirano Y, Kimura J, Takemoto S, Nakamura S, YokotaH HR, Higuchi T, Ohtaki T, Tsumagari S (2016) Analysis of the equine ovarian structure during the first twelve months of life by three-dimensional internal structure micros­copy. J Vet Med Sci 77(12):1599-1603. https://doi.org/10.1292/ jvms.14-0539

Vicencio NG, Viernes VD Jr, Ocampo LC, Ocampo MB (2017) Gross anatomy of the female reproductive organs of Philippine Native pig (SusscrofaL). IntJ AgricTechnol 13(7.2):1627-1638

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