Page 482 - Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, 8th Edition

Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System / 467

Table 26‐1. Comparative Anatomy of the Reproductive Tract
in the Adult Nonpregnant Female
VetBooks.ir Animal

Organ Cow Ewe Sow Mare
Uterine tube 1 25 15–19 15–30 20–30
Uterus
Type Bipartite 2 Bipartite Bicornuate 3 Bipartite
Horn 1 35–40 10–12 40–65 15–25
Body 1 2–4 1–2 5 15–20
Endometrium 70–120 caruncles 88–96 caruncles Slight Conspicuous
longitudinal folds longitudinal folds
Cervix
Lumen 2–5 annular rings Annular rings Corkscrew‐like Conspicuous folds
Opening to Small and protruding Small and protruding Ill‐defined Clearly defined
uterus
Vagina 1 25–30 10–14 10–15 20–35
Vestibule 1 10–12 2.5–3 6–8 10–12
1 Length in centimeters.
2 Body divided into two parts.
3 Uterus dominated by two horns.

Mare Sow

Cow

Figure 26‐2. Schematic drawings of ovaries from the mare, cow and sow. Note the ovulation fossa on the
equine ovary. The gross image is that of a bovine ovary with the crown of a corpus luteum evident. Source:
gross image courtesy of Library of Reproduction Images (LORI: http://lorimainsection.blogspot.ca).

attached border of the ovary. Ovaries of species to species, and even within a spe-
the sow usually appear lobulated because cies there is some variation. For example,
of the numerous developing ova; the sow the ovary of the mare may be less than
is the only common farm animal that typ- 2.5 cm in diameter when no developing ova
ically produces a litter, rather than one or are present or as large as 10 cm with many
two offspring per pregnancy. developing ova.
When palpated through the wall of the The ovary is invested in a dense connec-
rectum, the ovary feels solid because of the tive tissue capsule, the tunica albuginea
large amount of connective tissue that makes (Fig. 26‐3). The medulla, or central portion,
up the stroma of the gland. The normal of the ovary is the most vascular part,
size of the ovary varies considerably from while the cortex, or outer portion, consists