Page 488 - Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, 8th Edition

Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System / 473

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Anus

Vulva
Ventral
commissure

Cow Mare

Figure 26‐9. External genitalia of the cow and mare. The cervix (*) of the cow is grossly evident adjacent
to the ventral commissure (vc). The left and right labia (lr, ll) are the caudal boundaries of the vestibule.
As shown in the schematic drawing of the mare, the vulva is located ventral to the anus, and both are often
covered by the tail. Source: gross image courtesy of Library of Reproduction Images (LORI: http://
lorimainsection.blogspot.ca).

A Caslick’s procedure (named after trium and is an anastomosis of the vaginal
Dr. Edward Caslick who first described and ovarian arteries. The uterine artery
the procedure in 1937), is surgical appo- is the chief blood supply to the uterus
sition of the dorsal portion of the vulvar in the region of the developing fetus;
labia to prevent foreign material from consequently, it enlarges greatly as preg-
entering the vestibule, while allowing nancy progresses and several branches
the mare or cow to void urine. In a gravid may be found grossly. One of the signs of
female, the sealed labia must be sepa- pregnancy in cattle is the palpable vibra-
rated prior to parturition or severe tion of this artery (called fremitus), which
dystocia or tearing of the vulva and peri- can be detected on rectal examination.
neum can occur. The caudal part of the uterus, the cer-
vix, and adjacent parts of the vagina receive
blood from branches of the vaginal artery,
Blood and Nerve Supply which is a branch of the internal pudendal
of the Female Reproductive Tract artery. The more distal branches of the
internal pudendal artery also supply the
Blood supply to the female reproductive caudal vagina, vulva, and anus. The inter-
tract is highly anastomotic and all of the nal pudendal artery takes its origin from
named vessels are bilateral. Cranially, the the internal iliac artery. Only in the mare
ovarian artery arises from the aorta cau- does the uterine artery arise directly from
dal to the renal arteries and supplies the the external iliac artery; the branch of the
ovary, as well as a uterine branch that sup- internal pudendal artery that is the vagi-
plies the ipsilateral uterine tube and cranial nal artery does supply the vagina, urinary
part of the uterine horn. The primary bladder, urethra, and caudal uterine body,
blood supply to the uterine body and horns but it does not anastomose with the ovar-
is the uterine artery (formerly middle ian artery.
uterine artery), which derives from the Venous drainage of the female repro-
vaginal artery. All of the neurovascular ductive tract is via veins that are satellite to
structures associated with the female the arteries and that ultimately drain to the
reproductive tract are grossly observed caudal vena cava. In ruminants, the ovar-
within peritoneal structures such that the ian artery and the uterine vein run close
uterine artery is found within the mesome- together, providing a venoarterial pathway