University:
Sam Houston State University
Course:
BIOL 2413 | General Zoology
Academic year:

2020
Views:

180

Pages:

16
Author:

LGarrett

ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION Anatomy • The Structural Make-up of the Reproductive System Female Reproductive Tract Location Female Reproductive Tract Vulva Vulva Vulva • Entrance to the Reproductive tract • Below the intestinal tract entrance • Beneath the tail • Continued forward by the Vagina Vagina Vagina Vagina • 8 to 12 Inches in Length • Strong Thick-Walled • Usually a Collapse Tube – When Collapsed Folds Run Lengthwise • Normally Unobstructed – When Shortened Folds are Similar to Accordion Cervix Cervix Cervix • Most Important Part of Reproductive Tract For Insemination • Thick-walled Tube with Irregular Passageway • Valve Between Delicate Inside Organs and Tougher Outer Organs Cervix • Feels Like a Chicken Neck – Firm and Dense to Touch, Gristly Feeling – 2 to 4 1/2 Inches in Length; 3/4 to 2 Inch Diameter Cervix • • • • • 2 to 4 1/2 inches long Longer in Brahman Derivative Cattle Cows 3/4 to 2 inches in Diameter Heifers 1/4 to 1/2 inches in Diameter Size and Consistency Change With Age and Pregnancy – Late in Pregnancy Softer and Larger – Postpartum Much Larger and Very Soft Cervix Location • Usually Found at Cow’s Midline on Front Edge of Pelvic Floor (Brim) • In Aging Cows May be Well Forward of Pelvic Brim • During Pregnancy Cervix Tends to be Forward and Downward Beyond the Pelvic Brim • Cows and Heifers That are Straining Cause the Cervix to be Toward the Rear End of the Bony Pelvis Cervix Location Normal Cervix Aging or Pregnant Cow Cervix