Broad Ligament
• suspends the female reproductive tract in the pelvic cavity
• has three portions
Ovary• release ova- egg• 50,000 - 150,000 potential eggs
present at birth• release hormones• progesterone• estrogen
Oviduct
• (fallopian tube)
• connect ovary to uterine horns
Oviduct
• three portions
• infundibulum
• ampulla
• isthmus
Oviduct
• ova remains in oviduct for 3-6 days
• 1/8 inch in diameter
• 20 cm. Long in a cow
Uterus• passageway for sperm cells from
cervix to oviduct
• produce histotroph - nourishes developing embryo until placenta forms
• expel fetus at parturition
Parturition
• birth
Uterus
• site of pregnancy
Cervix• located between uterus and vagina
• forms a barrier between the internal and external environment
• thick walled, many ringed organ
Vagina
• point where urinary and reproductive tracts join
• receptacle for semen
• passageway for fetus
Vulva
• outer opening of reproductive tract
Clitoris
• sensory organ
Male Reproductive Tract
• Testes - male gonad
• located externally in scrotum except in birds
• produce sperm
• produce male hormone - testosterone
Scrotum
• thermal regulatory organ
• temperature control necessary for sperm production
• cannot occur at body temperature
Scrotum
• heat can cause infertility
• spermatogenesis - maturation of sperm cells - takes about 50 days
Epididymis
• 10 - 15 days for the sperm cells to pass through the epididymis
• Functions -
• maturation of sperm cells
• storage of sperm cells
Vas Deferens
• passageway for sperm cells
Accessory Glands
• Seminal Vesicles
• Prostate Gland
• Cowper’s gland
Accessory Glands
• Provide 95-98% of total ejaculate volume
Seminal Vesicles
• secrete fructose - energy source for sperm
• 40-80% of ejaculate volume
Prostate Gland
• secretes enzymes
• 15-30 % of ejaculate volume
Cowper’s Gland
• cleanse and neutralize urethra
• keep sperm from dying
Urethra
• passageway for semen
• carries semen to the end of the penis
Retractor Muscle
• retracts penis
• pulls the penis back within the sheath
Sigmoid Flexor
• extends penis from the sheath
Penis
• deposits semen in the female reproductive tract
Sheath
• encloses the penis