Reproductive organs of animals

Cattle, Buffalo, Sheep, Goat and Pig

Reproductive organs of cattle

The organ of male genital system consists of:

• Two testicles which are contained in scrotum,
• Vas deferens,
• Urethra and penis.

Accessory sex glands are

• prostate,
• seminal vesicle and
• Cowper’s gland( bulbo-urethral gland).

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Scrotum:

• situated in the inguinal region where testicles are located.

Testes:

• suspended in the scrotum by spermatic cords.
• Function: production of spermatozoa and male sex hormone (testosterone).

Epididymis:

• Its function is
• Storage of spermatozoa
• Maturation of spermatozoa takes place.
• Transportation of spermatozoa from testes to the vas deferens.

Vas deferens:

• The vas deferens extends from tail of epididymis, to the bundle of spermatic cord.

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Urethra

• common passage for the excretion of urine as well as for the transportation of semen.
• extends from the neck of the bladder to the glands penis.

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Penis:

• It is a copulatory organ in male
• composed essentially of erectile tissue.
• When not in use it forms an “S” shaped of sigmoid flexure
• The tip of penis is known as glans.
• The glans is surrounded by a fold of skin known as prepuce.

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Accessory sex gland:

Vesicular gland (Seminal Vesicles)

• These glands are absent in dog and cat.

Prostate gland:

• The prostate gland is located around the neck of the bladder.
• Bulbourethral glands (Cowper’s glands):
• secrets substances to clear the urethral tract prior to semen ejaculation. It is absent in dog

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Female reproductive organs:

1. primary reproductive organ of the female is ovary
2. secondary reproductive organs are:
1. oviducts,
2. uterus,
3. vagina and
4. vulva.

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Ovaries:

• The ovaries are suspended by a broad ligaments.
• It helps in production of eggs and also reproductive hormones.

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Oviduct:

• It is continuous with the uterine horn.
• Each is about 20-30 cm and is attached to the broad ligaments.
• It is divided into infundibulum, ampulla and isthmus.
• The funnel shaped structure close to the ovary is called infundibulum.
• It helps in transfer the ova from the ovary to the uterus.

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Uterus:

• The uterus is divided into

a) Horns of uterus:

• Each horn is tapered cranially to join the oviduct

b) Body of the uterus:

• It is 4-5 cm in length. Caudally it continues with the cervix.

c) Cervix:

• It is the neck of the uterus and is about 8 cm in length.
• Caudally it continues with the vagina.
• The cervix presents large number of mucus secreting goblet cells.

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• Vagina
• It extend from caudal portion of cervix to vestibule (vulva).
• Average length of this structure is about 20 cm.
• Vagina serves as a birth canal at the time of parturition. 

Vulva (vaginal vestibule)

• Clitoris is as like that of penis without urethra and composed of erectile tissue.

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Accessory sex gland of female:

Mammary gland:

• They are normally four in number situated in the inguinal region,
• lies between the thighs and known as udder.
• In male, they are rudimentary.
• They develop in the puberty
• more marked in the latter stage of pregnancy and especially after parturition.

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Sheep and Goat: �Female reproductive system

• The reproductive tract of ewes and does is similar.
• The female reproductive tract consists of the vulva ,
• vagina (copulatory organ),
• Uterus
• oviduct (also called Fallopian tube) and
• the ovary.

Female reproductive system

• Ovaries:
• The ovaries contain the ova (eggs), and secrete female reproductive hormones (progesterone and estrogens).

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Oviduct:

• opens like a funnel (the infundibulum) near the ovary.
• The infundibulum receives ova released from the ovary and transports them to the site of fertilization in the oviduct.
• involved in sperm transport to the site of fertilization,
• provides a proper environment for ova and sperm fertilization,
• transports the subsequent embryo to the uterus.

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Uterus:

• The uterus provides a proper environment for embryo development, supports development of the foetus (supplying nutrients, removing waste, and protecting the foetus), and transports the foetus out of the maternal body during birth.
• The uterus is divided into

a) Horns of uterus:

b) Body of the uterus:

c) Cervix:

Cervix:

• gateway to the uterus
• muscular canal consisting of several folds of tissue referred to as “rings.”
• The cervix has relatively little smooth musculature.
• It participates in sperm transport, and during pregnancy, blocks bacterial invasion.

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Vagina:

• exterior portion of the female reproductive tract
• site of semen deposition during natural mating.

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Vulva:

• barrier for preventing external contamination of the female reproductive tract.

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Male reproductive system: �

The organ of male genital system consists of:

• Two testicles which are contained in scrotum,
• Vas deferens,
• Urethra and penis.

Accessory sex glands are

• prostate,
• seminal vesicle and
• Cowper’s gland( bulbo-urethral gland).

Testes:

• paired organs lies inside the scrotum
• produce the male gametes (spermatozoa) and secrete the male sex hormone, testosterone.
• Testosterone is essential for the development of male characteristics, maintaining normal sexual behavior and sperm production.

Scrotum:

• muscular sac containing the testes.
• It supports and protects the testes
• also plays a major role in temperature regulation.

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Vas deferens:

• duct that rises from the tail of the epididymis into the abdomen,
• it joins the urethra at the neck of the bladder.
• It is often referred to as the ‘spermatic cord.’
• Removal of a section of the vas deferens in each testis is known as a vasectomy, preventing passage of sperm from the epididymis.

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Accessory sex glands:

• include the bulbo-urethral, prostate, and seminal vesicle glands and the ampulla.
• secrete additional fluids, which when combined with the sperm

Penis:

• final part of the male reproductive tract
• its function is to deposit semen into the vaginal tract of the female.

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Pig: �Reproductive System

• composed of a pair of ovaries, infundibulum's, oviducts and uterine horns.

• The ovary plays an important role in producing hormones and eggs.
• The pituitary gland releases hormones that help with follicle development which helps develop the egg.
• The infundibulum catches the egg and sends it on to the oviduct.
• Fertilization actually occurs in the middle of the oviduct in a place called the ampulla.

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• The uterus is comprised of two uterine horns.
• The sow has a more fragile attachment between the uterus and placental membranes.
• When the eggs are fertilized, they then move down into the uterine horns.
• There are usually more embryos then the mother can handle.
• After the sperm has entered the vagina, it travels to the cervix.

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• When it is time for fertilization, the mucosal cells secrete mucus that helps move the sperm into the uterus.
• During gestation, this is the mucus that helps create the mucus plug.
• The vagina has three functions;
• it's the female organ of copulation at mating,
• it's the birth canal during parturition,
• it serves as an exit passage for urine.
• When the female is in heat, the vagina becomes moist to better accept the semen.

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• The male reproductive tract is made up of testicles, seminiferous tubules, epididymis, vas deferens, urethra, and the penis.
• The testicles are in charge of sperm and testosterone.
• Testosterone is responsible for the secondary sex characteristics of the male.
• The seminiferous tubule are located in the testicles and are responsible for the production of sperm cells.

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• After the sperm cells are created, they travel to the epididymis where they will mature.
• Only after they are mature will they actually be able to fertilize the egg.
• The vas deferens is the transportation tube for sperm from the epididymis to the urethra.
• There is a slight bulge in the vas deferens called the ampulla.
• The ampulla is a holding area for the sperm that is ready to ejaculate.
• The urethra is the last step for the sperm.
• This is where the sperm actually leaves the males body.

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