ANATOMICAL DIFFERENCE IN OVARIES

This part of the module deals with the anatomical differences in ovaries of the following
species.

Cattle
Mare
Ewe
Sow
Bitch
Functions of the Ovary

Cattle
They are usually oval or almond in shape between 1.3 to 5
cm in length, 1.3 to 3.2 cm in width and 0.6 t o 1.9 cm thick
and weigh about 5 to 15 gms. The mature Graafian follicle is
1-2 cm in diameter and smooth, convex, thin walled and
fluctuates on palpation. The corpus luteum is 1.9 - 3.2 cm
in diameter and constitutes nearly three quarters of the size
of the ovary.To view click on figure.
Mare
The ovaries of mare are bean shaped measuring 4 to 8 cm
in length, 3 to 6 cm in width, 3 to 5 cms in thickness and
weigh 40 to 80 gms. The ovarian location is somewhat
variable, but is usually at 10 and 2 'O' clock positions by the
shaft of ileum. The left ovary is more functional than the
right. The three surfaces used to identify the structures on
the ovary are

The cranial pole - attached to the fimbria

The caudal pole - attached to the uterus by the
proper ligament of the ovary
The lateral and medial surfaces.

The dorsal surface (attached surface) is mesenteric while

the ventral (free surface) is anti-mesenteric. The ovulation
fossa is at the 'hilus' of the ovary. The entire ovary is
covered by peritoneum and some mares may exibit pain at
ovulation because of the stretching of the peritoneum.

The germinal epithelium is on the inside, rather the outside

of the ovary (inside out compared to a cow). This prevents
external ovulation of the oocyte and hence, ovulation in the
 mare is restricted to the ovulatory fossa while it occurs at
random locations in the ovary of cow, ewe, sow and bitch.
This internal location of the germinal epithelium also
prevents the corpus luteum protrusion and palpation as in
the cow. Hence, only follicles on the equine ovary are
readily palpable while the corpus luteum cannot be
palpated. The diameter of the corpus luteum is also smaller
than that of the mature graffian follicle and is cauliflower
shaped.To view click on figure.

Ewe and Goat

The ovaries of the ewe and goat are almond shaped,1.25 cm

or more in length, weigh 3-4 gms with the right more active
than the left. To view click on figure.

Sow

The ovaries of the sow are oval in shape but appear like a
bunch of grapes or mulberry like due to multiple follicles/
corpora lutea. They weigh 3.5-10 gm and are situated 2.5-5
cm behind the kidneys near the lateral margin of the pelvic
inlet.The left ovary is more functional. The ovaries are
almost completely covered in the bursa.To view click on
figure.
Bitch

Ovaries of the bitch are oval in shape, measuring less than

2.5 cm in length and are concealed in a bursa which has a
0.6 to 2.0 cm slit like opening ventrally. The ovaries may be
mulberry in appearance due to multiple follicles or corpora
lutea and are situated in the caudal pole of the kidneys,
opposite 3rd/4th lumbar vertebra between last rib and
crest of illium.No distinct hilus is present.To view click on
figure.

UTERUS OF DIFFERENT SPECIES

Cow
Mare
Ewe
Sow
Bitch
Functions of Uterus
Cow

The uterus is of bipartite /bicornuate type and is located

either on the floor of the pelvis, on the pelvic brim or
mostly on the caudal floor of the abdominal cavity in
parous cows. The uterus is attached dorso-laterally by
the broad ligament and the mesometrium. The horns or
cornua are joined by the dorsal and ventral intercornual
ligaments. Each cornua measures about 25 to 40 cm in
length and 1.5 to 5 cm in width. Posteriorly,the cornua
open into body of the uterus which is not so well defined
in cows and measures about 2.5 to 3 cm. During
pregnancy the uterus enlarges greatly and becomes
located further cranially and ventrally on the abdominal
cavity. Click on the picture to view a larger image.

Internally the inner surface of the uterus in ruminants

contain non-glandular convex shaped projections
called the caruncles which are arranged in four rows.
They are 70 to 120 in number and during pregnancy
they increase in size from 15mm to 10cms and appear
spongy due to the numerous crypts that receive the
placental chorionic villi. These villi of the cotyledons
of the placental side invade the caruncles and together
they are called as placentomes.
Mare

The nonpregnant uterus is cruciform or `Tshaped and

the body is about equal in size to each horn. The uterine
body is relatively large measuring 15-20 cm in length
and 10 cm in diameter. The cornua are smaller, cone
shaped, 10-16 cm in length, 4-8 cm in width and 2.5 to 6
cm in thickness. The uterus is suspended in the pelvic
and abdominal cavity dorsal to the bladder by the broad
ligaments. These ligaments are attached dorsally to the
sublumbar region. Internally the endometrium of mare
has no caruncles but is characterized by hundreds of
endometrial folds . Click on the picture to view a larger
image.
Ewe and Goat

The uterus is similar to cow with each horn measuring

10 to 12cms long. Internally there are 88 to 96 caruncles
which are concave shaped into which the villi of fetal
cotyledons fit into. Click on the picture to view a larger
image.

Sow

The uterine horns are long and tortuous, about 120-150

cm in length and are freely movable because of the long
broad ligaments. The body is very short about 5 cm in
length. The endometrium has prominent longitudinal
folds which fade gradually towards vervix. Click on the
picture to view a larger image.

Bitch and Queen

The uterus is of bicornuate type, 12 to 15 cm in length

with the horns diverging at an acute angle towards the
pole of each kidney. Suspended from the sublumbar
region by the broad ligaments, the uterus lies entirely in
the abdominal cavity.The body is about 2.5 cm
long. Click on the picture to view a larger image.
 Functions of the Uterus
Sperm transport. The contraction of the
myometrium is essential for the transport of
spermatozoa from the site of ejaculation to the
site of fertilization.

Luteolysis and control of cyclicity. The

uterus produces the PGF 2 alpha that lyses
the corpus luteum and thereby controls the
estrus cyclicity.
Provides an environment for pre
attachment embryo. The uterus
(endometrial glands) secretes the uterine
milk which nourishes the free living zygote
preceding implantation.
Maternal contribution to the placenta. The
uterus provides attachment to the placenta
and thereby plays a role in the nutrition,
excretion and exchange of carbon dioxide
and oxygen.
Expulsion of fetus and fetal membranes.
The strong muscular contractions of the
uterus help in expulsion of the fetus and
fetal membranes at the time of parturition.

CLINICAL EXAMINATION OF THE QUEEN

NORMAL TRACT

Ovaries

The ovaries of the adult queen are

o oval structures
o approximately 1.0 x 0.3 x 0.5 cm in size
o 220 mg in weight
o located in the dorsal abdomen caudal to the kidneys attached to the
diaphragm by the suspensory ligament, to the dorsal body wall by the
mesovarium, and to the end of the uterine horn by the short, thick proper
ligament of the ovary
o enclosed by the ovarian bursa that has a small slit-like opening on the medial
side
The queen is an induced ovulator.
o Copulation, vaginal stimulation, or gonadotropin administration induces
ovulation within approximately 24 to 32 hours.
 o Corpora lutea, which form after ovulation, appear orange-yellow grossly and
may reach 4.5 mm in diameter, peaking in size about 16 days after ovulation.

Oviduct

The uterine tube (oviduct) of the adult queen is 5 to 6 cm in length

The wall of the uterine tube is thin, and the lining is thrown up into longitudinal
folds or ridges.

Uterus

The uterus of the adult queen is a Y-shaped organ consisting of a 2-cm-long body
lying between the descending colon dorsally and the urinary bladder ventrally and
two 10-cm uterine tubes (oviducts). The cervix is the thick-walled neck of the uterus,
connecting it to the vagina.

Vagina

The vagina and the vestibule are each about 2 cm long , so that the cervix is located
about 40 to 45 mm cranial to the vulva; in pregnancy the vagina is stretched cranially
by the weight of the uterus.

Vestibule

The vestibule extends from just cranial to the external urethral cranially, to the vulva
caudally, a distance of about 2 cm.
The external urethral orifice in the cat opens into a mucosal groove located on the
floor of the vestibule just caudal to a transverse fold of mucosa that represents the
hymen.

Vulva

The vulva of the adult queen consists of two small, round labia located just below the
anus, which unite at dorsal and ventral commissures
The labia are similar in spayed than in intact cats. During estrus the labia are slightly
edematous and reddened, vulvar discharge is negligible

Mammary Glands

The queen has four pairs of mammary glands, arranged in two bilaterally
symmetrical rows from the ventral thoracic to ventral abdominal region.
They have been designated as
o the right and left axillary
o thoracic
o abdominal
o and inguinal mammary glands
 Also designated as right and left mammary glands 1,2,3 and 4 when counting from
cranial to caudal

RECTAL EXAMINATION

External indications

Cessation of estrum
Development and increase in size of udder- 4-5 months more reliable in heifers.

Positive indications of pregnancy

Palpation of amniotic vesicle

o The amnion containing the conceptus and the amniotic fluid forms the
amniotic vesicle.
o Palpated as a turgid, bean shaped structure form 35 days upto 50 days of
pregnancy.
o It is located anterior to the edge of intercornual ligament in the pregnant
horn.
o Palpation of amniotic vesicle is done by placing the thumb on one side of the
horn and all the remaining four fingers on the other side in order to cover
longer segment of the horn.
The fetal membrane slip
o The membrane recognized during palpation as fetal membrane slip is the
chorioallantois.
o The fetal membrane slip is detected by compression of the pregnant horn and
holding it slip between the fingers.
o This state is facilitated if examination is done in the widest portion of the
horn.
o The presence of double fold can be palpated from about 35 days of pregnancy
The fetal ballotment
o When the conceptus has reached a certain age, the fetus can be detected by
palpation of the contents of the pregnant uterus known as fetal ballotment.
The cotyledons
o The structures referred to as cotyledons are formed by fusion of both
cotyledons and caruncles.
o They are recognized as circumscribed prominences palpated through the wall
of the uterus.
o At the base of the pregnant horn, the cotyledons become palpable at about the
65-70 days of pregnancy.
Hypertrophy of uterine arteries
o The hypertrophy of the middle uterine arteries, particulary the artery
supplying the pregnant horn is observed from 70-80 days of pregnancy.
o Fremitus or buzz pulsation accompany every pulse wave.
o It is palpated laterally, posteriorly and ventrally along the medial edges of the
iliac wings for about 4 to 5 cm.
Estimation of the stage of pregnancy

35-45 days
o The palpation of the amniotic vesicle in the free portion of the horn at 35-45
days of pregnancy.
o The uterus is pelvic in position.
60-90 days
o The double membrane slip the uterus in pelvic is posterior.
90-120 days
o Fetal ballotment The uterus in pelvic brim is posterior.
150-180 days
o Palpation of placentomes. The uterus is in abdominal cavity.
180- term
o Palpation of fetal parts.
o Viability of fetus can be observed by fetal pedal reflex and fetal movements.

Postive indications of pregnancy in cattle

Palpation of any one of the positive signs is diagnostic of pregnancy

1 Amniotic vesicle (click here) 45 to 50 days

2 Double slipping of fetal membrane (click here) 60 to 90 days

3 Fetal ballotment (click here) 90 to 120 days

4 Placentome palpation (Click here) 120 to 180 days

5 Palpation of fetal part and fetal reflex 180 days to term

6 Fremitus 5th month onwards
CLINICAL EXAMINATION

External sign

Udder examination
o Palpable udder development 71-90 days of more reliable in sheep/goat
which have not given birth.
o In pluriparous ewe enlarged flabby udder indicative of non-pregnancy

Abdominal palpation

Palpation of the abdomen for pregnancy diagnosis is more accurate and reliable from 90
days of gestation. This is done by placing the hand in front of udder lifting and dropping the
abdomen.