TABLE OF CONTENTS
Vagina of Animals
The vagina of animals is the copulatory organ as well as the site for the expulsion of urine. It is a thin walled structure, highly elastic and capable of considerable expansion.
The vagina consists of serosa, muscular coat and mucosal layer. The mucosal epithelium varies depending on the region of the vagina. At the region near the cervix, the epithelium is columnar and highly secretory in nature.
Towards the posterior vagina the epithelium is of stratified squamous type, which thickness dramatically at the time of estrus.
The hymen is a slight, circular constriction between the vagina and the vulva prominent hymenal folds are present in mare but the hymen was lacking dog and cat.
Vagina Length and Presence of Mesonephric Ducts in Different Animal Species (Vagina of Animals)
- Cow: Vagina in cow is 25-30 cm lenth in the nonpregnant animal. On the ventral floor of vagina two Gartner‘s ducts or Wolffian ducts are present.
- Mare: The vagina of the mare is 18-23 cm long and mesonephrics ducts are occasionally present.
- Ewe: 7.5-10 cm long and similar to cows.
- Sow: 7.5-11 cm long and mesonephric ducts are occasionally present.
- Bitch: 10-14 cm long and mesonephric ducts are absent.
- Cat: Vestibule and vagina are same length and mesonephric ducts are absent.
Functions of Vagina
- Copulatory organ in which semen is deposited
- Acts as excretory duct for the secretions of cervix, uterus and oviduct.
- The cervical canal as well as the biochemical and microbiological milieu of the vagina protected the upper reproductive tract from invading microorganisms.
