GENITAL ORGANS OF THE COW 



517 



plexus on either side of the base of the ghmd, which is drained by the external 

 pudic vein chiefly. The lymphatics are numerous and pass chiefly to the superficial 

 inguinal (or supramammary) lymph glands. The nerves are derived from the 

 inguinal nerves and the posterior mesenteric plexus of the sympathetic system. 



GENITAL ORGANS OF THE COW 



The ovaries of the cow are much smaller than those of the mare, measuring 

 usually about one to one and a half inches (ca. 3 to 4 cm.) in length, and a 

 little less than an inch (ca. 2 cm.) in thickness in their largest part. They are 

 oval in form, pointed at the uterine end, and have no ovulation fossa. They are 

 situated usually a little above the middle of the lateral margin of the pelvic inlet 

 in the non-pregnant subject, l)ut may be found a little further forward. They are 

 thus about 16 to 18 inches (ca. -10 to 45 cm.) from the vulva in a cow of medium size. 



6 \ Y 



Fig. 411. — Ovart of Cow. 

 1 , Broad ligament of uterus; -2, ligament of 

 ovary; S, fimbria ovarica; 4. attachment of broad 

 ligament; 5, surface of ovary covered with ger- 

 minal epithelium; 6, corpora lutea; 7, Graafian 

 follicle. (From Leisering's Atlas.) 



Fig. 412. — Uterus of Cow, CoNTR.\cTEn, Dors.\i, View. 

 a, Body of uterus; b, b' , horn of uterus; c, ovary; d,d', 

 triangular folds connecting horns of uterus (Lig. intercornu- 

 alia). (After Zieger.) 



The greater part of the surface of the gland is covered with germinal epithelium, 

 the peritoneal epithelium being limited to a narrow zone along the attached border. 

 Follicles of various sizes are often seen projecting from the surface, as well as cor- 

 pora lutea; a corpus luteum verum has a pronounced yellow color, and may reach 

 a width of half an inch or more (ca. 1 to 1.5 cm.). 



The Fallopian or uterine tubes are long and less flexuous than in the mare. 

 The junction with the cornu of the uterus is not so abrupt as in the mare, since the 

 extremities of the horns are pointed. The uterine orifice of the tube is rather 

 large and funnel-shaped. The fimbriae are not so extensive as in the mare. 



The uterus lies almost entirely within the abdominal cavity in the adult. 

 The body is only about one inch (ca. 2 to 3 cm.) in length, although externally it 

 appears to be much longer. This false impression is due to the fact that the pos- 

 terior parts of the cornua are united by connective and muscular tissue and have 

 a common peritoneal covering. The cornua are, therefore, really longer than they 

 appear externally. The}' taper gradually toward the free end, so that the junction 

 with the Fallopian tubes is not abrupt, as in the mare. The free part of the horn 

 curves at first downward, forward, and outward, and then turns upward, forming 

 a spiral coil. The cervix is about four or five inches (ca. 8 to 10 cm.) long;, 



