264 VETERINAEY STATE BOARD 



are composed of three membranes : an internal, mucous ; a middle, 

 muscular ; and an external, fibrous. The function of these bodies is 

 to store semen for the copulatory act. They also secrete mucus which 

 tends to dilute the semen much the same as the secretion from the 

 prostate and Cowper's glands. 



Are the vesiculae seminales found in all the domestic animals? Ex- 

 plain. 

 No. They are not found in the dog and cat. 



Physiology 



State the four chief functions of the generative system. 



Copulation, impregnation, fetation and parturition. 



Describe the Fallopian tubes and state their function. 



The Fallopian tubes, or oviducts, are two small cylindrical flex- 

 uous canals, about ten inches long, one of which is lodged in each 

 broad ligament. They extend in a tortuous manner from the uterine 

 cornua to the ovaries. The calibre of their canal is very small at 

 the uterine extremity, scarcely admitting a hair but it enlarges at 

 the ovarian end where it terminates in a pavilion. The pavilion 

 is fixed to the external side of the ovary and opens into the peritoneal 

 cavity. The function of these tubes is to convey the ova from the 

 ovaries to the uterus and spermatozoa to the ovary. 



State what takes place in the ovary during the period of menstruation. 

 Give the reason for the pitted appearance of the ovaries in 

 old age. 

 During menstruation there is an increased blood supply to the 

 ovary. A certain Graafian vesicle, or vesicles, according to the 

 species, becomes more voluminous than the others, raises the envelop- 

 ing membrane of that body and projects on the surface. Around this 

 vesicle the blood-vessels enlarge, and effusion takes place ; the cap- 

 sule distends and gives way, allowing the ova to escape. 



The pitted appearance of the ovaries in old age is due to repeated 

 rupturing of Graafian vesicles and the shrinkings and cicatrizations 

 of the same. 



Define fecundation, abortion, eutocia, dystocia. 



Fecundation is the fertilization or impregnation of the ovum, 

 which occurs when it is reached by the spermatozoon. 

 Abortion is the expulsion of a fcetus before it is viable. 

 Eutocia is a normal parturition. 

 Dystocia is an abnormal, painful, or slow parturition. 



