title: Gross anatomy of the female genital organs of the domestic donkey (Equus asinus Linné, 1758).
abstract: Although donkeys play an important role as companion or pack and draught animals, theriogenological studies and anatomical data on the genital organs of the jenny are sparse. To provide anatomical descriptions and morphometric data, the organa genitalia feminina, their arteries and the ligamentum latum uteri of 10 adult but maiden jennies were examined by means of gross anatomical and morphometric techniques. In comparison with anatomical data of horses obtained from literature the genital organs of jennies appear to be more voluminous in relation to the body mass and the position of the ovaries is slightly further cranial than in mares. In asses, the ovaries contain large follicles reaching a diameter of up to 40 mm. The mesosalpinx is much wider than in the horse forming a considerably spacious bursa ovarica. The asinine ligamentum teres uteri reveals a very prominent cranial end, the 'appendix'. Tortuous mucosal folds occur in the wall of the jenny's cervical channel. The vascularization of the female genital organs of asses is very similar to that of horses. One of the examined specimens reveals a large mucosal fold dividing the cranial part of the vagina into a left and right compartment.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Anatomie, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Wien, Austria.
authors.forename: T F P
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Renner-Martin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forstenpointner
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Weissengruber
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eberhardt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018397:Equidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006736:Horses / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology