Cervical, vaginal and vulvar disorders in ruminants
Keywords:
Congenital anomalies, inflammatory, acquired, prolapse, sterility, infertilityAbstract
The reproductive system is essential for the survival of a species and for animal production, as it is responsible
for supplying new offspring and products such as meat, wool, and milk. Reproductive efficiency is the main
profitability factor in most production systems. The female reproductive system consists of the ovaries, fallopian
tube, uterus, cervix, vagina, and vulva. The failure of these components is due to some error or insufficiency of
one of the components, many of which are related to diseases and anomalies of the reproductive tract. Therefore,
this paper aims to compile the main information on the characteristics and consequences of anomalies and
diseases of the cervix, vagina, and vulva in mammals, with an emphasis on ruminants. The cervix is a fibrous and
muscular organ intermediate between the uterus and the vagina that functions mainly as a physical barrier,
playing an essential role in maintaining pregnancy and also during childbirth. The vagina and vulva are a
passageway for semen, protecting the spermatozoa, and for the calf during childbirth. The pathologies covered in
this review are congenital anomalies, acquired alterations, and inflammatory alterations.
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