some useful Biological word used in veterinary
#Reproductive Terminology
#Abortion
Miscarriage. Expulsion of the premature foetus
or embryo.
#Accessory sex glands of a bull
Bulbo-urethral glands, prostate gland and
seminal vesicles.
#Acrosome
Part of the head of the sperm that carries
enzymes.
#Adrenalin
Hormone produced by the small adrenal glands
which are situated near the kidney. Called the ‘fight or flight’ hormone,
adrenalin is released in response to fright, excitement or anger. One of its
effects is to slow down or stop the normal contractions of the uterus after
service, thus adversely affecting fertility.
#Ampulla
Structure where the vas deferens joins the
urethra.
Anoestrus
(See also oestrous cycle, and cystic ovary.)
Absence of cycling.
#Antibiotic
Chemical product derived from or produced by
living organisms which is capable of preventing the growth of undesirable
bacteria.
#Brucellosis
Disease which causes abortion in cattle.
#Capacitation
Maturing of the sperm in the female genital
tract. This process is necessary before the sperm is capable of fertilising the
ovum.
#Cilia
Short threads projecting from the exterior of
a cell, which make it move by beating.
#Chromosome
Paired, thread like structures made from DNA
within the nucleus of a cell. Chromosomes carry the hereditary factors called
genes and are present in constant numbers in each species (e.g. 30 pairs in
cattle).
#Conception
Union of the egg and sperm (fertilisation).
Corpus luteum (CL)
It is a yellow structure on the ovary formed
at the site of a ruptured Graafian follicle. It produces progesterone.
#Cystic
ovary
Ovary in which a cyst has developed due to
failure of a Graafian follicle to rupture (owing to some hormonal upset) or due
to the prolonged presence of a corpus luteum. These cysts may cause frequent or
continuous oestrus, or complete absence of oestrus.
#Cotyledons (with caruncles)
Attachment point where placenta and uterus
join to exchange oxygen, carbon dioxide and nutrients.
#Diluent
Material used to dilute or ‘extend’ the semen.
Protects sperm during freezing.
Dizygotic
Originating from two separate fertilized ova.
Dizygotic twins are also known as nonidentical twins.
Dominant gene
Gene which overrides the effect of the
alternative recessive gene where both are present in one individual. For
example, the gene for polled is dominant over the gene for horns.
Dystocia
Difficult birth.
EBV
Estimated Breeding Value. Rating of genetic
merit for various beef production traits.
Ejaculation
Discharge of semen by the bull.
Electro-ejaculation
Collection of semen by the stimulation of the
bull with an electric current passed across the accessory glands.
Emaciation
Severe loss of body condition.
Embryo
The developing calf from conception to the
forty eighth day of pregnancy.
Endocrine glands
Ductless glands which produce hormones.
Enzymes
Organic solvents.
Epididymis
Sperm storage organ on the testes.
Faeces (feces)
Excrement from the bowels.
Fallopian tube
Passage connecting an ovary to the uterus.
False heat
A cow not on heat, but showing one or more of
the external signs associated with heat.
Fertilisation
Union of the egg and the sperm.
Foetus (fetus)
Unborn calf, from the forty eighth day of
pregnancy until birth.
Follicle
Graafian follicle
See
Freemartin
Infertile female twin of male-female twins. In
approximately nine out of every ten bullheifer twin calves, the heifer is a
freemartin.
FSH
Follicle stimulating hormone. Pituitary
hormone which stimulates the growth of the follicle in the ovary.
Gametes
Sex cells-sperm in males, ova in females.
Gene
Minute particles located along the
chromosomes. They are responsible for the transmission of hereditary
characteristics from one generation to the next.
Gestation
Length of time for pregnancy from conception
to calving.
Gonads
Primary sex organs-testes in males, ovaries in
females.
Gonadotrophin
Hormone which acts on the ovaries or
testicles.
GnRH
Gonadotrophin releasing hormone
Graafian follicle
Fluid filled sac within the ovary containing
the ovum.
Gun
Insemination pistolette.
Heredity
Transference of characteristics from parent to
offspring.
Heritability
Degree to which a characteristic can be
transmitted from the parent to the offspring.
Hormone
Chemical substance which regulates and
maintains various functions of the body. Hormones are produced by glands and
transmitted by the blood stream to their site of action.
Inbreeding
Mating together of related animals.
Infertility
Inability of a domestic animal to breed as
often or as regularly as its owner would wish of a normal individual. (Compare
with sterility.)
Karyotype
Orderly photographic representation of
chromosomes.
Lactation
Formation and release of milk from mammary
glands.
Leptospirosis
Disease which causes abortion in cattle.
Libido
Sex drive-usually refers to male animals.
Licensed semen (unrestricted)
Semen produced at a licensed AB centre and
eligable for unrestricted movement in Australia.
Line-breeding
Mating closely related animals.
LH
Luteinising hormone. A pituitary hormone which
acts on the ovary to stimulate the development of the follicle and the
formation of the corpus luteum
Luteolysis
Dissolving of the corpus luteum.
Luteotrophic
Promoting the growth of the corpus luteum
(with reference to compounds).
Mammary glands
Udder.
Monozygotic twins
Identical twins. Originating from a single
fertilized egg (zygote) which splits into two identical halves.
Nucleus
Central body in a cell controlling its
activities.
Nymphomaniac cow
Cow showing marked and almost continuous signs
of heat (See also Cystic ovaries).
Oestrogen
Hormone which is responsible for producing the
(female sex hormone) signs of heat.
Oestrus
Heat (see Oestrous cycle).
Oestrous (estrus) cycle)
Regular sequence of stages which the cow
undergoes from one heat to the next. The
four stages.
oestrous cycle is divisible into
1. Oestrus-the heat or season phase of the
cycle
2. Metoestrus-the phase of the oestrous cycle
immediately after oestrus.
3. Dioestrus-the quiet period in between
normal heat periods
4. Pro-oestrus-the phase of the oestrous cycle
immediately before oestrus.
Anoestrus is the non-breeding period. The
period when there is no evidence of
oestrus occurrence.
Oviduct
Fallopian tube - q.v.
Ovulation
Release of the egg or ovum from the ovary.
Ovum
Female germ cell; an egg cell (plural-ova).
Oxytocin
Pituitary hormone which causes the contraction
of the uterine muscle.
Palpation
Examination by touch and pressure.
Parturition
Process of birth.
Penis
Male organ of copulation (plural-penes).
Pituitary gland
Important gland which produces hormones
situated at the base of the brain. Part of the function of this gland is to
regulate the reproductive cycle (the oestrous cycle and the production of
milk).
Progeny
Offspring.
Progeny test
Evaluation of offspring to determine the
genetic merit of parents.
Progesterone
Pregnancy hormone. Produced by the corpus
luteum of the ovary. It is essential for the establishment and maintenance of
pregnancy.
Prostaglandins
Naturally occurring compounds which cause
luteolysis. Synthetic prostaglandins are used for oestrus synchronization.
Prolactin
Hormone causing udder formation and milk
production.
Purulent
Containing pus.
Scrotum
Pouch containing the testes.
Silent heat
Occurrence of ovulation without visible signs
of heat.
Sperm
Male gamete or sex cell.
Spermicidal
Lethal to sperm.
Sterility
Total inability on the part of an animal to
breed. When it is only a partial inability the term ‘infertility’ is used.
Synchronisation
(Of oestrous) Inducing a number of cows to display
oestrus within a short time (see prostaglandins) .
Testis
One of the pair of male reproductive glands,
(plural-testes).
Testosterone
Male sex hormone. It is produced by the testis
and induces libido.
Trichomoniasis
Venereal disease of cattle.
Urethra
Tube which leads from the bladder to the
outside-opening at the end of the penis in the male and into the floor of the
vagina in the female.
Uterus
Womb or breeding bag.
Vagina
Female organ of copulation. From latin word
meaning sheath.
Venereal disease
A disease which is mainly transmitted during
mating. See vibriosis and trichomoniasis.
Vibriosis (Campylobacteriosis)
Venereal disease of cattle.
Zygote
Fertilized egg. A
single cell structure resulting from the union of the egg and the sperm.
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