Clinical Examination of Farm Animals - CYF MEDICAL DISTRIBUTION

Clinical Examination of the Female Genital System
with the fingers on the rectal wall muscular tension is
restored and flatus is expelled.
Position of the female genital tract
In heifers and young cows the whole genital tract
may be palpable lying on the pelvic floor. In older
animals part or all of the uterus may hang over
the pelvic brim. In these animals it is necessary to
attempt to retract the uterus into the pelvis so that its
component parts can be more readily examined.
This may be done by hooking a finger over the intercornual
ligament or by using the hand to scoop the
anterior parts of the genital tract back into the pelvis
(Fig. 10.3). Once retracted, the uterus is held in place
by gentle manual pressure before being examined
and then released to slip back over the pelvic brim.
The genital tract of the cow is supported by the
broad ligament of the uterus which is attached to the
sides of the pelvis (Fig. 10.4). Asmall fold of the broad
ligament – the ovarian bursa – loosely surrounds each
ovary. The ovarian bursa may become adherent to
the ovary in cases of ovarian bursitis.
Middle uterine artery This is the main source of
blood for the uterus. The artery arises from the
internal iliac artery shortly after this vessel leaves the
aorta. In non-pregnant animals it passes caudally
through the broad ligament, over the wing of the
ilium into the pelvic cavity. It then enters the concave
ventral surface of the uterus. As pregnancy progresses
the artery is pulled forwards by the enlarging
uterus. By the second half of pregnancy it may be palpated
5 to 10 cm anterior to the wing of the ilium. The
blood flow through the middle uterine artery increases
greatly as pregnancy progresses. It can be
readily recognised when the clinician’s hand is
passed laterally and upwards from the uterus and
cervix. The internal iliac artery is relatively immobile
and is found just anterior to the wing of the ilium. The
pudendal artery is palpable in the wall of the pelvic
canal 10 cm anterior to the anus. The middle uterine
artery is quite mobile and somewhat tortuous within
the broad ligament. At 5 months of pregnancy a turbulent
flow (‘fremitus’) is usually palpable within the
artery on the pregnant side of the uterus. Towards the
Figure 10.3 Retraction of the non-pregnant uterus of a
mature cow. See text for details.
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