WFC 154 Lecture Notes - Lecture 26: Shock Absorber, Female Sperm Storage, Oviduct
1 Dec 2016
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Document Summary
Most species, females have only one functional ovary. Very small during non-breeding season; increase 400-500x during breeding. All sex organs get bigger during the breeding season. Maturation of sperm assisted by nocturnal drop in t(0) and external swellings of seminal vesicles. Most species lack an intromittent organ and copulate by cloacal contact. Generally females are in control of paternity of her egg. In most species, only a single ovary (left) except in some raptors and kiwis. Immature birds have all primary oocytes (500- several thousand) Size of ovaries and oviduct increase dramatically in breeding season. Most species have sperm storage tubules; can store sperm for. Isthmus- soft membrane that surrounds albumen egg and yolk. Uterus- egg spreads most of its time here, hard shell is put on. Yolk- 20-35% lipids; 15-20% protein; greater energy and metabolic water production. Albumen- provides water and buffers the embryo from jostling. Shell- birds homoeothermic; high metabolism greater gas exchange.
