Ovaries, oviducts, and vagina make up the female reproductive system of the leech. There is a single pair of ovaries present on the ventral side of the 11th segment. Each ovary is formed like a coiled ribbon-shaped structure. The ova are developed from the ovary. A short oviduct runs from each ovary. The oviducts from both sides connect to form a common oviduct. The common oviduct opens into a pear-shaped vagina in the posterior half of the11th segment, located mid-ventrally.

1. Shri Shivaji Education Society, Amravati's
Shri Pundlik Maharaj Mahavidyalaya, Nandura Rly. Dist. Buldana
Topic: Female Reproductive System of Cattle Leech
Class: B.Sc-I, Sem-I
Shantaram Bhoye
Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology
M.Sc., NET-JRF, SET, M.A.(Eng.)

2. Mr. Shantaram Bhoye, Assistant Professor, Shri Pundlik Maharaj Mahavidyalaya, Nandura Rly., Dist. Buldana
Female reproductive system:
The system consists of the following parts.
1.Ovaries: In the 11th segment "a pair of ovaries" are present. Each ovary is enclosed in a spherical
coelomic sac called the ovisac.
2.Ovisac: Each ovisac is filled with coelomic fluid. In this fluid coiled thread like ovary floats. The
two ovisacs present on either side of the ventral nerve cord.
3.Oviduct: From each ovisac a small oviduct arises.
4.Common oviduct: In the median line the two oviducts join to form a common oviduct.
5.Albumen glands: Around the common oviduct many unicellular albumen glands are present. The
ducts from these glands open into common oviduct.

3. Mr. Shantaram Bhoye, Assistant Professor, Shri Pundlik Maharaj Mahavidyalaya, Nandura Rly., Dist. Buldana

4. Mr. Shantaram Bhoye, Assistant Professor, Shri Pundlik Maharaj Mahavidyalaya, Nandura Rly., Dist. Buldana

5. Vagina:
 The posterior part of the common oviduct which is free from albumen gland is in the form of letter 'S,'
and, it leads into vagina.
 The vagina is a large pyriform muscular pouch present in the 11th segment.
 It opens out through the female genital opening mid ventrally in between 2nd and 3rd annuli of '11th
segment. Fertilization takes place in the vagina.
Mr. Shantaram Bhoye, Assistant Professor, Shri Pundlik Maharaj Mahavidyalaya, Nandura Rly., Dist. Buldana

6. Copulation:
 In the months of March and April leeches will show copulatory process.
 Two mature leeches living near by will come together and meet on their ventral surfaces in opposite
directions.
 The male genital opening of one leech lies opposite to the female genital opening of other leech.
 The penis of one leech will penetrate into the female into the genital opening of the other leech and
deposit spermatophores in the vagina.
 Thus, both leeches will exchange their sperms during copulation.
 The entire process takes nearly one hour.
 It takes place on land or in water.
Mr. Shantaram Bhoye, Assistant Professor, Shri Pundlik Maharaj Mahavidyalaya, Nandura Rly., Dist. Buldana

7. Mr. Shantaram Bhoye, Assistant Professor, Shri Pundlik Maharaj Mahavidyalaya, Nandura Rly., Dist. Buldana