Copulatory Behaviour - Anatomy & Physiology

Mounting

Elevation of the front legs of the male to straddle the posterior region of the female.
Learned behaviour

The reflex expulsion of spermatozoa and seminal plasma from the male reproductive tract.
Sensory stimulation, primarily to the glans penis causes a series of coordinated muscular contractions.
Once intromission has been achieved, reflex impulses are initiated.
- Neural impulses derived mainly from sensory nerves in the glans penis.
Upon threshold stimulation, impulses are transmitted from the glans peinis by the internal pudendal nerve to the lumbosacral region of the spinal cord.
Sensory impulses result in firing of nerves in the spinal cord.
Forcing of semen into the urethra by nerves in the hypogastric plexus innervating target muscles.
- Urethralis muscle
- Ischiocavernosus muscle
- Bulbospongiosus muscle
Emission and ejaculation
- Emission is the movement of seminal fluids from the accessory sex glands into the pelvic urethra so that they can mix with spermatozoa.
- Emission occurs before and during ejaculation.

Bitch in Oestrus spots bloody fluid just before the receptive stage.
Male identifies the female.
- Dogs are very aware of a bitch in oestrus and can detect them from 500-600 meters away.
Bitch adopts receptive posture ('stands')
Dog mounts and thrusts to achieve intromission.
Intromission with a partially erect penis aided by the Os Penis
Vulval erectile tissue of the bitch grips the penis.
Penis achieves full erection (the 'Tie')
Dog then turns to face the opposite direction (the 'Turn')
Ejaculation

For a video demonstration of copulation in the cat, follow either of the following links: