Oophorectomy

Oophorectomy is the surgical removal of the ovaries of a female animal. In the case of non-human animals, this is also called spaying. It is a form of sterilization.

The removal of the ovaries together with the Fallopian tubes is called salpingo-oophorectomy. Oophorectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy are not common forms of birth control in humans; more usual is tubal ligation, in which the Fallopian tubes are blocked but the ovaries remain intact.

In humans, oophorectomy is most usually performed together with a hysterectomy - the removal of the uterus. Its use in a hysterectomy when there are no other health problems is somewhat controversial.

In animals, spaying involves an invasive removal of the ovaries, but rarely has major complications; the superstition that it causes weight gain is not based on fact. Spaying is especially important for certain animals that require the ovum to be released at a certain interval (called estrus or "heat"), such as cats and dogs. If the cell is not released during these animal's heat, it can cause severe medical problems that can be averted by spaying or partnering the animal with a male.

Oophorectomy is sometimes referred to as castration, but that term is most often used to mean the removal of a male animal's testicles.

See also


Zanzibar

Map of Zanzibar
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Map of Zanzibar

Zanzibar, Tanzania, comprises a pair of islands off the east coast of Africa called Zanzibar ('Unguja') (1994 est. pop. 800,000, 1,554 kmē) and Pemba. They are, together with Mafia Island, sometimes referred to as the Spice Islands, though the term is more commonly associated with the Maluku Islands.

The main town and economic centre is Stone Town on the actual island of Zanzibar.

Zanzibar's main industries are spices (including nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper) and tourism. Zanzibar is also the only home of the Zanzibar Red Colobus monkey.

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History

Except for a brief period starting on December 19, 1963, Zanzibar has never been an independent nation or country in its own right. It was settled by Persian immigrants from Shiraz and later became a part of the overseas holdings of the Sultan of Oman in 1698. This was after an even earlier Portuguese period dating from 1503. The British took over and Zanzibar became a protectorate of the United Kingdom. The British appointed first Viziers (from 1890 to 1913, and then British residents from 1913 to 1963. Shortly after gaining independence in late 1963 it was joined to the mainland state of Tanganyika to form Tanzania on April 26, 1964, which it remains a part of to this day. The name Zanzibar is taken from Persian زنگبار Zangi-bar meaning "Coast of the Blacks".

Zanzibar was a centre for the eastern slave trade during the 17th-19th centuries, when it was ruled by the Sultan of Oman. The British government forced the cessation of slave trading in the late 19th century under the British-controlled Omani sultan Hamoud bin Mohammed.

Until Kenya's independence in 1963, when it became part of Kenya, Mombasa was governed by Zanzibar.

Map Of Spice Islands (Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia)
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Map Of Spice Islands (Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia)

Politics

Although Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, it elects its own president who is head of government for matters internal to the island. Amani Abeid Karume was elected to that office on October 29 2000.


It also has its own House of Representatives (with 50 seats, directly elected by universal suffrage to serve five-year terms) to make laws especially for Zanzibar.

United Nations

Zanzibar was a member of the United Nations from December 16 1963 until it joined with Tanganyika in April 1964 to create Tanzania.

Viziers

British Residents

The musician Farrokh Bulsara (a.k.a Freddie Mercury) of Queen was born in Zanzibar in 1946.

Culture

Zanzibar has a fascinating history influenced by Persians, Arabs, Muslims, the Portuguese and the African mainland. Stone Town is a place of winding lanes, circular towers, carved wooden doors, raised terraces and beautiful mosques. Important architectural features are the Livingstone house, the Guliani Bridge, and the House of Wonders, a palace constructed by Sultan Barghash in 1883.

Zanzibar has recently outlawed Censored page sex. The penality for Censored page intercourse is a maximum of seven years. For Censored page intercourse the penalty is a maximum of 25 years.

Miscellaneous

The shortest war in history was between Zanzibar and Britain in 1896. Zanzibar surrendered after 38 minutes.

Zanzibar was the first country in Africa to introduce colour television , in 1973. This was independently of the rest of Tanzania, where the first television service was not introduced until some twenty years later.

External links

See also

For the fictional setting of the game Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, see Zanzibar Land.
For the Zanzibar class cruiser in the fictional Gundam universe, see Zanzibar Class.




Last updated: 02-05-2005 06:43:19