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Terminology of the Female Reproductive System

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Term
Definition
abruptio placentae   complete or partial separation of the placenta from the uterine wall before the third stage of labor  
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acid phosphatase   enzyme from prostate gland found in semen, presence in vagina indicates sexual intercourse  
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adnexa   conjoined, subordinate, or associated anatomic parts  
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alpha fetoprotein   a serum protein produced during pregnancy, useful in the prenatal diagnosis of multiple births or birth defects  
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Apgar score   procedure that assigns a score to a newborn after birth to assess heart rate, respiratory rate, muscle tone, response to stimulation and skin color  
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areola (pl. areolae)   the pigmented area around the nipple  
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Bartholin glands   either of two small, oval, mucus-secreting glands, one on each side of the base of the vagina  
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Braxton Hicks   uterine contractions during the last trimester of pregnancy to strengthen itself in preparation for childbirth  
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breech   a fetus that is presented at the uterine cervix buttocks or legs first  
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cerclage   procedure to place a purse-string suture around the cervix to prevent it from dilating prematurely  
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cervix   the neck of the uterus  
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cesarean section   procedure to deliver a fetus through an incision in the abdominal wall and uterus  
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chorion   the outermost membrane around the embryo  
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cilia (sing. cilium)   a minute short hairlike process often forming part of a fringe  
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climacteric   a period of life characterized by physiological and psychic change that marks the end of the reproductive capacity of women and terminates with the completion of menopause.  
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clitoris   the organ of sexual response in the female  
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colostrums   the first thick, yellowish milk from the breasts after childbirth  
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contraception   intentional prevention of conception or impregnation through the use of various devices, agents, drugs, sexual practices, or surgical procedures  
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corpus   the main part of a bodily structure or organ  
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corpus luteum   the ruptured ovarian follicle that has filled with fat  
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curet (also curette)   a scoop-shaped surgical instrument for removing tissue from body cavities, as the uterus.  
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descensus   Latin for “falling from a higher position”  
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elective   beneficial to the patient but not essential for survival  
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gestational diabetes mellitus   temporary disorder of glucose metabolism during pregnancy  
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disproportion   out of proportion, as a baby with a large skull and a mother with a small pelvis  
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dysfunctional   not functioning normally  
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eclampsia   a severe disorder of pregnancy with increased blood pressure, edema, weight gain and protein in the urine, can be fatal  
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embryo   a fertilized human egg after 4 days of development through the 8th week of development  
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exfoliative   coming off in scales, as scaling skin or any structure separating in flakes  
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fetus   a human embryo after 8 weeks of development  
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fimbriae (sing. fimbria)   moving, fingerlike projections at the end of the uterine (fallopian) tube  
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follicle   a small bodily cavity or sac  
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fontanel   any of the soft membranous gaps between the incompletely formed cranial bones of a fetus or an infant. (Also “soft spot”)  
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fornix   an anatomical arch or fold  
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fundus   the base of an organ or the part farthest away from its opening  
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gamete   a mature ovum  
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gene   a hereditary unit on a chromosome, determines a particular characteristic in an organism, and is capable of replicating itself at each cell division.  
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genitalia   the organs of the reproductive system (Latin for “pertaining to generation and birth”)  
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gravida   Latin for “pregnant woman” or “pregnancy”  
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hydatidiform mole   an abnormal mass in the uterus  
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hymen   fold of mucous membrane partly or wholly closing the orifice of the vagina  
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in situ   in the natural or original position or place; in situ cancer - confined to the breast duct  
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in utero   still within the uterus  
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in vitro   outside the living body and in an artificial environment of cells  
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incompetent   unable to function properly  
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inertia   lack of activity or movement —used especially of the uterus in labor when its contractions are weak or irregular  
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infundibulum   the funnel-shaped part of the uterine (fallopian) tube  
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introitus   the orifice of a body cavity, especially the vaginal opening (Latin for “entrance”)  
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jaundice   yellowish discoloration of the skin in a newborn  
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labia majora   the two outer rounded folds of adipose tissue that lie on either side of the vaginal opening and that form the external lateral boundaries of the vulva  
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labia minora   the two thin inner folds of skin within the vestibule of the vagina enclosed within the cleft of the labia majora  
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lecithin   a component of surfactant that keeps alveoli from collapsing with each exhalation  
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lochia   small amounts of blood, tissue, and fluid which flow from the uterus after birth  
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lumpectomy   procedure to excise a small malignant tumor of the breast  
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luteinizing hormone   hormone that stimulates a follicle each month to rupture and release an ovum and stimulate the follicle to secrete estradiol and progesterone  
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malpresentation   presentation of a part of a fetus other than the back of the head during parturition  
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meconium   the first thick, greenish-black, sticky stool from a newborn  
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menses   the monthly flow of blood and cellular debris from the uterus that begins at puberty and ceases at menopause  
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mons pubis   the rounded, fleshy pad with pubic hair that overlies the pubic bone  
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Nägele’s rule   procedure used to calculate the patient’s estimated date of birth or due date  
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nurse midwife   allied health professional who (with a physician) manage a patient’s prenatal care, delivery and postpartum care  
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os   an opening into a hollow organ or canal  
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ovary   one of the paired female reproductive organs that produce ova and certain sex hormones, including estrogen  
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ovum (pl. ova)   the female reproductive cell or gamete; egg  
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Pap smear   screening cytology test used to detect abnormal cells or carcinoma in the cervix  
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para   Latin meaning “to bring forth”  
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peau d’orange   dimpling of skin like that of an orange peel  
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pica   an unnatural craving for and compulsive eating of substances with no nutritional value  
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placenta   the organ formed in the uterus from the uterine mucous membrane and the membranes of the fetus, providing for nourishment of the fetus and the elimination of its waste products  
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placenta previa   incorrect position of the placenta either partially or completely covering the birth canal  
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progesterone   hormone secreted by a ruptured follicle after ovulation  
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prolapse   the falling down or slipping of a body part from its usual position  
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proliferative   capable of growing or multiplying by rapidly producing new tissue, parts, cells, or offspring  
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prostaglandin   a hormone-like compound that constricts blood vessels in the uterine wall to prevent excessive bleeding  
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prosthesis   an artificial device to replace or augment a missing or impaired part of the body  
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Skene’s glands   glands located on the anterior wall of the vagina, around the lower end of the urethra  
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speculum   any of various instruments for insertion into a body passage to facilitate visual inspection  
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sphingomyelin   a phospholipid in amniotic fluid, higher when the fetal lungs are immature  
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tenaculum   a long, scissors-like instrument with two curved, pointed ends used to grasp the cervix  
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testosterone   male hormone secreted by cells around the follicle; plays a role in female sexual drive  
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trimester   each of 3 periods of pregnancy lasting 3 months  
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ultrasound   vibrations of the same physical nature as sound but with frequencies above the range of human hearing  
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umbilicus   the depression in the center of the surface of the abdomen indicating the point of attachment of the umbilical cord to the embryo; (also navel)  
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uterus   the hollow, muscular organ of female mammals in which the embryo develops  
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vagina   a canal in females that leads from the uterus to the external orifice opening into the vestibule between the labia minora  
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vernix caseosa   a thick, white cheesy substance that covers the skin of a newborn  
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vertex   a fingerlike projection that the chorion sends ot to implant in the endometrium  
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villus   the top of the head  
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vulva   the external genitals of human females, including the labia, mons veneris, clitoris, and the vaginal orifice (Latin for “a covering for the womb”)  
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zygote   the cell formed by the union of the nuclei of two reproductive cells (gametes), especially a fertilized egg cell  
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