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Female Reproductive
terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Hormone FSH Production site Pituitary gland Target organ Ovary | Stimulates maturation of the ovary |
| Hormone LH Production site Pituitary gland Target Organ Ovary | Stimulates ovulation |
| Hormone Estrogen Production site Ovary, Placenta Target Organ Uterus | Builds up the endometrial lining |
| Hormone Progesterone Production site Ovary (corpus luteum) Placenta Target Organ Ovary (corpus luteum) | Sustains uterine lining and placenta during pregnancy |
| Hormone hCG Production site Placenta Target Organ Ovary(corpus luteum) | Sustains pregnancy |
| adnexa uteri | Fallopian tubes, ovaries, and supporting ligaments. |
| amnion | Innermost membranous sac surrounding the developing fetus. |
| areola | Dark pigmented area surrounding the developing fetus. |
| Bartholin glands | Small mucus-secreting exocrine glands at the vaginal orifice (opening to outside of the body). Caspar Bartholin was a Danish anatomist who described the glands in 1637. |
| cervix | Lower, neck-like portion the the uterus. |
| chorion | Outermost layer of the two membranes surrounding the embryo; it forms the fetal part of the placenta. |
| clitoris | Organ of sensitive erectile tissue anterior to the opening of the female urethra |
| coitus | Sexual intercourse; copulation. |
| corpus luteum | Empty ovarian follicle that secretes progesterone after release of the egg cell; literally means yellow (luteum) body (body) |
| cul-de-sac | Region in the lower abdomen midway between the rectum and the uterus. |
| embryo | Stage in prenatal development from 2 to 8 weeks. |
| endometrium | Inner, mucous membrane lining of the uterus. |
| fallopian tube | One of a pair of ducts through which the ovum travels to the uterus; also called an oviduct. Named for Gabriello Fallopia, an Italian anatomist. |
| fertilization | Union of the sperm cell and ovum from which the embryo develops. |
| Fetus | Stage in prenatal development from 8 to 39 or 40 weeks. |
| fimbriae (singular: fimbria) | Finger- or fringe-like projections at the end of the fallopian tubes. |
| follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) | Secreted by the pituitary gland to stimulate maturation of the egg cell (ovum). |
| gamete | Male or female sexual reproductive cell; sperm cell or ovum. |
| genitalia | Reproductive organs; also called genitals. |
| gestation | Period from fertilization of the ovum to birth. |
| gonad | Female or male reproductive organ that produces sex cells and hormones; ovary or testis. |
| gynecology | Study of the female reproductive organs including the breasts. |
| human choriobnic gonadotropin (hCG) | Hormone produced by the placenta to sustain pregnancy by stimulating (-tropin) the ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone. |
| hymen | Mucous membrane partially or completely covering the opening to the vagina. |
| labia | Lips of vagina; labia majora are the larger, outermost lips, and labia minora are the smaller, innermost lips. |
| lactiferous ducts | Tubes that carry milk within the breast. |
| luteinizing hormone (LH) | Secreted by the pituitary gland to promote ovulation. |
| mammary papilla | Nipple of the breast. A papilla is any small nipple-shaped projection |
| menarche | Beginning of the first menstrual period and ability to reproduce. |
| menstruation | Monthly shedding of the uterine lining. The flow of blood and tissue normally discharged during menstruation is called the menses( Latin mensis means month). |
| myometrium | Muscle layer of the uterus. |
| neonatology | Branch of medicine that studies the disorders and care of the newborn (neonate). |
| obstetrics | Branch of medicine concerned with pregnancy and childbirth. |
| orifice | An opening. |
| ovarian follicle | Developing sac enclosing each ovum within the ovary. Only about 400 of these sacs mature in a woman's lifetime. |
| ovary | One of a pair of female organs (gonads) on each side of the pelvis. Ovaries are almond-shaped, about the size of large walnuts, and produce egg cells (ova) and hormones. |
| ovulation | Release of the ovum from the ovary. |
| ovum (plural; ova) | Mature egg cell (female gamete). Ova develop from immature egg cell called oocytes. |
| parturition | Act of giving birth |
| perineum | In females, the area between the anus and the vagina. |
| pituitary gland | Endocrine gland at the base of the brain. It produces hormones that permits the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and fetal waste products between mother and fetus. |
| placenta | Vascular organ attached to the uterine wall during pregnancy. It permits the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and fetal waste products between mother and fetus. |
| pregnancy | Condition in a female of having a developing embryo and fetus in ger uterus for about 40 weeks. |
| progesterone | Hormone produced by the corpus luteum in the ovary and the placenta of pregnant women. |
| puberty | Point in the life cycle at which secondary sex characteristics appear and gametes are produced. |
| uterine serosa | Outermost layer surrounding the uterus. |
| uterus | Hollow, pear-shaped muscular female organ in which the embryo and fetus develop, and from which menstruation occurs. The upper portion is the fundus; the middle portion is the corpus; and the lowermost, neck-like portion is the cervix |
| vagina | Muscular, mucosa-lined canal extending from the uterus to the exterior of the body. |
| vulva | External female genitalia; includes the labia, hymen, clitoris, and vaginal orifice. |
| zygote | Stage in prenatal development from fertilization and implantation up to 2 weeks. |