Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Chapter 15, MedTerms
The Female Reproductive System; Pregnancy and Birth
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| vasectomy/tubal ligation | cutting and tying the tubes that carry the gametes |
| birth control pills | estrogen and progestin or progestin alone taken orally to prevent ovulation |
| birth control shot | injection of synthetic progesterone every three months to prevent ovulation |
| birth control patch | adhesive patch placed on body that administers estrogen and progestin through the skin; left on for three weeks and removed for a fourth week |
| birth control ring | flexible ring inserted into vagina that releases hormones internally; left in place for three weeks and removed for a fourth week |
| condom | sheath that prevents sperm cells from contacting an ovum; a male condom fits over an erect penis; a female condom fits in the vagina and covers the cervix |
| diaphragm (with spermicide) | rubber cap that fits over cervix and prevents sperm entrance |
| contraceptive sponge (with spermicide) | soft, disposable foam disk containing spermicide, which is moistened with water and inserted into vagina |
| intrauterine device (IUD) | metal or plastic device inserted into uterus through vagina; prevents fertilization and implantation by release of copper or birth control hormones |
| spermicide | chemicals used to kill sperm; best when used in combination with a barrier method |
| fertility awareness | abstinence during fertile part of cycle as determined by menstrual history, basal body temperature, or quality of cervical mucus |
| cervix | Neck; usually means the lower narrow portion (neck) of the uterus (root: cervic/o); also called the cervix uteri |
| clitoris | A small erectile body anterior to the urethral opening that is similar in developmental origin to the penis (roots: clitor/o, clitorid/o) |
| contraception | The prevention of pregnancy |
| corpus luteum | This small yellow structure that develops from the ovarian follicle after ovulation and secretes progesterone and estrogen |
| cul-de-sac | A blind pouch, such as the recess between the rectum and the uterus; the rectouterine pouch or pouch of Douglas |
| endometrium | The inner lining of the uterus |
| estrogen | A group of hormones that produce female characteristics and prepare the uterus for the fertilized egg; the most active of these is estradiol |
| fallopian tube | A tube extending from the upper lateral portion of the uterus that carries the ovum to the uterus (root: salping/o); also called uterine tube |
| fimbriae | The long finger-like extensions of the uterine tube that wave to capture the released ovum (singular: fimbria) |
| follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) | A hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary that acts on the gonads; in the female, it stimulates ripening of ova in the ovary |
| fornix | An arch-like space, such as the space between the uppermost wall of the vagina and the cervix; from Latin meaning arch |
| greater vestibular gland | A small gland that secretes mucus through a duct that opens near the vaginal orifice; also called Bartholin gland |
| labia majora | The two large folds of skin that form the sides of the vulva (root labi/o means "lip") (singular: labium majus) |
| labia minora | The two small folds of skin within the labia majora (singular: labium minus) |
| luteinizing hormone (LH) | A hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary that acts on the gonads; in the female, it stimulates ovulation and corpus luteum formation |
| mammary gland | A specialized gland capable of secreting milk in the female (roots: mamm/o, mast/o); the breast |
| menarche | The first menstrual period, which normally occurs during puberty |
| menopause | Cessation of menstrual cycles in the female |
| menstruation | The cyclic discharge of blood and mucosal tissues from the lining of the nonpregnant uterus (roots: men/o, mens); menstrual period, menses |
| myometrium | The muscular wall of the uterus |
| ovarian follicle | The cluster of cells in which the ovum ripens in the ovary |
| ovary | A female gonad (roots: ovari/o, oophor/o) |
| ovulation | The release of a mature ovum from the ovary (from ovule, meaning "little egg") |
| ovum | The female gamete or reproductive cell (roots: oo, ov/o) (plural: ova) |
| perineum | The region between the thighs from the external genitalia to the anus (root: perine/o) |
| progesterone | A hormone produced by the corpus luteum and the placenta that maintains the endometrium for pregnancy |
| tubal ligation | Surgical constriction of the uterine tubes to produce sterilization |
| uterine tube | A tube extending from the upper lateral portion of the uterus that carries the ovum to the uterus (root: salping/o); also called fallopian tube |
| uterus | The organ that receives the fertilized egg and maintains the developing offspring during pregnancy (roots: uter/o, metr, hyster/o) |
| vagina | The muscular tube between the cervix and the vulva (roots: vagin/o, colp/o) |
| vulva | The external female genital organs (roots: vulv/o, episi/o) |
| gyn/o, gynec/o | woman |
| men/o, mens | month, menstruation |
| oo | ovum, egg cell |
| ov/o, ovul/o | ovum, egg cell |
| ovari/o | ovary |
| oophor/o | ovary |
| salping/o | uterine tube, tube |
| uter/o | uterus |
| metr/o, metr/i | uterus |
| hyster/o | uterus |
| cervic/o | cervix, neck |
| vagin/o | vagina |
| colp/o | vagina |
| vulv/o | vulva |
| episi/o | vulva |
| perine/o | perineum |
| clitor/o, clitorid/o | clitoris |
| mamm/o | breast, mammary gland |
| mast/o | breast, mammary gland |
| candidiasis | Infection with the fungus Candida, a common cause of vaginitis |
| dysmenorrhea | Painful or difficult menstruation; a common disorder that may be caused by infection, use of an intrauterine device, endometriosis, overproduction of prostaglandins, or other factors |
| endometriosis | Growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, usually in the pelvic cavity |
| fibroid | Benign tumor of smooth muscle |
| leiomyoma | Benign tumor of smooth muscle, usually in the uterine wall (myometrium); in the uterus, may cause bleeding and pressure on the bladder or rectum; also called fibroid or myoma |
| pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) | Condition caused by the spread of infection from the reproductive tract into the pelvic cavity; commonly caused by sexually transmitted gonorrhea and Chlamydia infections |
| salpingitis | Inflammation of a uterine tube, typically caused by urinary tract infection or sexually transmitted infection; chronic salpingitis may lead to infertility or ectopic pregnancy |
| vaginitis | Inflammation of the vagina |
| colposcope | Instrument of the vagina |
| cone biopsy | Removal of a cone of tissue from the cervical lining for cytologic examination; also called conization |
| dilation and curettage (D&C) | Procedure in which the cervix is dilated (widened) and the uterine lining is scraped with a curette |
| hysterectomy | Surgical removal of the uterus; most commonly done because of tumors; often the uterine tubes and ovaries are removed as well |
| mammography | Radiographic study of the breast for the detection of breast cancer; the image obtained is a mammogram |
| mastectomy | Excision of breast tissue to eliminate malignancy |
| oophorectomy | Excision of an ovary |
| Pap smear | Study of cells collected from the cervix and vagina for early detection of cancer; also called Papanicolaou smear or Pap test |
| salpingectomy | Surgical removal of the uterine tube |
| sentinel node biopsy | Biopsy of the first lymph nodes to receive drainage from a tumor; used to determine spread of cancer in planning treatment |
| stereotactic biopsy | Needle biopsy using a computer-guided imaging system to locate suspicious tissue and remove samples for study |
| tomosynthesis | Three-dimensional x-ray imaging technique for detection of breast cancer; digital tomosythesis |
| adnexa | Appendages, such as the adnexa uteri—the ovaries, uterine tubes, and uterine ligaments |
| areola | A pigmented ring, such as the dark area around the nipple of the breast |
| Graafian follicle | A mature ovarian follicle |
| hymen | A fold of mucous membrane that partially covers the entrance of the vagina |
| mons pubis | The rounded, fleshy elevation anterior to the pubic joint that is covered with hair after puberty |
| oocyte | An immature ovum |
| perimenopause | The period immediately before menopause; begins at the time of irregular menstrual cycles and ends one year after the last menstrual period; averages three to four years |
| vestibule | The space between the labia minora that contains the openings of the urethra, vagina, and ducts of the greater vestibular glands |
| cystocele | Herniation of the urinary bladder into the wall of the vagina |
| dyspareunia | Pain during sexual intercourse |
| fibrocystic disease of the breast | A condition in which there are palpable lumps in the breasts, usually associated with pain and tenderness; these lumps or "thickenings" change with the menstrual cycle and must be distinguished from malignant tumors by diagnostic methods |
| hirsutism | Excess hair growth |
| leukorrhea | White or yellowish discharge from the vagina; infection and other disorders may change the amount, color, or odor of the discharge |
| microcalcification | Small deposit of calcium that appears as a white spot on mammograms; most microcalcifications are harmless, but some might indicate breast cancer |
| prolapse of the uterus | Downward displacement of the uterus with the cervix sometimes protruding from the vagina |
| rectocele | Herniation of the rectum into the wall of the vagina; also called proctocele |
| culdocentesis | Puncture of the vaginal wall to sample fluid from the rectouterine space for diagnosis |
| episiorrhaphy | Suture of the vulva or suture of the perineum cut in an epistiotomy (incision to ease childbirth) |
| laparoscopy | Endoscopic examination of the abdomen; may include surgical procedures, such as tubal ligation |
| myomectomy | Surgical removal of a uterine leiomyoma (fibroid, myoma) |
| speculum | An instrument used to enlarge the opening of a passage or cavity to allow examination |
| teletherapy | Delivery of radiation to a tumor from an external beam source, as compared to implantation of radioactive material (brachytherapy) or systemic administration of radionuclide |
| aromatase inhibitor (AI) | Agent that inhibits estrogen production; used for postmenopausal treatment of breast cancers that respond to estrogen; examples are exemestane (Aromasin), anastrozole (Arimidex), and letrozole (Femara) |
| bisphosphonate | Agent used to prevent and treat osteoporosis; increases bone mass by decreasing bone turnover; examples are aldronate (Fosamax) and risedronate (Actonel) |
| HER2 inhibitor | Drug used to treat breast cancers that show excess receptors (HER2) for human epidermal growth factor; example is trastuzumab (Herceptin) |
| paclitaxel | Antineoplastic agent derived from yew trees used mainly in treatment of breast and ovarian cancer; Taxol |
| selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) | Drug that acts on estrogen receptors; examples are tamoxifen (Nolvadex) and raloxifene (Evista), which is also used to prevent bone loss after menopause |
| AI | Aromatase inhibitor |
| BRCA1 | Breast cancer gene 1 |
| BRCA2 | Breast cancer gene 2 |
| BSE | Breast self-examination |
| BSO | Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy |
| BV | Bacterial vaginosis |
| CIN | Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia |
| D&C | Dilation and curettage |
| DCIS | Ductal carcinoma in situ |
| DES | Diethylstilbestrol |
| DUB | Dysfunctional uterine bleeding |
| FSH | Follicle-stimulating hormone |
| GC | Gonococcus (cause of gonorrhea) |
| GYN | Gynecology |
| HPV | Human papillomavirus |
| HRT | Hormone replacement therapy |
| IUD | Intrauterine device |
| LH | Luteinizing hormone |
| MHT | Menopausal hormone therapy |
| NGU | Nongonococcal urethritis |
| PCOS | Polycystic ovarian syndrome |
| PID | Pelvic inflammatory disease |
| PMS | Premenstrual syndrome |
| SERM | Selective estrogen receptor modulator |
| STD | Sexually transmitted disease |
| STI | Sexually transmitted infection |
| TAH | Total abdominal hysterectomy |
| TSS | Toxic shock syndrome |
| UFE | Uterine fibroid embolization |
| VD | Venereal disease (sexually transmitted disease) |
| amniotic sac | The membranous sac filled with fluid that holds the fetus; also called amnion (root: amnio) |
| Apgar score | A system of rating an infant's physical condition immediately after birth; five features are rated as 0, 1, or 2 at one and five minutes after delivery and sometimes thereafter; the maximum possible score at each test interval is 10 |
| chorion | The outermost layer of the embryo that, with the endometrium, forms the placenta (adjective: chorionic) |
| colostrum | Breast fluid that is secreted in the first few days after giving birth before milk is produced |
| ductus arteriosus | A fetal blood vessel that connects the pulmonary artery with the descending aorta, thus allowing blood to bypass the lungs |
| embryo | The stage in development between the zygote and the fetus, extending from the second through the eighth week of growth in the uterus (root: embry/o) (adjective: embryonic) |
| fertilization | The union of an ovum and a spermatozoon |
| fetus | The developing child in the uterus from the third month to birth (root: fet/o) (adjective: fetal) |
| foramen ovale | A small hole in the interatrial septum in the fetal heart that allows blood to pass directly from the right to the left side of the heart |
| gestation | The period of development from contraception to birth |
| gravida | Pregnant woman |
| human chorlonic gonadotropin (hCG) | A hormone secreted by the embryo early in pregnancy that maintains the corpus luteum so that it will continue to secrete hormones |
| lactation | The secretion of milk from the mammary glands |
| oxytocin | A pituitary hormone that stimulates contractions of the uterus; it also stimulates release ("letdown") of milk from the breasts |
| para | Woman who has produced a viable infant; multiple births are considered as single pregnancies |
| parturition | Childbirth (root: nat/i); labor (root: toc/o) |
| placenta | The organ composed of fetal and maternal tissues that nourishes and maintains the developing fetus |
| prostaglandins | A group of hormones with varied effects, including the stimulation of uterine contractions |
| umbilical cord | The structure that connects the fetus to the placenta; it contains vessels that carry blood between the mother and the fetus |
| zygote | The fertilized ovum |
| amnio | amnion, amniotic sac |
| embry/o | embryo |
| fet/o | fetus |
| toc/o | labor |
| nat/i | birth |
| lact/o | milk |
| galact/o | milk |
| gravida | pregnant woman |
| para | woman who has given birth |
| albinism | recessive gene mutation; lack of pigmentation |
| cystic fibrosis | recessive gene mutation; affects respiratory system, pancreas, and sweat glands; most common hereditary disease in white populations |
| Down syndrome | extra chromosome 21; slanted eyes, short stature, mental retardation, and others; incidence increases with increasing maternal age; trisomy 21 syndrome |
| fragile X chromosome | defect in an X (sex-determining) chromosome; reduced intellectual abilities, autism, hyperactivity; enlarged head and ears; passed from mothers to sons with the X chromosome (sex-linked) |
| hemophilia | recessive gene mutation on the X chromosome; bleeding disease inherited with an X chromosome and usually passed from mothers to sons |
| Huntington disease | dominant gene mutation; altered metabolism destroys specific nerve cells; appears in adulthood and is fatal within about 10 years; causes motor and mental disorders |
| Klinefelter syndrome | extra X chromosome; lack of sexual development, lowered intelligence |
| Marfan syndrome | dominant gene mutation; disease of connective tissue with weakness of the aorta |
| neurofibromatosis | dominant gene mutation; multiple skin tumors containing nerve tissue |
| phenylketonuria (PKU) | recessive gene mutation; lack of enzyme to metabolize an amino acid (phenylalanine); neurologic signs, mental retardation, lack of pigment; tested for at birth; special diet can prevent retardation |
| sickle cell anemia | recessive gene mutation; abnormally shaped red cells block blood vessels; mainly affects black populations |
| Tay-Sachs disease | recessive gene mutation; an enzyme deficiency causes lipid to accumulate in nerve cells and other tissues; causes death in early childhood; carried i eastern European Jewish populations |
| Turner syndrome | single X chromosome; sexual immaturity, short stature, possible lowered intelligence |
| abortion | Termination of a pregnancy before the fetus is capable of surviving outside the uterus, usually at 20 weeks or 500 g; may be spontaneous or induced; a spontaneous abortion is commonly called a miscarriage |
| anencephaly | Congenital absence of a brain |
| atresia | Congenital absence or closure of a normal body opening |
| carrier | An individual who has an unexpressed genetic defect that can be passed to his or her children |
| cleft lip | A congenital separation of the upper lip |
| cleft palate | A congenital split in the roof of the mouth |
| congenital disorder | A disorder that is present at birth; may be developmental or hereditary (familial) |
| eclampsia | Convulsions and coma occurring during pregnancy or after delivery and associated with the conditions of pregnancy-induced hypertension (adjective: eclamptic) |
| ectopic pregnancy | Development of the fertilized ovum outside the body of the uterus; usually occurs in the uterine tube (tubal pregnancy) but may occur in other parts of the reproductive tract or abdominal cavity |
| hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) | Disease that results from Rh incompatibility between the blood of a mother and her fetus |
| mastitis | Inflammation of the breast, usually associated with the early weeks of breast-feeding |
| mutation | A change in the genetic material of the cell; most mutations are harmful; if the change appears in the sex cells, it can be passed to future generations |
| placental abruption | Premature separation of the placenta; abruptio placentae |
| placenta previa | Placental attachment in the lower portion of the uterus instead of the upper portion, as is normal; may result in hemorrhage late in pregnancy |
| pregnancy-induced hypertension (PH) | A toxic condition of late pregnancy associated with hypertension, edema, and proteinuria that, if untreated, may lead to eclampsia; also called preeclampsia and toxemia of pregnancy |
| spina bifida | A congenital defect in the closure of the spinal column through which the spinal cord and its membranes may project |
| teratogen | A factor that causes developmental abnormalities in the fetus (root terat/o means "malformed fetus") (adjective: teratogenic) |
| amniocentesis | Transabdominal puncture of the amniotic sac to remove amniotic fluid for testing; tests on the cells and fluid obtained can reveal congenital abnormalities, blood incompatibility, and sex of the fetus |
| chorionic villus sampling (CVS) | Removal of chorionic cells through the cervix for prenatal testing; can be done earlier in pregnancy than amniocentesis |
| dilatation and evacuation (D&E) | Widening of the cervix and removal of conception products by suction |
| karyotype | A picture of cellular chromosomes arranged in order of decreasing size; can reveal abnormalities in the chromosomes themselves or in their number or arrangement (root kary/o means "nucleus") |
| ultrasonography | The use of high-frequency sound waves to produce a photograph of an organ or tissue; used in obstetrics to diagnose pregnancy, multiple births, and abnormalities and also to study and measure the fetus; the image obtained is a sonogram or ultrasonogram |
| afterbirth | The placenta and membranes delivered after birth of a child |
| antepartum | Before childbirth, with reference to the mother |
| Braxton Hicks contractions | Light uterine contractions that occur during pregnancy and increase in frequency and intensity during the third trimester; they strengthen the uterus for delivery |
| chloasma | Brownish pigmentation that appears on the face during pregnancy; melasma |
| fontanel | A membrane-covered space between cranial bones in the fetus that later becomes ossified; a soft spot; also spelled fontanelle |
| intrapartum | Occuring during childbirth |
| linea nigra | A dark line on the abdomen from the umbilicus to the pubic region that may appear late in pregnancy |
| lochia | The mixture of blood, mucus, and tissue discharged from the uterus after childbirth |
| meconium | The first feces of the newborn |
| peripartum | Occurring during the end of pregnancy or the first few months after delivery, with reference to the mother |
| postpartum | After childbirth, with reference to the mother |
| premature | Describing an infant born before the organ systems are fully developed; immature |
| preterm | Occurring before the 37th week of gestation; describing an infant born before the 37th week of gestation |
| puerperium | The first 42 days after childbirth, during which the mother's reproductive organs usually return to normal (root puer means "child") |
| striae atrophicae | Pinkish or gray lines that appear where skin has been stretched, as in pregnancy; stretch marks, striae gravidarum |
| umbilicus | The scar in the middle of the abdomen that marks the attachment point of the umbilical cord to the fetus; the navel |
| vernix caseosa | The cheese-like deposit that covers and protects the fetus (literally "cheesy varnish") |
| cephalopelvic disproportion | The condition in which the head of the fetus is larger than the mother's pelvic outlet; also called fetopelvic disproportion |
| choriocarcinoma | A rare malignant neoplasm composed of placental tissue |
| galactorrhea | Excessive secretion of milk or continued milk production after breast-feeding has ceased; often results from excess prolactin secretion and may signal a pituitary tumor |
| hydatidiform mole | A benign overgrowth of placental tissue; the placenta dilates and resembles grape-like cysts; the neoplasm may invade the uterine wall, causing rupture; also called hydatid mole |
| hydramnios | An excess of amniotic fluid; also called polyhydramnios |
| oligohydramnios | A deficiency of amniotic fluid |
| patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) | Persistence of the ductus arteriosus after birth so that blood continues to shunt from the pulmonary artery to the aorta |
| puerperal infection | Infection of the genital tract after delivery |
| abortifacient | Agent that induces abortion |
| alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) | A fetal protein that may be elevated in amniotic fluid and maternal serum in cases of certain fetal disorders |
| artificial insemination (AI) | Placement of active semen into the vagina or cervix for the purpose of impregnation; the semen can be from a husband, partner, or donor |
| cesarean section | Incision of the abdominal wall and uterus for delivery of a fetus; also called cesarean birth |
| endometrial ablation | Selective destruction of the endometrium for therapeutic purpose; done to relieve excessive menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) |
| extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) | A technique for pulmonary bypass in which deoxygenated blood is removed, passed through a circuit that oxygenates the blood, and then returned; used for selected newborn and pediatric patients in respiratory failure with an otherwise good prognosis |
| in vitro fertilization (IVF) | Clinical procedure for achieving fertilization when it cannot be accomplished naturally; an oocyte (immature ovum) is removed, fertilized in the laboratory, and placed as a zygote into the uterus or fallopian tube (ZIFT, zygote intrafallopian transfer) |
| obstetrics | The branch of medicine that treats women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium; usually combined with the practices of gynecology |
| pediatrics | The branch of medicine that treats children and diseases of children (root ped/o means "child") |
| pelvimetry | Measurement of the pelvis by manual examination or radiographic study to determine whether delivery of a fetus through the vagina will be possible |
| Pitocin | Trade name for oxytocin; used to induce and hasten labor |
| presentation | Term describing the part of the fetus that can be felt by vaginal or rectal examination; normally the head presents first (vertex presentation), but sometimes the buttocks (breech presentation), face, or other part presents first |
| RhoGAM | Trade name for a preparation of antibody to the Rh(D) antigen; used to prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn in cases of Rh incompatibility |
| AB | Abortion |
| AFP | Alpha-fetoprotein |
| AGA | Appropriate for gestational age |
| AI | Artificial insemination |
| ART | Assisted reproductive technology |
| C-section | Cesarean section |
| CPD | Cephalopelvic disproportion |
| CVS | Chorionic villus sampling |
| D&E | Dilatation and evacuation |
| ECMO | Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation |
| EDC | Estimated date of confinement |
| FHR | Fetal heart rate |
| FHT | Fetal heart tone |
| FTND | Full-term normal delivery |
| FTP | Full-term pregnancy |
| GA | Gestational age |
| GIFT | Gamete intrafallopian transfer |
| hCG | Human chorionic gonadotropin |
| HDN | Hemolytic disease of the newborn |
| IVF | In vitro fertilization |
| LMP | Last menstrual period |
| NB | Newborn |
| NICU | Neonatal intensive care unit |
| OB | Obstetrics, obstetrician |
| PDA | Patent ductus arteriosus |
| PIH | Pregnancy-induced hypertension |
| PKU | Phenylketonuria |
| SVD | Spontaneous vaginal delivery |
| UC | Uterine contractions |
| UTP | Uterine term pregnancy |
| VBAC | Vaginal birth after cesarean section |
| ZIFT | Zygote intrafallopian transfer |
Created by:
SeedyVampire
Popular Medical sets