Term | Definition |
orifice | mouth, entrance, or outlet of any anatomical structure |
perineum | area between the vaginal orifice and the anus |
graafian follicles | saclike structures that each contain an ovum. follicle |
corpus luteum | small yellow mass. transformed from an empty follicle after ovulation. degenerates after the non fertile cycle |
fimbriae | fingerlike projections that create wavelike currents in fluid surrounding the ovary to move the ovum into the uterine tube |
fundus | upper rounded part of the uterus |
body | central part of uterus |
cervix | neck of the uterus. opens into the vagina |
Bartholin glands | secrete lubrication into the orifice of the vagina during sexual excitement |
clitoris | composed of erectile tissue, similar in structure to the penis |
adipose tissue | enlarges the size of the breasts until they reach maturity |
lactiferous duct | drains the milk-producing glands |
menarche | initial menstrual period |
parturition | birth |
first stage of dilation | begins with uterine contractions and terminates when there is complete dilation of the cervix (10cm) |
stage of expulsion | time from complete cervical dilation to birth of the baby |
placental stage | afterbirth. shortly after childbirth when uterine contractions discharge the placenta from the uterus |
cilmacteric | the period in which symptoms of approaching menopause occur |
amni | amniotic sac |
colpo | vagina |
galacto | milk |
metri | uterus |
masto | breast |
meno | menstruation |
metro | uterus/womb |
nato | birth |
oophoro | ovary |
perineo | perineum |
salpingo | tube (fallopian) |
-arche | beginning |
-cyesis | pregnancy |
-gravida | pregnant woman |
-para | to bear |
-salpinx | tube (fallopian) |
-tocia | childbirth, labor |
-version | turning |
ante | before, in front of |
puerperium | period of adjustment after childbirth during which the reproductive organs of the mother return to their normal non-pregnant state |
dysmenorrhea | menstrual pain. treated with estrogen |
metorrhagia | irregular uterine bleeding between menstrual periods/ after menopause |
endometriosis | presence of functional endometrial tissue in areas outside the uterus |
pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) | general term for inflammation of the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and adjacent pelvic structures. Usually caused by bacterial infection |
septicemia | bacteria in the blood |
Vaginitis | localized infections and inflammation that occur from viruses, bacteria or yeast |
candida albicans/moniliasis | yeast infection |
mycostatics | antifungal agents |
trichomoniasis | most common cause of sexually transmitted lower genital tract infections |
carcinoma of the breast | breast cancer |
nulliparous | women who have never borne children |
atresia | congenital absence or closure of a normal body opening such as the vagina |
choriocarcinoma | malignant neoplasm of the uterus or at the site of an ectopic pregnancy |
dyspareunia | occurrence of pain during sexual intercourse |
endocervicitis | occurrence of pain during sexual intercourse |
retroversion | turning of an organ |
uterine fibroids | benign tumors composed of muscle and fibrous tissue that develop in the uterus |
abruptio placentae | premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall before the third stage of labor |
breech presentation | common abnormality of delivery in which the fetal buttocks or feet present first rather than the head |
eclampsia | most serious form of toxemia during pregnancy |
placenta previa | obstetric complication in which the placenta is attached close to or covers the cervical canal that results in bleeding during labor when the cervix dilates |
cerclage | suturing of the cervix to prevent it from dilating prematurely during pregnancy thus decreasing the chance of a spontaneous abortion |
colpoclesis | surgical closure of the vaginal canal |
conization | excision of a cone-shaped piece of tissue, such as mucosa of the cervix, for histological examination |
cordiocentesis | sampling of fetal blood drawn from the umbilical vein and performed under ultrasound guidance |
cryosurgery | process of freezing tissue to destroy cells |
dilation + curettage (D&C) | widening of the cervical canal with a dilator and scraping the uterine endometrium with a currette |
subtotal hysterectomy | cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes remain |
total hysterectomy | cervix is removed but the ovaries and fallopian tubes remain |
total plus bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy | total hysterectomy including removal of uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries |
lumpectomy | excision of a small primary breast tumor and some of the normal tissue that surround it |
augmentation | boob job |
total mastectomy | excision of the entire breast, nipple, areola, and the involved overlying skin |
modified radical mastectomy | excision of the entire breast, including the lymph nodes in the underarm. most common |
radical mastectomy | excision of the entire breast, all underarm lymph nodes, and chest wall muscles under the breast |
transverse rectus abdominal muscle (TRAM) flap | surgical creation of a skin flap using skin and fat from the lower half of the abdomen, which is passed under the skin to the breast area, and then shaping the abdominal tissue into a natural looking breast and suturing it into place |
insufflation | delivery of pressurized air or gas into a cavity, chamber, or organ to allow visual examination, remove an obstruction or apply medication |
tubal | test for patency of the uterine tubes made by transuterine insufflation with CO2 |
pelvimetry | measurement of pelvic dimensions to determine whether the head of the fetus will be abl to pass through the bony pelvis to allow delivery |
chorionic villus sampling (CVS) | sampling of placental tissues for prenatal diagnosis of potential genetic defects |
endometrial biopsy | removal of a sample of uterine endometrium for microscopic study |
Papanicolaou (Pap) test | cytological study used to detect abnormal cells sloughed from the cervix and vagina, usually obtained during routine pelvic examination |
hysterosalpingography (HSG) | radiography and usually fluoroscopy of the uterus and uterine tubes following injection of a contrast medium |
transvaginal | ultrasound (US) of the pelvic area performed with a probe inserted into the vagina which provides sharper images of pathological and normal structures within the pelvis |