Term | Definition |
adnexal | Pertaining to adjacent or accessory parts. |
clitoris | A small, elongated erectile body above the urinary meatus at the superior point of the labia minora. |
coitus | Sexual union between male and female; also called intercourse. |
colostrum | A thin, yellow, milky fluid secreted by the mammary glands a few days before and after delivery. |
dilation | The opening of the cervix through the process of labor, measured as 0 to 10 cm dilated. |
dilation and curettage (D&C) | The widening of the cervix and scraping of the endometrial wall of the uterus. |
dysplasia | An alteration in cell growth, causing differences in size, shape, and appearance. |
effacement | The thinning of the cervix during labor, measured in percentages from 0% to 100% effaced. |
endocervical curettage | The scraping of cells from the wall of the uterus. |
fundus | The curved, top portion of the uterus; the fundal height can be used as a measurement of fetal growth and estimated gestation. |
human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) | A hormone secreted by the placenta that is found in the urine of pregnant females. |
lymphedema | Swelling caused by the accumulation of lymph fluid in soft tissues. |
mons pubis | The fat pad that covers the symphysis pubis. |
multiparous | Pertaining to women who have had two or more pregnancies. |
myelomeningocele | A herniation of a portion of the spinal cord and its meninges that protrudes through a congenital opening in the vertebral column. |
nonstress tests (NSTs) | Fetal monitoring used in combination with maternal reports of fetal movement to evaluate the fetal heart rate response. |
parturition | The act or process of giving birth to a child. |
stereotactic | Pertaining to an x-ray procedure to guide the insertion of a needle into a specific area of the breast. |
vulva | The external female genitalia, which begins at the mons pubis and terminates at the anus. |