Question | Answer |
Destruction of tissue using high-frequency electrical current | fulguration |
The sex, or reproductive, organs visible on the outside of the body | genetalia |
The length of time from conception to birth | gestation |
Small, rounded mass or glandlike body; erectile tissue at the ends of the clitoris and the penis | glans |
Production and release of milk by mammary glands | lactation |
Mouth; entrance or outlet of any anatomic structure | orifice |
Time after childbirth that lasts approximately 6 weeks during which the canges brought about by pregnancy resolve and the mother adjusts to motherhood and nonpregnant life | puerperium |
Capable of sustaining life; denotes a fetus sufficiently developed to live outside of the uterus | viable |
Accessory parts of a structure | adnexa |
Congenital absence or closure of a normal body opening, such as the vagina | atresia |
Malignant neoplasm of the uterus or at the site of an ectopic pregnancy | choriocarcinoma |
Ovarian scar tissue that results from rupturing of a follicle during ovulation and becomes a small yellow body that produces progesterone after ovulation | corpus luteum |
Contraceptive divice consisting of a hemishere of thin rubber bonded to a flexible ring; inserted into the vagina together with spermicidal jelly or cream | contraceptive diaphragm |
Occurrence of pain during sexual intercourse | dyspareunia |
Inflammation of the mucous lining of the cervix uteri | endocervicitis |
Benign uterine tumors composed of muscle and fiberous tissue; also called leiomyomas | fibroids |
Inability or diminished ability to produce offspring | infertility |
Use of hormones to suppress ovulation and prevent conception | hormonal contraception |
Beginning of menstrual function | menarche |
Scanty or infrequent menstrual flow | oligomenorrhea |
Region between the vulva and anus that constitutes the pelvic floor | perineum |
Period during which secondary sex characteristics begin to develop and the capability of sexual reproduction is attained | puberty |
Pus in the fallopian tube | pyosalpinx |
Turning or state of being turned back, especially an entire organ, such as the uterus, being tipped from its normal position | retroversion |
Inability of the female to become pregnant or the male to impregnate the female | sterility |
Painful spasm of the vagina from contraction of the muscles surrounding the vagina | vaginismus |
Premature separation of a normally situated placenta | abruptio placentae |
Termination of pregnancy before the embryo or fetus is capable of surviving outside the uterus | abortion |
Membrane, continuous with and covering the fetal side of the placenta that forms the outer surface of the umbilical cord | amnion |
Common abnormality of delivery in which the fetal buttocks or feet present rather than the head | breech presentation |
Congenital condition characterized by physical malformations and some degree of mental retardation | Down syndrome, trisomy 21 |
Difficult labor, which may be produced by the large size of the fetus or a small pelvic outlet | dystocia |
Most serious form of toxemia during pregnancy | eclampsia |
Pregnancy in which the fertilized ovum does not reach the uterine cavity but becomes implanted on any tissue other than the lining of the uterine cavity | ectopic pregnancy |
Pregnant woman | gravida |
Woman who has been pregnant more than once | multigravida |
Woman who has delivered more than one viable infant | multipara |
Woman who has given birth to one or more viable infants | para |
Process of giving birth | parturition |
Measurement of the pelvic dimensions or proportions, determining whether its possible to deliver a fetus through the normal route | pelvimetry |
Condition in which the placenta is attached near the cervix and ruptures prematurely, with spotting as the early symptom | placenta previa |
Woman pregnant for the first time | primigravida |
Woman who has given birth to one viable infant, her first child | primipara |
Period of 42 days after childbirth and expulsion of the placenta and membranes, during which the reproductive organs usually return to normal | puerperium |
Transabdominal puncture of the amniotic sac under untrasound guidance using a needle and syringe to remove amniotic fluid | amniocentesis |
Delivery of pressurized air or gas into a cavity to allow visual examination, remove an obstruction, or apply medication | insufflation |
Test for patency of the uterine tubes made by transuterine insufflation with carbon dioxide | tubal insufflation |
Visual examination of the vagina and cervix with an optical magnifying instrument | colposcopy |
Visual examination of the abdominal cavity with a laproscope | laparoscopy |
Sampling of placental tissues for prenatal diagnosis of potential genetic defects | chorionic villus sampling |
Removal of a sample of uterine endometrium for microscopic study | endometrial biopsy |
Cytological study used to detect abnormal cells sloughted from the cervix and vagina | Papanicolaou test (Pap) |
Radiographic examination of the soft tissues of the breast | mammography |
Radiography of the uterus and uterine tubes following injection of a contrast medium | hysterosalpingography |
Process by which high-frequency sound waves produce and display an image from reflected "echoes" on a monitor | ultrasonography |
Ultrasound of the pelvic region used to evaluate abnormalities in the female reproductive system as well as the fetus | pelvic ultrasonography |
ultrasound of the pelvic area performed with a probe inserted into the vagina | transvaginal ultrasonography |
Procedure in which a nonabsorbable ligature is applied around the cervix uteri to treat incompetent uterus, thus decreasing the chance for spontaneous abortion | cerclage |
Incision of the abdomen and uterus to remove the fetus | cesarean birth |
Surgical closure of the vaginal canal | colpocleisis |
Excision of a cone-shaped piece of tissue, such as the cervix, for histological examination | conization |
Sampling of fetal blood drawn from the umbilical vein and performed with ultrasound | cordocentesis |
Process of freezing tissue to destroy cells | cryosurgery, cryocautery |
Widening of the cervical canal with a dilator and scraping of the uterine endometrium with a curette | dilatation and curettage (D&C) |
Repair of a lacerated vulva or an episiotomy | episiorrahaphy |
Incision of the perineum from the vaginal orifice; usually done to prevent tearing of tissue and to facilitate childbirth | episiotomy |
Excision of the uterus | hysterectomy |
Hysterectomy where the cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes remain | subtotal hysterectomy |
Hysterectomy where the cervix is removed but the ovaries and fallopian tubes remain | Total (complete) hysterectomy |
Total hysterectomy, including uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries | total (complete) plus bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy |
Plastic or metal object placed inside the uterus to prevent implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterine lining | intrauterine device (IUD) |
Excision of a small primary breast tumor that leaves the remainder of the breast intact | lumpectomy |
Surgical reconstruction of the breast(s) sometimes augmented by substances such as fat tissue or silicone to alter size and shape | mammoplasty, mastoplasty |
Excision of the breast | mastectomy |
Removal of the breast and any involved skin, pectoral muscles, asillary lymph nodes and subcutaneous fat | radical mastectomy |
Excision of a myomatous tumor, generally uterine | myomectomy |
Excision of an ovary and fallopian tube | salpingo-oophorectomy |
Procedure that ties the uterine tubes to prevent pregnancy | tubal ligation |
Treat vaginal yeast infection | antifungals |
Treat adverse symptoms of menopause | estrogens |
Prevents pregnancy | oral contraceptives |
Induce labor at term by increasing the strength and frequency of uterine contractions | oxytocics |
Terminate pregnancy | prostaglandins |