Term | Definition |
Bartholin's Glands | 2 small, mucus-secreting glands located on the posterior and lateral aspects of the entrance to the vagina |
Cervical Dysplasia | presence of abnormal tissue in the uterine cervix; this atypical tissue may be precancerous |
Climacteric | cessation of menstruation |
Colpopexy | surgical fixation of a relaxed vaginal wall |
Corpus Luteum | is a temporary endocrine structure involved in ovulation and early pregnancy |
Cul-De-Sac | pouch located between the uterus and rectum within the peritoneal cavity; serves as support for uterus |
Ectopic Pregnancy | abnormal implantation of a fertilized ovum outside the uterine cavity; also called tubal pregnancy |
Fimbriae | fringelike end of the fallopian tube |
Fourchette | tense band of mucous membranes at the posterior rim of the vaginal opening; point the labia minora connect |
Fundus | dome-shaped central, upper portion of the uterus between the points of insertion of the fallopian tubes |
Galactorrhea | discharge or flow of milk from breasts of women who are not breastfeeding |
Gamete | mature sperm or ovum |
Graafian Follicles | a mature, fully developed ovarian cyst containing the ripe ovum |
Hysterosalpingography | an X-ray of the uterus and the fallopian tubes by injecting a contrast material into these structures |
Menometrorrhagia | excessive flow of menstrual period and at times other than the menstrual period |
menorrhea | menstrual flow; menstruation |
Menses | another name for menstruation |
Myometrium | muscular layer of the uterine wall |
Nulligravida | woman never been pregnant |
Nullipara | a woman has never completed a pregnancy beyond 20 weeks |
Ovariorrhexis | rupture of an ovary |
Primigravida | woman pregnant for the first time |
Primipara | woman who has given birth for the first time, after a pregnancy of at least 20 weeks' gestation |
Vulva | external genitalia; also known as the pudendum |
Amenorrhea | absence of menstrual flow |
Dysmenorrhea | painful menstrual flow |
Menorrhagia | abnormally long or very heavy menstrual periods |
Metrorrhagia | uterine bleeding at times other than the menstrual period |
Oligomenorrhea | abnormally light or infrequent menstruation |
Endometriosis | presence and growth of endometrial tissue in areas outside the endometrium |
Fibrocystic Breast Disease | presence of single or multiple fluid-filled cysts that are palpable in the breasts |
Leiomyoma | benign, smooth-muscle tumor of the uterus |
Vaginitis | inflammation of the vagina and the vulva |
Colposcopy | visual examination of the vagina and cervix with a colposcope |
Cone Biopsy | surgical removal of a cone-shaped segment of the cervix for diagnosis or treatment; also known as conization |
Dilation and Curettage | Dilation or widening of the cervical canal with a dilator, followed by scraping of the uterine lining with a curet |
Laparoscopy | process of viewing the abdominal cavity with a laparoscope |
Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) | used to remove abnormal cells from the surface of the cervix using a thin wire loop that acts like a scapel; painless electrical current passes through the loop as it cuts away a thin layer of surface cells from the cervix |
Liquid-Based Pap (LBP) | "Pap Smear" |
Pelvimetry | process of measuring the female pelvis, manually or by X-ray, to determine its adequacy for childbearing |