Pregnancy, Prenatal Care, and Gestational Conditions Vocabulary

A collection of vocabulary flashcards defining reproductive systems, conception, fetal development, pregnancy adaptations, obstetric terminology, and high-risk gestational conditions.

Spermatogenesis

The process of sperm production in which sperm stem cells divide into daughter cells, spermatocytes divide into spermatids, and spermatids mature into sperm cells.

Androgens

Male sex hormones produced in the testes.

Epididymis

The structure where mature sperm are stored prior to entering the vas deferens during sexual excitement.

Prepuce

The foreskin covering the glans penis that may be removed by circumcision.

Zona Reaction

The cellular reaction that occurs during fertilization when a sperm enters the egg, preventing fertilization by other sperm.

Morula

An early stage of embryo development consisting of a solid ball of blastomeres.

Blastocyst

A stage in early development following the morula that features a fluid-filled blastocyst cavity.

Chorionic villi

Microscopic finger-like projections that carry oxygen and nutrients to and from the maternal bloodstream.

Decidua

The modified endometrium or mucosal lining of the uterus during pregnancy, including the decidua basalis and decidua vera.

Germinal period

The earliest period of fetal development spanning from $0$ to $2$ weeks of gestation.

Embryonic period

The main organ-forming period of prenatal development spanning from $3$ to $8$ weeks of gestation.

Fetal period

The stage of prenatal development spanning from $9$ weeks of gestation until birth.

Viability

The capability of the fetus to survive outside the uterus, with the threshold of viability occurring around $22$ to $25$ weeks of gestation.

Teratogens

Nongenetic environmental factors such as drugs, chemicals, infection, radiation, or malnutrition that can interfere with fetal development and cause congenital anomalies.

Gravida

A woman who is pregnant.

Gravidity

Pregnancy or the total number of pregnancies a woman has had.

Nulligravida

A woman who has never been pregnant.

Primigravida

A woman who is pregnant for the first time.

Multigravida

A woman who has had two or more pregnancies.

Parity

The number of pregnancies in which the fetus or fetuses have reached viability, regardless of whether they are born alive or stillborn.

Nullipara

A woman who has not completed a pregnancy with a fetus or fetuses who have reached the stage of fetal viability.

Primipara

A woman who has completed one pregnancy with a fetus or fetuses who have reached the stage of fetal viability.

Multipara

A woman who has completed two or more pregnancies to the stage of fetal viability.

Preterm

A pregnancy that has reached $20$ weeks of gestation but ends before the completion of $37$ weeks of gestation.

Late preterm

A pregnancy that has reached between $34$ weeks $0$ days and $36$ weeks $6$ days of gestation.

Early term

A pregnancy that has reached between $37$ weeks $0$ days and $38$ weeks $6$ days of gestation.

Full term

A pregnancy that has reached between $39$ weeks $0$ days and $40$ weeks $6$ days of gestation.

Late term

A pregnancy that has reached between $41$ weeks $0$ days and $41$ weeks $6$ days of gestation.

Post term

A pregnancy that has reached $42$ weeks $0$ days and beyond of gestation.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)

The earliest biochemical marker of pregnancy, detectable in maternal serum or urine as early as $7$ to $8$ days after ovulation.

Presumptive signs of pregnancy

Subjective changes felt by the woman, including amenorrhea, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, increased urination, quickening, and breast changes.

Probable signs of pregnancy

Objective changes observed by an examiner, such as Hegar's sign, Goodell's sign, Chadwick's sign, abdominal enlargement, and positive pregnancy tests.

Positive signs of pregnancy

Diagnostic signs attributed only to the presence of the fetus, including fetal heart tones, fetal movement felt by an examiner, and visualization by sonography.

Hegar Sign

The softening and compressibility of the lower uterine segment during pregnancy.

Goodell Sign

The softening of the cervical tip or lip observed during pregnancy.

Chadwick Sign

A bluish-purple discoloration of the vaginal mucosa and cervix seen during pregnancy.

Ballottement

A technique of palpating the fetus where a gentle tap on the cervix causes the fetus to rise and rebound.

Quickening

The mother's initial perception of fetal movements.

Leukorrhea

A thick, white, or yellowish vaginal discharge that increases during pregnancy.

Supine hypotensive syndrome

Pallor, dizziness, and low blood pressure caused by compression of the vena cava when a pregnant woman lies flat on her back.

Chloasma

Hyperpigmentation of the skin over the face during pregnancy, also known as the mask of pregnancy.

Linea nigra

A dark pigmented line extending from the symphysis pubis to the top of the fundus in the midline of the abdomen.

Striae gravidarum

Stretch marks that appear on the abdomen, thighs, or breasts during pregnancy.

PICA

The practice of consuming non-food substances (such as clay, dirt, or starch) during pregnancy.

Näegele’s Rule

A method used to estimate the date of birth by identifying the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP), subtracting $3$ months, adding $7$ days, and adding $1$ year.

Gestational hypertension

The onset of hypertension without proteinuria occurring after the $20$ ext{th} week of pregnancy.

Preeclampsia

A pregnancy-specific vasospastic systemic disorder characterized by hypertension developing after $20$ weeks of gestation in previously normotensive women.

Eclampsia

The onset of seizure activity or coma in a woman with preeclampsia who has no history of preexisting pathology.

HELLP syndrome

A severe laboratory diagnostic variant of preeclampsia characterized by Hemolysis (H), Elevated Liver enzymes (EL), and Low Platelets (LP).

Ectopic pregnancy

An abnormal pregnancy in which the fertilized ovum implants outside the uterine cavity, most commonly in the ampulla of the uterine tube.

Placenta previa

A condition where the placenta is implanted in the lower uterine segment near or covering the internal cervical os.

Abruptio placentae

Premature separation of a normally implanted placenta from the uterine wall before birth.