Chapter 11: Female Reproductive System

abort/i

Abortion, miscarriage

amni/o

Amniotic sac

cervic/o

Cervix

chori/o, choroid/o

Membrane or sac. In OB, the sac that encloses the fetus.

colp/o

Vagina

episi/o

Vulva

fet/o

Fetus

gamet/o

Egg or sperm

gest/o

Pregnancy

gonad/o

Sex glands (ovaries for females, testes for males)

gyn/o, gynec/o

Woman

hyster/o

Uterus, womb

labi/o

Lips

lact/i, lact/o

Milk

mamm/o

Breast

mast/o

Breast, mammary gland

men/o, mens/o

Menstruation

metra/o, metr/o, metri/o

Uterus

nat/a

Birth

omphal/o

Navel

o/o

Ovum, egg cell

oophor/o

Ovary

ov/i, ov/o, ovul/o

Ovum, egg cell

ovari/o

Ovary

pelv/i, pelv/o, pelvi/o

Pelvic

pub/o

Pubis

salping/o

Oviduct, fallopian tube

toc/o

Childbirth

uter/o

Uterus

vagin/o

Vagina

vulv/o

Vulva

Perimetrium

Serous outer layer of the uterus that serves a unique purpose.

Myometrium

Muscle layers of the uterus that provide strong uterine contractions during labor and childbirth.

Endometrium

Inner layer of the uterus that will thicken and slough each month during the menstrual cycle.

Uterine adnexa

The ovaries, fallopian tubes, and ligaments (appendages or adjunct parts of the uterus).

Broad ligament

A thin sheet of peritoneum that drapes over the uterus and fallopian tubes to connect them with the lateral wall of the pelvis.

Cardinal ligament

The connection between the cervix and the pelvic wall that provides structural support.

Round ligament

A thickening of the broad ligament connecting the anterior uterine horns to the anterior abdominal wall.

Utero-ovarian (U-O) ligament

Also known as the ovarian ligament, it connects the uterus to the ovary.

Uterosacral ligament

Connects the back of the uterus at the level of the cervix to the sacrum.

Bartholin's glands

Glands located slightly inferior and to either side of the vaginal introitus that secrete a fluid used to lubricate the vagina.

Skene's glands

Also called lesser vestibular or paraurethral glands, located on the anterior wall of the vagina around the lower end of the urethra.

Perineum

The area between the pubic symphysis and the anus (or between the vagina and the rectum).

Pre-term delivery

Delivery that occurs before 37 weeks of gestation.

Post-term pregnancy

A pregnancy that extends beyond 42 weeks of gestation.

Gravidity

Refers to the number of times a woman has been pregnant.

Parity

The number of times a woman has given birth to a fetus that is 24 or more weeks of gestation.

GTPAL

Shorthand system where G = gravidity, T = term deliveries, P = preterm deliveries, A = abortions/miscarriages, L = live births.

Nulligravida

A woman who has never been pregnant.

Primigravida

A woman who is pregnant for the first time or has been pregnant once.

Multigravida

A woman who has been pregnant more than once (also called secundigravida if twice).

Braxton Hicks contractions

Practice contractions that can happen for many weeks before real labor begins; they are often irregular.

Lightening

The sensation that the fetus has dropped lower and the head settles deep in the pelvis.

Bloody show

An increase in clear, pink, or slightly bloody vaginal discharge when the cervix begins to dilate.

Rupture of membranes

When the amniotic sac breaks, commonly referred to as the water breaking.

Spontaneous abortion

Commonly referred to as a miscarriage; characterized by bleeding, cramping, and expulsion of tissue.

Missed abortion

A condition where the fetus stops developing and expires but is retained within the uterus without the patient realizing it.

Induced abortion

An intentional or deliberate termination of a pregnancy.

Placenta previa

When the placenta forms partially or totally toward the lower end of the uterus, covering the cervix.

Placenta accreta

When the placenta digs too deep within the uterine wall without penetrating the uterine muscle (myometrium).

Placenta increta

A condition where the placenta develops into the uterine wall and penetrates the myometrium muscle.

Placenta percreta

When the placenta latches all the way through the uterine wall and may grow into surrounding organs like the bladder or colon.

Placental insufficiency

The inability of the placenta to provide enough nourishment and oxygen for the fetus.

Abruptio placentae

The premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall; considered an obstetrical emergency.

Ectopic pregnancy

A pregnancy that implants outside the uterus, most commonly within a fallopian tube.

Blighted ovum

A gestational sac that develops without an embryo contained within it.

Molar pregnancy

Also known as a hydatidiform mole; an abnormal pregnancy with an overgrowth of the placenta where a viable fetus does not form.

Gestational diabetes

A condition brought on by pregnancy causing elevated blood glucose levels and insulin resistance.

Gestational hypertension

High blood pressure occurring during pregnancy between week 20 and six weeks postpartum without protein in the urine.

Preeclampsia

New onset of high blood pressure (>= 140/90 mm Hg) after 20 weeks of gestation accompanied by protein in the urine and swelling.

Eclampsia

A severe complication of preeclampsia characterized by the new onset of generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

Toxoplasmosis

An infection caused by the single-celled parasite Toxoplasma gondii, often contracted via food consumption or cat litter.

Chlamydia

The most frequently reported bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the United States.

Hepatitis A

A single-stranded RNA virus mostly contracted through contact with contaminated feces or oral infections.

Hepatitis B

A partially double-stranded DNA virus that can be transmitted to the fetus during childbirth if maternal-fetal barriers break.

Hepatitis C

A plus-sense RNA virus with an increased risk of vertical transmission during invasive procedures like amniocentesis.

Hepatitis D

A single-stranded circular RNA virus that causes co-infection exclusively alongside Hepatitis B.

HIV/AIDS

Human immunodeficiency virus / Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which kills or impairs the immune system.

Genital herpes

A sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) producing blisters and ulcers.

Endometriosis

A condition where tissue resembling the endometrium grows outside of the uterus, causing severe pain and bleeding.

Adenomyosis

A condition where endometrial tissue embeds itself deep within the uterine muscle (myometrium) rather than escaping the uterus.

Cystocele

A disorder where the bladder protrudes into the vagina due to a weakness in the anterior vaginal wall.

Rectocele

A disorder where the rectum protrudes into the vagina due to a weakness in the posterior vaginal wall.

Enterocele

A disorder where the small intestine falls into the vagina due to a weakness in the apical portion (vaginal vault).

Amenorrhea

The loss or absence of monthly menses or periods.

Bartholin's gland cyst

A cyst formed when the exit from the Bartholin's gland becomes blocked, causing secretions to back up.

Cervical dysplasia

The presence of abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix, typically identified via a Pap smear.

Dysmenorrhea

Painful or difficult menstruation.

Dyspareunia

Painful sexual intercourse.

Leucorrhea

Excessive white or yellowish vaginal discharge.

Menopause

The permanent cessation of menstrual cycles, diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a period.

Menorrhagia

Abnormal uterine bleeding characterized by heavier than normal or prolonged bleeding during a period.

Menometrorrhagia

Excessive uterine bleeding occurring both during regular periods and at irregular intervals between periods.

PCOS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome; a hormonal disorder causing irregular/prolonged periods, elevated androgens, and multiple ovarian cysts.

Vaginitis

Inflammation of the vagina resulting in discharge, itching, and pain (e.g., bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, trichomoniasis).

Culdocentesis

A diagnostic procedure where peritoneal fluid is sampled from the rectouterine pouch (cul-de-sac of Douglas) via the vaginal wall.

Dilatation and curettage (D&C)

A gynecological procedure where the cervix is dilated and the uterine contents are suctioned or scraped out.

Colposcopy

A non-surgical diagnostic tool using a magnifying instrument (colposcope) to closely examine the cervix, vagina, and vulva.

Hysteroscopy

A procedure where a hysteroscope is inserted into the uterus for direct visualization, diagnosis, or treatment of uterine problems.

Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)

An X-ray or ultrasound imaging procedure (saline sono) used to evaluate the patency of the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes.