Reproductive Systems and Obstetrics Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards focusing on anatomical structures, physiological processes, disorders, and clinical procedures related to the female reproductive system, male reproductive system, and obstetrics.

Mons pubis

A pad of fat located anteriorly over the pubic bone that becomes covered in pubic hair after puberty.

Labia majora

Folds of hair-covered skin in the external female genitalia that begin just posterior to the mons pubis.

Labia minora

Thinner and more pigmented folds of skin extending medially to the labia majora that protect the female urethra and the entrance to the reproductive tract.

Clitoris

An external female organ originating from the same embryonic cells as the glans penis, containing abundant nerves that function in sexual sensation and orgasm.

Vagina

A muscular canal approximately $10\,\text{cm}$ long that serves as the entrance to the reproductive tract and the exit from the uterus during menses and childbirth.

Lactobacillus

The predominant genus of healthy vaginal bacteria that secretes lactic acid to maintain an acidic vaginal $\text{pH}$ below $4.5$.

Ovaries

The female gonads, each measuring about $2\,\text{cm}$ to $3\,\text{cm}$ in length, located within the pelvic cavity at each entrance to the fallopian tubes.

Ampulla

The middle region of the fallopian tube where fertilization of an oocyte typically occurs.

Fundus

The portion of the uterus located superior to the opening of the uterine tubes.

Myometrium

The thick middle layer of the uterine wall composed of smooth muscle responsible for uterine contractions.

Endometrium

The innermost layer of the uterus consisting of connective tissue covered by epithelial tissue, providing the site for egg implantation and shedding during menstruation.

Menses phase

The phase of the menstrual cycle lasting between $2\,\text{days}$ and $7\,\text{days}$ (average $5\,\text{days}$), during which hormone levels are low and the endometrial lining is shed.

Endometriosis

An abnormal condition where endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus, inflamed by estrogen into painful implants and scar tissue.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

A disorder linked to excessive insulin production and elevated male hormones in women, leading to unreleased eggs forming fluid-filled cysts in enlarged ovaries.

Total hysterectomy

A surgical procedure that removes both the uterus and the cervix.

Radical hysterectomy

A surgical procedure that removes the uterus, cervix, part of the vagina, and surrounding ligaments.

Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO)

A surgical procedure involving the removal of both ovaries and both fallopian tubes.

Spermatogenesis

The process of male gamete (sperm) production, occurring inside the seminiferous tubules of the testes.

Scrotum

A sac that holds the testes outside of the abdominal body cavity.

Epididymis

Coiled tubes where sperm mature and gain motility, requiring an average transit time of $12\,\text{days}$.

Vas deferens

A thick, muscular tube bundled in the spermatic cord that propels sperm from the epididymis through the inguinal canal to the ampulla.

Prostate gland

A gland that secretes an alkaline, milky fluid into seminal fluid to temporarily coagulate and later decoagulate semen within the female reproductive tract.

Bulbourethral glands

Glands that release a thick, salty fluid to lubricate the end of the urethra and vagina while neutralizing acidic urine residues in the penile urethra.

Erectile dysfunction (ED)

A disorder characterized by difficulty initiating or maintaining an erection, present in about $40\%$ of men at age $40$ and nearly $70\%$ at age $70$.

Orchiectomy

The primary surgical procedure used for diagnosing and treating testicular cancer.

No-scalpel vasectomy (NSV)

A minimally invasive surgical option performed by a urologist to cut the vas deferens, featuring a shorter recovery time than a traditional vasectomy.

Urology

A surgical subspecialty focusing on the treatment of diseases and disorders of both the male and female urogenital systems.

Zygote

A single diploid cell created by the union of a haploid sperm cell and a haploid oocyte during fertilization.

Dizygotic twins

Fraternal twins resulting from the release and individual fertilization of two separate eggs during one ovulation cycle.

Monozygotic twins

Identical twins formed when a single fertilized egg divides into two separate embryos during early development.

Cervical dilation stage

The initial and longest stage of labor, lasting $6\,\text{hours}$ to $12\,\text{hours}$, in which the cervix opens to $10\,\text{cm}$ in diameter.

Apgar score

A tool used at $1\,\text{minute}$ and $5\,\text{minutes}$ post-birth to rate a newborn's Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

An assisted reproductive procedure where an egg and sperm are combined in a laboratory dish before transferring the developed embryo into the uterus.