Reproductive Health and the Family

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering reproductive anatomy, hormonal cycles, fetal development milestones, infertility interventions, and genetic inheritance patterns.

Endometrium

The inner mucosal layer of the uterine wall where a fertilized ovum implants during pregnancy.

Myometrium

The thick muscular middle layer of the uterine wall.

Perimetrium

The outer serous membrane layer of the uterine wall.

Estrogen

An ovarian hormone responsible for the maturation of ovarian follicles and the proliferation of the endometrial mucosa.

Progesterone

Known as the hormone of pregnancy, it decreases uterine contractility, prepares the uterus for implantation, and prepares the breasts for lactation.

Corpus Luteum

A mass of endocrine cells formed in the ovary after ovulation that secretes progesterone until the placenta takes over.

Follicular Phase

The phase of the ovarian cycle (days $1\text{--}14$) during which an immature follicle develops under the influence of FSH and LH until ovulation.

Luteal Phase

The phase of the ovarian cycle (days $15\text{--}28$) beginning after ovulation, during which the ovum travels through the fallopian tube and the corpus luteum functions.

Spinnbarkeit

The elasticity of cervical mucus, which increases to greater than $5\,\text{cm}$ during the proliferative phase, becoming thin, clear, and alkaline.

Proliferative Phase

The phase of the uterine cycle (days $7\text{--}14$) characterized by thickening of the endometrium and myometrium due to increased estrogen.

Secretory Phase

The phase of the uterine cycle (days $15\text{--}26$) where progesterone increases tissue swelling and vascularity to provide a receptive bed for implantation.

Ischemic Phase

The final phase of the uterine cycle (days $27\text{--}28$) occurring if implantation does not take place, characterized by degenerating corpus luteum and falling hormone levels.

Mitosis

The process of cell division for growth and tissue repair that yields exact duplicate copies of the original cell.

Meiosis

The specialized cellular division process during gametogenesis that reduces the chromosome count by half to produce sperm and ova.

Gametogenesis

The process of forming human gametes (sperm and ova) through meiosis.

Oogenesis

The process of producing female gametes (ova), which develops early during female fetal life so that all ova are present at birth.

Spermatogenesis

The process of producing male gametes (spermatozoa), which does not begin until puberty.

Ampulla of Fallopian Tube

The specific portion of the fallopian tube where fertilization of the ovum by a sperm normally occurs.

Hydramnios

An excess of amniotic fluid defined as a volume greater than $2000\,\text{ml}$ (also called polyhydramnios).

Oligohydramnios

A deficit of amniotic fluid defined as an overall volume less than $400\,\text{ml}$.

Wharton's Jelly

The specialized connective tissue that surrounds and protects the two arteries and one vein of the umbilical cord.

Shiny Schultz

The smooth, glossy fetal surface of the delivered placenta.

Dirty Duncan

The dark, rough, and lobulated maternal surface of the delivered placenta.

Quickening

The first fetal movements felt by the pregnant mother, usually occurring around $20$ weeks of gestation.

Age of Viability

The gestational milestone reached at $24$ weeks, marked by the presence of both grasp and startle reflexes, respiratory movements, and initial surfactant production.

Infertility

The failure to achieve a pregnancy after $12\,\text{months}$ of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse.

Secondary Infertility

The inability to conceive or sustain a pregnancy after having previously achieved one or more successful pregnancies.

Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid)

A pharmacological agent used to stimulate ovulation by inducing the pituitary gland to release more FSH and LH.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

A fertility treatment where washed sperm is mechanically deposited directly into the uterus, bypassing the cervix.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

An assisted reproductive procedure where mature eggs are retrieved from ovaries, fertilized with sperm in a laboratory, and then transferred into the uterus.

Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT)

An assisted reproductive technique in which retrieved oocytes and washed motile sperm are placed together directly into the fallopian tube to allow natural in vivo fertilization.

Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT)

An assisted reproductive technique where eggs are fertilized in vitro and then placed into the fallopian tube at the zygote stage.

Tubal Embryo Transfer (TET)

An assisted reproductive procedure where laboratory-fertilized eggs are incubated to the embryonic stage before transfer into the fallopian tube.

Karyotype

A pictorial or photographic arrangement used for analyzing an individual's complete set of chromosomes.

Phenotype

The observable physical or functional expression of an individual's genetic makeup or trait.

Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21)

A genetic condition caused by an extra chromosome 21, characterized by hypotonia, flattened occiput, epicanthal folds, Brushfield spots, simian line, and congenital heart disease in $30\%\text{--}60\%$ of cases.

Trisomy 18

A chromosomal defect characterized by severe hypotonia, prominent occiput, low-set ears, overlapping fingers, rocker-bottom feet, and congenital heart defects in over $90\%$ of cases.

Turner Syndrome

A sex chromosome defect in females with a $45,X$ karyotype, characterized by short stature, webbed neck, broad shieldlike chest, and primary amenorrhea.

Klinefelter Syndrome

A sex chromosome defect in males with a $47,XXY$ karyotype, characterized by mild mental retardation, gynecomastia, long legs, small soft testes, and reduced fertility.

Autosomal Dominant Inheritance

A genetic inheritance pattern where an affected parent carrying a single mutated gene has a $50\%$ chance of passing the condition to each child.

Autosomal Recessive Inheritance

A genetic inheritance pattern where two unaffected carrier parents have a $25\%$ chance with each pregnancy of having a child affected by the disorder.