Maternal OB & Fetal Development Vocabulary Flashcards

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical, physiological, STI, contraceptive, and developmental concepts from the course lecture notes.

Mons Pubis

A fatty pad located over the symphysis pubis that becomes covered with coarse curly hair during puberty.

Labia Majora

Two large outer skin folds containing fatty tissue that are highly vascular and develop hair upon sexual maturation.

Labia Minora

Thin, reddish inner mucosal folds containing sebaceous and sweat glands, rich in sensory nerves and blood vessels.

Clitoris

A small erectile structure located under the prepuce that contains numerous sensory nerve endings.

Hymen

A thin connective tissue membrane that partially covers the vaginal opening.

Perineum

The skin-covered muscular region located between the fourchette and anus that forms the perineal body.

Vagina

A fibromuscular, collapsible tube located between the bladder and rectum, extending from the vulva to the uterus.

Rugae

Transverse mucosal folds present in the vagina during reproductive years that allow for stretching during childbirth.

Corpus

The upper triangular portion of the uterus.

Cervix

The lower cylindrical portion of the uterus.

Fundus

The dome-shaped top of the uterus where the fallopian tubes enter.

Isthmus

The narrow, constricted uterine area situated between the corpus and the cervix.

Endometrium

The highly vascular inner lining of the uterus composed of three layers, the outer two of which shed during menstruation.

Myometrium

The smooth muscle layer of the uterine wall arranged in longitudinal, figure-eight middle, and circular muscle fibers.

Squamocolumnar Junction

The transformation zone of the cervix where outer squamous epithelium meets inner columnar epithelium, representing the most common site for cervical neoplasia.

Ampulla

The section of the uterine tube where fertilization most commonly occurs.

Acini

Saclike structures within the breast lobules lined with epithelial cells and myoepithelium that secrete milk and colostrum.

Montgomery Glands

Specialized glands located in the areola that secrete a fatty substance to lubricate the nipple.

Menarche

A female's first menstrual period.

Proliferative Phase

The phase of the endometrial cycle extending from day 5 until ovulation, characterized by rapid regrowth of the endometrium stimulated by estrogen.

Secretory Phase

The endometrial phase from ovulation until approximately 3 days before menses, during which progesterone creates a thick, velvety, nutrient-rich bed.

Ischemic Phase

The endometrial phase occurring when implantation does not take place, leading to corpus luteum regression, falling hormone levels, vascular spasms, and tissue necrosis.

Climacteric

The period of life marked by a gradual decline in ovarian function.

Menopause

The permanent cessation of menses, confirmed only after 12 consecutive months of amenorrhea.

Mitosis

The process of somatic cell division for growth and tissue repair that maintains the diploid number of 46 chromosomes.

Meiosis

Specialized cell division occurring in gametes that reduces the chromosome number from diploid (46) to haploid (23).

Oogenesis

The process of ovum formation that begins during female fetal development.

Capacitation

The physiologic removal of a sperm's protective coating while traveling in the female tract, enabling acrosomal enzymes to escape and penetrate the ovum.

Zonal Reaction

The structural membrane alteration of the ovum upon fertilization that prevents entry of additional sperm.

Morula

A solid ball of 16 cells formed by mitotic cleavage divisions by day 3 after fertilization.

Trophoblast

The outer layer of cells of the blastocyst that develops into the embryonic placenta.

Embryoblast

The inner cell mass of the blastocyst that develops into the embryo.

Chorionic Villi

Vascular finger-like projections originating from the trophoblast that extend into maternal blood spaces to facilitate gas, nutrient, and waste exchange.

Decidua Basalis

The maternal portion of the endometrium located directly beneath the blastocyst where chorionic villi tap into maternal blood vessels.

Chlamydia

The most common reportable bacterial STI in the United States, caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, which can lead to PID, ectopic pregnancy, and tubal factor infertility.

Ophthalmia Neonatorum

Infectious conjunctivitis and corneal inflammation contracted by a newborn during passage through an infected birth canal.

Chancre

The painless, clean, unindurated primary ulcer of syphilis that appears at the inoculation site 5 to 90 days post-exposure.

Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction

An acute febrile reaction with headaches, myalgias, and arthralgias following initial antibiotic treatment for syphilis.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

An ascending infectious and inflammatory condition of the upper female genital tract involving the uterine tubes, uterus, and pelvic structures.

BRAIDED

An acronym summarizing essential elements of informed consent for birth control: Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Inquiries, Decisions, Explanations, and Documentation.

Basal Body Temperature (BBT)

A fertility tracking method measuring lowest resting body temperature upon waking, demonstrating a slight drop around ovulation followed by a rise driven by progesterone.

Lactation Amenorrhea Method (LAM)

A temporary method of contraception reliant on exclusive breastfeeding, where elevated prolactin levels suppress estrogen and inhibit ovulation.

Presumptive Signs of Pregnancy

Subjective symptoms reported by the pregnant woman, such as amenorrhea, fatigue, breast tenderness, quickening, and nausea.

Probable Signs of Pregnancy

Objective physical signs observed by an examiner, including positive pregnancy tests, ballottement, Braxton Hicks contractions, and Goodell, Chadwick, and Hegar signs.

Positive Signs of Pregnancy

Objective diagnostic findings directly attributable to the fetus, such as fetal heart tones, visible fetal movements, and sonographic visualization.

Hegar Sign

Softening and compressibility of the lower uterine segment occurring around 6 weeks of gestation.

Goodell Sign

Softening of the cervical tip identified at approximately 6 weeks of gestation due to vascular congestion and hyperplasia.

Chadwick Sign

A violet-bluish discoloration of the vaginal mucosa and cervix seen in early pregnancy resulting from increased pelvic vascularity.

Lightening

The descent of the fetal presenting part into the pelvic cavity, occurring roughly 2 weeks before labor in nulliparas or at labor onset in multiparas.

Braxton Hicks Contractions

Intermittent, irregular, and painless uterine contractions occurring after the fourth month of pregnancy that promote blood flow without causing cervical dilation.

Ballottement

A technique of floating structure palpation where an examiner taps the cervix through the vagina and feels the fetus rebound.

Quickening

The initial maternal perception of fetal movement, typically occurring around 18 weeks in nulliparous women and 14 to 16 weeks in multiparas.

Leukorrhea

A white or faint gray mucoid vaginal discharge with a mild musty odor produced in response to hormonal cervical stimulation during pregnancy.

Physiologic Anemia of Pregnancy

A state of hemodilution resulting from a disproportionately greater expansion of plasma volume relative to red blood cell mass increase.

Supine Hypotension

A drop in maternal blood pressure caused by compression of the inferior vena cava and abdominal aorta when lying supine after 20 weeks gestation.

Pyrosis

Heartburn caused by relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter due to high levels of progesterone.

Pica

The practice of compulsively consuming nonfood items such as ice, clay, or paper, often linked to iron deficiency anemia.

Epulis

Red, raised nodular lesions on the gums that bleed easily during pregnancy as a result of elevated estrogen levels.

Naegele Rule

A standard formula for calculating the estimated date of delivery (EDD): subtract 3 months, add 7 days, and add 1 year to the first day of the last menstrual period.