Medical Terminology Chapter 12 Female Reproductive System

Female reproductive system:

produces the female sex cells and hormones and provides for conception and pregnancy.

Ovaries

oophor/o ovari/o

pair of almond-shaped organs located in the pelvic cavity. Sex cells are formed in the ovaries.

Fallopian tubes

(Uterine tube): CF: salping/o

pair of 5 inch tubes, attached to the uterus, that provide the passageway for the ovum to move from the ovary to the uterus. The fingerlike projections create wavelike currents (peristalsis) in fluid surrounding the ovary to pull the ovum into the uterine tube. If the ovum unites with a sperm cell, conception takes place here. If not, the ovum disintegrates within 48 hours.

Uterus:

hyster/o metri/o metr/o uter/o pear-shaped and pear-sized muscular organ that lies in the pelvic cavity except during pregnancy.

Layers

Endometrium

Myometrium

Perimetrium

Vagina:

a 3-inch tube that connects the uterus to the outside of the body.

Mammary glands (breasts)

mamm/o: mast/o:

Present in both sexes but function only in females. The biological role of the breast is to secrete milk for the nourishment of the newborn.

Estrogen:

develops female sex characteristics. Responsible for cyclic changes in the vaginal epithelium and endometrium of the uterus.

Progesterone:

hormone responsible for changes in the endometrium in the second half of the menstrual cycle preparatory to implantation of the blastocyte, development of the maternal placenta after implantation and development of the mammary glands.

Menstruation

loss of the functional layer of the endometrium (lining of the uterus). Lasts 2-8 days (3-6 days average). There is an increase in FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and several ovarian follicles develop.

FSH

hormone produced by the anterior pituitary (endocrine gland that secretes hormones). This hormone stimulates ovarian follicle growth and estrogen secretion.

Follicular phase:

the FSH stimulates the ovarian follicles to develop and stimulates secretion of estrogen by the ovaries.

LH (Luiteinizing hormone) and FSH:

bring about final maturation of the follicle and trigger its rupture a day or two later. This phase ends with ovulation when an increase in LH ruptures a mature ovarian follicle.

Luteal phase

after ovulation, the empty graafian follicle is stimulated by LH to become a new structure (the corpus luteum) and secretions of estrogen and progesterone increase. If ovum is not fertilized then another menstrual cycle is initiated by an increase in secretions of estrogen and progesterone.

Pregnancy

the condition of carrying an embryo in the uterus.

Gestation:

length of time from conception to birth

Gravida:

the total number of a woman's pregnancies. The number indicates the number of pregnancies. (1 pregnancy = gravida 1)

Parturition:

childbirth. The number indicates the number of deliveries.

(1 delivery = para 1)

(2 pregnancies and 1 delivery = gravida 2 and para 1)

Labor

physiological process by which the fetus is expelled from the uterus.

Stages of Labor

Stage 1: stage of dilation: begins with uterine contractions and terminates when there is complete dilation of the cervix (10 cm).

Stage 2: stage of expulsion: the time from complete cervical dilation to birth of the baby.

Stage 3: placental stage (afterbirth).

Menopause:

the cessation of ovarian activity and diminished hormone production that occurs about age 50.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT):

used to treat vaginal atrophy and osteoporosis in women with a uterus. Estrogen and progesterone.

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT):

used to treat vaginal atrophy and osteoporosis in women who no longer have a uterus. Estrogen only.

Amenorrhea

absence of menstrual periods.

Oligomenorrhea:

scanty menstrual periods

Dysmenorrhea

painful menstrual periods.

Metrorrhagia:

irregular bleeding between menstrual periods.

Menorrhagia or hypermenorrhea

profuse or prolonged bleeding during regular menstrual periods.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS):

occurs prior to menstruation and ends a short time after. Cause is unknown. Signs and symptoms are irritability, emotional tension, anxiety, mood changes (depression), headaches, breast tenderness and water retention.

Endometriosis:

presence of functional endometrial tissue outside the uterus.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID

an acute, subacute, recurrent, or chronic condition of the oviducts and ovaries with adjacent tissue involvement. If untreated can lead to infertility, septicemia, pulmonary emboli and shock.

Ectopic pregnancy

pregnancy in which the fertilized ovum does not reach the uterine cavity but instead becomes implanted on any tissue other than the lining of the uterine cavity.

Vaginitis:

inflammation of vagina due to an infection.

Candidiasis:

vaginal infection caused by candida albicans.

Seen in patients with poorly controlled diabetes, those on

steroid treatment or antibiotics.

Trichomoniasis:

caused by protozoan trichomonas vaginalis:

most common STD. Women: vaginitis, urethritis, cystitis.

Sexually transmitted disease (STD) Venereal disease (VD)

contagious diseases acquired as a result of sexual activity with an infected person.

Gonorrhea:

infected with the bacterium Neisseria gonorrheal. Some women are asymptomatic until the disease spreads to the ovaries and tubes causing PID.

Symptoms: women: greenish-yellowish discharge, men: inflamed urethra, pain in urination, discharge of pus.

Syphilis:

ess common than gonorrhea. More serious than gonorrhea. Infection by bacterium terponema pallidum. A chancre (sore) develops where the bacteria entered the body. Untreated: blindness, insanity, and death.

Chlamydia:

infection of bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Most prevalent and most damaging of all STDs in the US. Men: urethritis with white discharge. Women: cervicitis, discharge and increase in pelvic infections. Increase in ectopic pregnancies.

Genital herpes

most common infectious genital ulceration in the US. Red blister like sores contain highly infectious fluid. May have one episode or several. Increase risk for cervical cancer and miscarriages.

Genital warts:

caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). Of 100 types of HPV, 30 are spread through sexual contact. Many of the warts disappear without treatment but when treatment is required, surgical excision or freezing of the wart is the usual method.

Uterine tumors:

fibroid tumors (leiomyoma or myomas): benign. Develop around ages 25-40 and enlarge due to fluctuating endocrine stimulation. Can have symptoms or no symptoms. Symptoms: menorrhagia (heavy menstruation), pain, backache, constipation, urinary symptoms.

Breast Cancer

the most common malignancy of women in the US. This disease appears to be associated with ovarian hormonal function, diet high in fat, family history of the disease, and the use of HRT.

Cervical Cancer:

affects women 40-49 years old. Risks: STD, sex at an early age, increase in sexual partners, and sex with men who had previous partner with cervical cancer. Pap smear (papanicolaou): can detect cervical cancer. Check cells of the cervix for abnormal changes. Treatment is surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.

Papanicolaou test (PAP):

diagnostic test for early detection of cancer cells by a simple smear method. The sample is taken from the cervix through a vaginal speculum.

Cryosurgery:

procedure used to remove dysphasic cells from a woman's cervix.

Cytology test:

test that studies cells

Tzank smear:

examination of tissue from the lower surface of a lesion in vesicular disease to determine the cell type

Laparoscopy

abdominal exploration using an endoscope. A small incision is made in the abdominal wall to visualize the interior of the abdomen using a laparoscope. Used to examine ovaries or fallopian tubes and as a gynecologic sterilization technique.

amni/o

amnion (amniotic sac)

cervic/o

neck

colp/o

vagina

vagin/o

vagina

galact/o

milk

lact/o

milk

gynec/o

woman/female

hyster/o

uterus

metri/o

uterus

uter/o

uterus

mamm/o

breast

mast/o

breast

men/o

menses, menstruation

metr/o

uterus

nat/o

birth

oophor/o

ovary

ovari/o

ovary

perine/o

perineum

salping/o

tube

-arche

begining

-cyesis

pregnancy

-gravida

pregnant woman

-para

to bear (offspring)

-salpinx

tube

-tocia

childbirth, labor

-version

turning

ante-

before, in front of

dys-

bad painful, difficult

endo-

in, within

multi-

many, much

post-

after

primi

first

Eclampsia

most serious form of toxemia of pregnancy.

Multipara

woman who has borne more than one viable fetus, whether or not the offspring were alive at birth.

Primipara:

woman who has delivered one viable offspring.

Salpingocele:

hernia of the fallopian tube.

Colpodynia

pain in the vagina.

Postnatal

after birth

Dilation and curettage (D&C)

widening of the cervical canal with a filator and the scraping of the uterine endometrium with a curette.

Tubal ligation:

sterilization surgery.

Oxytocin

drug used to stimulate the uterus to contact thus inducing labor.

Introitus:

entrance to a cavity or space.

Speculum

instrument used to expose the interior of a passageway.

choriocarcinoma

(koreo-kar-is-noma) chorion/cancer/tumor : malignant neoplasm of the uterus or at the site of an ectopic pregnancy

endocervicitis:

(endocer-vix-itis) in within/neck/inflammation : inflammation of the mucous lining of the cervix uteri

oligomenorrhea:

(oligo-men-o-rreha) scanty/menses,menstruation/discharge,flow : scanty or infrequent menstrual flow

primigravida:

(prima-gavia) first/to bear(offspring): womans first for the first time

amniocentesis

(amnio-cent-eis) amnion/surgical puncture : transabdominal puncture of the amniotic sac under ultrasound guidance using a needle and syringe to remove amniotic fluid.

colposcopy:

(col-po-scopy) vagnina/ visual examination : visual examinations of the vagina and cervix with an optical magnifying instrument (colposcope)

mammography:

(mamO-graphy) breast/process of recording : Radio graphic examination of the breast to screen for breast cancer

hysterosalpingography:

(hystr-O-saling-o-graphy) uterus(womb)/tube(usually the fallopian or Eustachian [auditory] tube)/process of recording: radiography of the uterus and uterine ( oviducts)following injection of a constant medium.