Key Terms

abnormal uterine bleeding

a change in menstrual bleeding patterns caused by either endocrine abnormalities or lesions within the uterus

adenomyosis

the benign invasion of endometrial tissue into the myometrium of the uterus

anovulatory

absence of ovulation

anterior pituitary gland

the anterior segment of the pituitary gland, which is responsible for releasing follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone during the menstrual cycle

atresia (ovarian follicle)

degeneration of a follicle

blastocyst

the stage at which the conceptus implants within the decidualized endometrium

corpus albicans

the remaining structure of the corpus luteum after its deterioration

corpus luteum

the temporary endocrine gland that results from the rupture of the Graafian follicle after ovulation

corpus leteum of pregnancy

the corpus luteum that is maintained during early pregnancy for the purpose of producing estrogen and primarily progesterone

cumulus oophorus

the structure that contains the developing oocyte

dysfunctional uterine bleeding

a change in menstrual bleeding patterns related to hormonal imbalances, resulting in endometrial changes and subsequent abnormal bleeding

endometrial atrophy

the degeneration of the endometrium with advancing age; most often seen in postmenopausal women

endometrial carcinoma

cancer of the endometrium

endometrial hyperplasia

an increase in the number of endometrial cells

endometrial polyps

small nodules of hyperplastic endometrial tissue

estrogen

the hormone released by the ovary during the proliferative phase that initiates the proliferation and thickening of the endometrium

fimbria

the fingerlike extension of the fallopian tube located on the infundibulum

follicle

small, round groups of cells

follicle-stimulating hormone

the hormone of the anterior pituitary gland that causes the development of multiple follicles on the ovaries

follicular phase

the first phase of the ovarian cycle

gonadotrophin-releasing hormone

the hormone released by the hypothalamus that stimulates the pituitary gland to release the hormones that regulate the female menstrual cycle

graafian follicle

the name for the dominant follicle prior to ovulation

human chorionic gonadotropin

the hormone produced by the trophoblastic cells of the early placenta; may also be used as a tumor marker in nongravid patients and males

hypothalamus

the area within the brain that is located just beneath the thalamus and controls the release of hormones by the anterior pituitary gland

hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis

the complex interactions that take place between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and ovaries as part of the female reproductive cycle

imperforate hymen

a vaginal anomaly in which the hymen has no opening, resulting in an obstruction of the vagina

luteal phase

the second phase of the ovarian cycle

luteinizing hormone

the hormone of the anterior pituitary gland that surges around day 14 of the menstrual cycle, resulting in ovulation

menarche

the first menstrual cycle

menses

menstrual bleeding

mittelschmerz

pain at the time of ovulation

ovulation

the release of the mature egg from the ovary

periovulatory phase

another name for the late proliferative phase of the endometrial cycle, which occurs around the time of ovulation

primary amenorrhea

failure to experiencing menarche before age 16

progesterone

a hormone that prepares the uterus for pregnancy, maintains pregnancy, and promotes development of the mammary glands; primarily produced by the ovary and placenta

proliferation

the multiplication of similar forms

proliferative phase

the first phase of the endometrial cycle

secondary amenorrhea

the cessation of menstruation characteristically diagnosed in the postmenarchal woman who has had 3 to 6 months without a menstrual cycle

secretory phase

the second phase of the endometrial cycle

spiral arteries

coiled arteries that supply blood to the functional layer of the endometrium

syncytiotrophoblastic cells

the trophoblastic cells surrounding the blastocyst that are responsible for producing human chorionic gonadotropin

theca internal cells

cells of the follicle that produce estrogen

three-line sign

the periovulatory endometrial sonographic appearance in which the outer echogenic basal layer surrounds the more hypoechoic functional layer, with the functional layer separated by the echogenic endometrial stripe