Reproductive Health & the Family

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering maternity nursing, reproductive anatomy, hormonal cycles, cellular division, and fetal development milestones based on lecture notes.

Maternity Nursing

A field of nursing that focuses on the well-being of the mother and fetus/infant; supports the emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being of both clients; and provides personalized health care and support to the family.

Mons pubis

An external female genital structure consisting of a fatty pad over the symphysis pubis.

Clitoris

An external female genital organ containing the prepuce and head, located at the superior junction of the labia minora.

Skene’s glands

Paraurethral glands located near the urethral meatus.

Bartholin's glands

Glands located near the orifice of the vagina (introitus).

Perineal body

A wedge-shaped mass of fibromuscular tissue located between the vagina and the anus.

Vagina

An internal female reproductive organ serving as the birth canal and the site for the anterior and posterior fornix.

Fundus

The upper, rounded portion of the uterus, located above the level of the fallopian tubes.

Cervix

The lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina, containing the internal os and external os.

Endometrium

The innermost mucosal layer of the uterine wall that is shed during menstruation.

Myometrium

The middle, muscular layer of the uterine wall.

Perimetrium

The outer serous layer of the uterine wall.

Ampulla

The segment of the fallopian tube where fertilization typically takes place and where the ovum remains for $12-24$ hours.

Fimbriae

Finger-like projections at the end of the fallopian tube that collect the ovum after its release from the ovary.

Broad ligament

A ligament that supports the uterus and carries the ovarian vessels.

Round ligament

A ligament that extends from the fundus of the uterus through the inguinal canal to the labia majora.

True pelvis

The lower part of the bony pelvis that consists of the pelvic inlet, pelvic cavity, and pelvic outlet.

Obstetric conjugate

A measurement of the bony pelvis approximately $10\,cm$ in size.

Alveoli

Glandular tissue in the breasts responsible for milk production.

Cooper’s ligaments

Suspensory ligaments that provide support to the breast tissue.

Follicular phase

The phase of the ovarian cycle (day $1-14$) where an immature follicle matures due to FSH, the oocyte grows, and the ovum is discharged.

Luteal phase

The phase of the ovarian cycle (day $15-28$) where the ovum leaves the follicle; if no fertilization occurs, the corpus luteum degenerates.

Proliferative phase

The menstrual cycle phase where endometrial cells thicken due to increased estrogen, peaking before ovulation, and cervical mucus becomes elastic and clear.

Secretory phase

The menstrual cycle phase where progesterone causes epithelial swelling and increased uterine vascularity to provide a bed for implantation.

Ischemic phase

The phase that begins if implantation does not occur, characterized by decreasing estrogen and progesterone levels and the degeneration of the corpus luteum.

human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)

A hormone secreted by the fertilized ovum once it implants into the endometrium.

Mitosis

A process of cellular division for growth and tissue repair that results in exact copies of the original cell.

Meiosis

A process of cellular division leading to the development of gametes, where cells contain only half the genetic material.

Oogenesis

The process of producing the female gamete (ovum); all ova are present at birth.

Spermatogenesis

The process of producing the male gamete (sperm), which begins at puberty.

Zygote

A diploid cell created when the chromosomes of a sperm and ovum pair up during fertilization.

Amnion

The inner embryonic membrane that forms the amniotic cavity.

Chorion

The outer embryonic membrane that contains the chorionic villi.

Amniotic Fluid

A substance made of albumin, vernix, fetal urine, and other components that cushions the fetus, controls temperature, and promotes growth.

Wharton’s jelly

A special connective tissue that surrounds the two arteries and one vein within the umbilical cord.

Ductus venosus

A fetal circulatory structure that allows blood to bypass the fetal liver.

Foramen ovale

A fetal circulatory structure that allows blood to bypass the fetal lungs by shunting it from the right atrium to the left atrium.

Ductus arteriosus

A fetal circulatory structure that allows blood to bypass the fetal lungs by connecting the pulmonary artery to the abdominal aorta.

Viable Stage (Week 24)

The stage of fetal development where the eyes are complete, alveoli begin to form, and the fetus is considered capable of living.

Vernix caseosa

A protective, cheese-like substance that covers the fetal skin, beginning to form around week $20$.

Lanugo

Fine, downy hair that covers the entire fetal body by week $20$ and begins to disappear by week $36$.

Full term

The gestational period starting at $37\,0/7$ weeks gestation, characterized by smooth skin and a head measurement larger than the chest.