Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Reproductive Systems

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering pregnancy stages, fetal development, health complications, childbirth, and the male and female reproductive systems.

Fertilization or Conception

The process occurring in the fallopian tube where a sperm cell joins with an egg.

Zygote

The united egg and sperm which begins to divide within seconds of the sperm entering the egg.

Blastocyst

A hollow, spherical structure made up of $50$ to $100$ cells formed when an embryo divides and grows.

Implantation

The process in which the blastocyst attaches itself to the wall of the uterus.

Embryo

The stage of the developing human from the two-cell stage until about $9$ weeks after fertilization.

Fetus

A developing human from the third month until birth.

Amniotic Sac

A fluid-filled bag of thin tissue that cushions and protects the developing embryo.

Placenta

The structure that holds the embryo to the wall of the uterus, allowing oxygen and nutrients to move from the mother's blood into the embryo.

Umbilical Cord

The ropelike structure that connects the embryo to the placenta, serving as the embryo's life line for nutrients and waste removal.

Prenatal Care

Medical care during pregnancy.

Ultrasound

High-frequency sound waves used to create an image of the fetus to determine age, sex, and health.

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

A prenatal test in which a piece of the developing placenta is removed to detect inherited disorders.

Amniocentesis

A prenatal test in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is removed and tested for abnormalities.

Ectopic pregnancy

A complication where the blastocyst implants in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus.

Miscarriage

The death of an embryo or fetus in the first $20$ weeks of pregnancy.

Preeclampsia

A serious condition characterized by high blood pressure, swelling of the wrists and ankles, and high levels of protein in the urine.

Gestational Diabetes

Diabetes that develops in pregnant women marked by high blood sugar levels.

Jaundice

The yellow color of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by excess bilirubin in the blood.

Labor

Work performed by the mother's body to push the fetus out, characterized by uterine contractions that dilate the cervix to $10\text{ cm}$.

Crowning

The appearance of the baby's head first during the delivery stage.

Delivery of the Afterbirth

The third stage of childbirth where contractions push out the remainder of the umbilical cord and the placenta.

Postpartum Period

A period of adjustment for the parents and newborn occurring in the first $6$ weeks after birth.

Stillbirth

Occurs when a fetus dies and is expelled from the body after the twentieth week of pregnancy.

Cesarean Section

A surgical method of birth involving an incision in the lower abdomen into the uterus.

Premature birth

The delivery of a live baby before the $37\text{th}$ week of pregnancy.

Low birthweight

A newborn that weighs less than $5.5\text{ pounds}$ at birth.

Identical Twins

Twins that develop from a single fertilized egg that divides into two embryos, sharing the same sex and inherited traits.

Fraternal Twins

Twins resulting from two eggs released and fertilized by two sperm; they may or may not be the same sex.

Endocrine System

The system that regulates long-term changes in the body, such as growth and development.

Hormones

Chemical substances produced by endocrine glands that signal changes in other parts of the body.

Puberty

The period of sexual development during which a person becomes sexually mature and physically able to reproduce.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Physical changes caused by sex hormones that develop during puberty but are not directly involved in reproduction.

Ovaries

The female reproductive glands that produce eggs and hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.

Ovulation

The process of releasing a mature egg cell from the ovary.

Fallopian Tubes

Two passageways that carry eggs away from the ovaries toward the uterus; the site where fertilization occurs.

Uterus

A hollow, muscular, pear-shaped organ where a fertilized egg develops and grows.

Cervix

The narrow base of the uterus that dilates during childbirth.

Vagina

A hollow muscular passage leading from the uterus to the outside of the body, also known as the birth canal.

Menstrual Cycle

A process lasting an average of $28$ days during which an ovary releases a mature egg and the uterine lining is shed if the egg is not fertilized.

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)

A serious medical condition caused by a bacterial infection associated with tampon use, involving symptoms like sudden high fever and rash.

Pap Smear

A medical procedure where a sample of cells is taken from the cervix to check for cervical cancer.

Testes

The male reproductive glands that produce sperm and testosterone.

Scrotum

A sac of skin containing the testicles that regulates their temperature to allow sperm to develop properly.

Epididymis

The location where sperm mature and are stored.

Vas Deferens

Tubes lined with cilia that help move sperm from the epididymis to the seminal vesicles.

Semen

The mixture of sperm cells and fluids from the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral glands.

Testicular Torsion

A medical emergency involving the twisting of the spermatic cord that cuts off the blood supply to the testis.