CH 16 Key Terms

cervix

Neck; usually means the lower narrow portion (neck) of the uterus (root: cervic/o); also called the cervix uteri

clitoris

A small erectile body anterior to the urethral opening that is similar in developmental origin to the penis (roots: clitor/o, clitorid/o)

contraception

The prevention of pregnancy

corpus luteum

The small yellow structure that develops from the ovarian follicle after ovulation and secretes progesterone and estrogen

endometrium

The inner lining of the uterus

estrogen

A group of hormones that produce female characteristics and prepare the uterus for the fertilized egg; the most active of these is estradiol

fallopian tube

See uterine tube

fimbriae

The long finger-like extensions of the uterine tube that wave to capture the released ovum (singular: fimbria)

follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

A hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary that acts on the gonads; in males, FSH stimulates Sertoli cells and promotes sperm development; in females, it stimulates ripening of ova in the ovary

fornix

An arch-like space, such as the space between the uppermost wall of the vagina and the cervix; from Latin meaning "arch"

greater vestibular gland

A small gland that secretes mucus through a duct that opens near the vaginal orifice; also called Bartholin gland

labia majora

The two large folds of skin that form the sides of the vulva (root labi/o means "lip") (singular: labium majus)

labia minora

The two small folds of skin within the labia majora (singular: labium minus)

luteinizing hormone (LH)

A hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary that acts on the gonads; in males, it stimulates the interstitial cells to produce testosterone; in females, it stimulates ovulation and corpus luteum formation

mammary gland

A specialized gland capable of secreting milk in the female (roots: mamm/o, mast/o); the breast

menarche

The first menstrual period, which normally occurs during puberty

menopause

Cessation of menstrual cycles in the female

menstruation

The cyclic discharge of blood and mucosal tissues from the lining of the nonpregnant uterus (roots: men/o, mens); menstrual period, menses

myometrium

The muscular wall of the uterus

ovarian follicle

The cluster of cells in which the ovum ripens in the ovary

ovary

A female gonad (roots: ovari/o, oophor/o)

ovulation

The release of a mature ovum from the ovary (from ovule, meaning "little egg")

ovum

The female gamete or reproductive cell (roots: oo, ov/o) (plural: ova)

perineum

The region between the thighs from the external genitalia to the anus (root: perine/o)

progesterone

A hormone produced by the corpus luteum and the placenta that maintains the endometrium for pregnancy

rectouterine pouch

A blind pouch, such as the recess between the rectum and the uterus; the cul-de-sac or pouch of Douglas

tubal ligation

Surgical constriction of the uterine tubes to produce sterilization

uterine tube

A tube extending from the upper lateral portion of the uterus that carries the ovum to the uterus (root: salping/o); also called fallopian tube

uterus

The organ that receives the fertilized egg and maintains the developing offspring during pregnancy (roots: uter/o, metr, hyster/o)

vagina

The muscular tube between the cervix and the vulva (roots: vagin/o, colp/o)

vulva

The external female genital organs (roots: vulv/o, episi/o)

candidiasis

Infection with the fungus Candida, a common cause of vaginitis

dysmenorrhea

Painful or difficult menstruation; a common disorder that may be caused by infection, use of an intrauterine device, endometriosis, overproduction of prostaglandins, or other factors

endometriosis

Growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, usually in the pelvic cavity

fibroid

Benign tumor of smooth muscle (see leiomyoma)

leiomyoma

Benign tumor of smooth muscle, usually in the uterine wall (myometrium); in the uterus, may cause bleeding and pressure on the bladder or rectum; also called fibroid or myoma

metrorrhagia

Uterine bleeding between normal menstrual periods

pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Condition caused by the spread of infection from the reproductive tract into the pelvic cavity; commonly caused by sexually transmitted gonorrhea and Chlamydia infections

salpingitis

Inflammation of a uterine tube, typically caused by urinary tract infection or sexually transmitted infection; chronic salpingitis may lead to infertility or ectopic pregnancy (development of the fertilized egg outside of the uterus)

vaginitis

Inflammation of the vagina

colposcope

Instrument for examining the vagina and cervix

cone biopsy

Removal of a cone of tissue from the cervical lining for cytologic examination; also called conization

dilation and curettage (D&C)

Procedure in which the cervix is dilated (widened) and the uterine lining is scraped with a curette

hysterectomy

Surgical removal of the uterus; most commonly done because of tumors; often the uterine tubes and ovaries are removed as well

mammography

Radiographic study of the breast for the detection of breast cancer; the image obtained is a mammogram

mastectomy

Excision of breast tissue to eliminate malignancy

oophorectomy

Excision of an ovary

Pap smear

Study of cells collected from the cervix and vagina for early detection of cancer; also called Papanicolaou smear or Pap test

salpingectomy

Surgical removal of the uterine tube

sentinel node biopsy

Biopsy of the first lymph nodes to receive drainage from a tumor; used to determine spread of cancer in planning treatment

stereotactic biopsy

Needle biopsy using a computer-guided imaging system to locate suspicious tissue and remove samples for study

tomosynthesis

Three-dimensional x-ray imaging technique for detection of breast cancer; digital tomosynthesis

amniotic sac

The membranous sac filled with fluid that holds the fetus; also called amnion (root: amnio)

Apgar score

A system of rating an infant's physical condition immediately after birth; five features are rated as 0, 1, or 2 at 1 and 5 minutes after delivery and sometimes thereafter; the maximum possible score at each test interval is 10; infants with low scores require medical attention

chorion

The outermost layer of the embryo that, with the endometrium, forms the placenta (adjective: chorionic)

colostrum

Breast fluid that is secreted in the first few days after giving birth before milk is produced

ductus arteriosus

A fetal blood vessel that connects the pulmonary artery with the descending aorta, thus allowing blood to bypass the lungs

embryo

The stage in development between the zygote and the fetus, extending from the second through the eighth week of growth in the uterus (root: embry/o) (adjective: embryonic)

fertilization

The union of an ovum and a spermatozoon

fetus

The developing child in the uterus from the third month to birth (root: fet/o) (adjective: fetal)

foramen ovale

A small hole in the interatrial septum in the fetal heart that allows blood to pass directly from the right to the left side of the heart

gestation

The period of development from conception to birth

gravida

Pregnant woman

human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)

A hormone secreted by the embryo early in pregnancy that maintains the corpus luteum so that it will continue to secrete hormones

lactation

The secretion of milk from the mammary glands

oxytocin

A pituitary hormone that stimulates contractions of the uterus; it also stimulates release ("letdown") of milk from the breasts

para

Woman who has produced a viable infant; multiple births are considered as single pregnancies

parturition

Childbirth (root: nat/i); labor (root: toc/o)

placenta

The organ composed of fetal and maternal tissues that nourishes and maintains the developing fetus

prostaglandins

A group of hormones produced throughout the body that have a variety of effects, including stimulation of uterine contractions and regulation of blood pressure, blood clotting, and inflammation

umbilical cord

The structure that connects the fetus to the placenta; it contains vessels that carry blood between the mother and the fetus

zygote

The fertilized ovum

abortion

Termination of a pregnancy before the fetus is capable of surviving outside the uterus, usually at 20 weeks or 500 g; may be spontaneous or induced; a spontaneous abortion is commonly called a miscarriage

anencephaly

Congenital absence of a brain

atresia

Congenital absence or closure of a normal body opening

carrier

An individual who has an unexpressed genetic defect that can be passed to his or her children

cleft lip

A congenital separation of the upper lip

cleft palate

A congenital split in the roof of the mouth

congenital disorder

A disorder that is present at birth; may be developmental or hereditary (familial)

eclampsia

Convulsions and coma occurring during pregnancy or after delivery and associated with preeclampsia (adjective: eclamptic)

ectopic pregnancy

Development of the fertilized ovum outside the body of the uterus; usually occurs in the uterine tube (tubal pregnancy) but may occur in other parts of the reproductive tract or abdominal cavity

hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN)

Disease that results from Rh incompatibility between the blood of a mother and her fetus; an Rh-negative mother produces antibody to Rh-positive fetal red cells that enter her circulation; these antibodies can destroy Rh-positive fetal red cells in a later pregnancy unless the mother is treated with antibodies to remove the Rh antigen; formerly called erythroblastosis fetalis

mastitis

Inflammation of the breast, usually associated with the early weeks of breast-feeding

mutation

A change in the genetic material of the cell; most mutations are harmful; if the change appears in the sex cells, it can be passed to future generations

placental abruption

Premature separation of the placenta; abruptio placentae

placenta previa

Placental attachment in the lower portion of the uterus instead of the upper portion, as is normal; may result in hemorrhage late in pregnancy

preeclampsia

A serious disorder involving new-onset hypertension and proteinuria that develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy. If untreated, may lead to eclampsia

pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH)

New-onset hypertension without proteinuria that develops during pregnancy

spina bifida

A congenital defect in the closure of the spinal column through which the spinal cord and its membranes may project

teratogen

A factor that causes developmental abnormalities in the fetus (root terat/o means "malformed fetus") (adjective: teratogenic)

amniocentesis

Transabdominal puncture of the amniotic sac to remove amniotic fluid for testing; tests on the cells and fluid obtained can reveal congenital abnormalities, blood incompatibility, and sex of the fetus

chorionic villus sampling (CVS)

Removal of chorionic cells through the cervix for prenatal testing; can be done earlier in pregnancy than amniocentesis

dilatation and evacuation (D&E)

Widening of the cervix and removal of conception products by suction

karyotype

A picture of cellular chromosomes arranged in the order of decreasing size; can reveal abnormalities in the chromosomes themselves or in their number or arrangement (root kary/o means "nucleus")

ultrasonography

The use of high-frequency sound waves to produce a photograph of an organ or tissue; used in obstetrics to diagnose pregnancy, multiple births, and abnormalities and also to study and measure the fetus; the image obtained is a sonogram or ultrasonogram