Pregnancy and Menopause Terminology

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to pregnancy and menopause, based on lecture notes.

Fertilization

The fusion of male and female nuclei to form a zygote.

Zygote

The cell formed from the union of a sperm and an egg. It divides via cell division.

Implantation

The burrowing of the blastocyst into the uterine wall, approximately 7 days post-fertilization.

Placenta

Organ that separates maternal blood from fetal blood by the chorion, facilitates exchange between fetus and mother, and functions as an endocrine gland.

Zygote

Formed once male and female nucleus combine.

Blastocyst

Development stage from 0-2 weeks.

Embryo

Development stage from 2-8 weeks.

Fetus

Development stage from week 9 to birth.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)

Hormone secreted by the blastocyst and placenta that stimulates growth of the corpus luteum.

Relaxin

Hormone secreted by the corpus luteum and placenta that relaxes ligaments.

Oestrogen (during pregnancy)

Hormone secreted by the placenta that increases water retention and protein synthesis.

Progesterone (during pregnancy)

Hormone secreted by the placenta which causes smooth muscle relaxation and raises body temperature.

Blood Volume (during pregnancy)

Increases by 45-50% to accommodate increased blood flow to the uterus and other organs.

Heart Rate (during pregnancy)

Increases by 15-25% (~15 bpm) at rest.

Stroke Volume (during pregnancy)

Increases by 30% due to increases in plasma volume and venous return.

Cardiac Output (during pregnancy)

Increases by 40-50% (~1.5 L).

Supine Hypotension Syndrome

Condition where blood pressure falls when lying supine due to the uterus compressing the inferior vena cava.

Tidal Volume (during pregnancy)

Increases by 30-50%.

Minute Volume (during pregnancy)

Increases by 20-50%.

Prolactin

Increased plasma concentrations during pregnancy from the Anterior Pituitary.

Relaxin

Ligament Laxity - increased during pregnancy.

Menopause

Cessation of the menstrual cycle, typically occurring between 40-60 years of age.

Post-menopausal Osteoporosis

Reduction in bone mineral density due to hormonal factors, specifically reduced oestrogen levels, leading to increased bone loss and fracture risk.