NCM 107a Chapter 2: Procreative and Sexual Health

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the NCM 107a Chapter 2 module covering unitive and procreative health, human sexuality, responsible parenthood, menstrual cycle physiology, conception, fetal circulation, and fetal development milestones.

Marital Act

The natural sexual act occurring between a man and a woman married to each other, carrying a marital meaning that achieves the twofold end of marriage.

Twofold End of Marriage

The dual purpose achieved by the union of spouses in marriage: the good of the spouses themselves and the transmission of life.

Unitive Purpose

The aspect of marriage and the conjugal act wherein a man and a woman totally give themselves to each other in a mutual gift of self.

Procreative Purpose

The aspect of marriage and the conjugal act that remains open to the creation and transmission of new human life.

Human Sexuality

The characteristics that make a man a man, or a woman a woman, including total personality and the capability for sexual feelings and behavior.

Sexual Response Cycle

A four-stage cycle of human sexual physiology described by Masters and Johnson in 1966, consisting of excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution.

Excitement Phase

The first phase of the sexual response cycle, characterized in females by clitoral size increase, vaginal wall lubrication, vaginal widening, and nipple erection; and in males by penile erection, scrotal thickening, and testicular elevation.

Plateau Phase

The second phase of the sexual response cycle, involving orgasmic platform formation and clitoral retraction in females, and penile distention via vasocongestion with heart rate of 100 to 175 beats per minute and respiratory rate of approximately 40 respirations per minute in males.

Orgasm Phase

The third phase of the sexual response cycle, involving 8 to 15 vaginal contractions at 0.8-second intervals in females, and semen projection followed by 3 to 7 propulsive ejaculatory contractions in males.

Resolution Phase

The final phase of the sexual response cycle, during which males undergo a refractory period preventing further orgasm, whereas females do not experience a refractory period.

Refractory Period

A stage during the resolution phase of the male sexual response cycle during which further orgasm is impossible.

Responsible Parenthood

The will and ability of parents to respond to the needs and aspirations of the family and children, as well as a shared responsibility of husband and wife to determine and achieve the desired number, spacing, and timing of their children.

Menstruation

An episodic uterine bleeding in response to cyclic hormonal changes, characterized by the shedding of the functional lining of the uterus including blood, endometrial tissue, white blood cells, and mucus.

Menstrual Cycle

The rhythmic preparation of the uterus to receive a fertilized egg and the discharge of the uterine lining usually at monthly intervals when no fertilized egg enters the uterus.

Menarche

The first occurrence of menstruation in a female, signifying the start of reproductive years.

Menstrual Phase

The first phase of the menstrual cycle (approximately 4 days) marked by the shedding of the functional two-thirds of the endometrium initiated by vasoconstriction of spiral arterioles.

Proliferative Phase

The second phase of the menstrual cycle (approximately 10 days) where estrogen secreted by the developing Graafian follicle causes uterine cells to proliferate and endometrial thickness to increase almost eightfold.

Progestational Phase

The third phase of the menstrual cycle (approximately 11 days) during which luteinizing hormone triggers ovulation and the corpus luteum produces progesterone to prepare the uterine bed.

Regressive Phase

The premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle (approximately 3 days) where the corpus luteum degenerates into the corpus albicans if fertilization does not occur, leading to capillary rupture and lining breakdown.

Graafian Follicle

A mature ovarian follicle that produces estrogen and ruptures during ovulation to release a mature ovum.

Corpus Luteum

A yellowish structure formed from the ruptured Graafian follicle after ovulation that secretes increasing amounts of progesterone.

Corpus Albicans

A white fibrous scar tissue formed by the degeneration of the corpus luteum when fertilization of the mature ovum does not occur.

Ferning Test

A diagnostic assessment where fertile cervical mucus dries on a slide in a palm-leaf or fern pattern due to high estrogen levels near ovulation.

Spinnbarkeit

The physical property of cervical mucus to stretch a distance before breaking, indicating high fertility near ovulation.

Mittelschmerz

Abdominal pain felt in the right lower quadrant or left lower quadrant as a mature ovum is released from an ovary during ovulation.

Premenstrual Syndrome

A complex of emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms occurring prior to menstruation, associated with hormonal imbalances, excess aldosterone, and caffeine or tobacco use.

Dysmenorrhea

Painful menstruation which may be due to physical or emotional factors.

Amenorrhea

The absence or temporary cessation of menstrual flow.

Menorrhagia

Excessive bleeding during menstruation; also known as hypermenorrhea.

Metrorrhagia

Uterine bleeding occurring between normal menstrual cycles.

Polymenorrhea

Frequent menstruation occurring at intervals of less than 3 weeks.

Oligomenorrhea

Markedly diminished menstrual flow occurring more than 35 days apart with decreased bleeding amount.

Hypomenorrhea

Abnormally light menstrual flow or vaginal spotting.

Fertilization

The union or fusion of a sperm cell and a mature ovum in the outer third of the fallopian tube; also termed conception, fecundation, or impregnation.

Blastomere

An individual cell produced by rapid mitotic cleavage divisions of a fertilized ovum.

Morula

A solid ball of 16 blastomeres formed during early cleavage before entering the uterine cavity.

Blastocyst

A stage of early embryonic development formed when a cavity develops inside the morula.

Trophoblast

The outer cellular layer of the blastocyst that forms fingerlike projections and implants into the uterine endothelium.

Implantation

The contact, attachment, and invasion of the trophoblast into the uterine endothelium, occurring 6 to 8 days after fertilization; also called nidation.

Uterine Decidua

The specialized, modified endometrium of the uterus during pregnancy after implantation has taken place.

Decidua Basalis

The area of the uterine decidua directly beneath the implanted blastocyst that joins with the chorion to form the placenta.

Decidua Capsularis

The portion of the uterine decidua that encapsulatingly covers the developing blastocyst.

Decidua Vera

The portion of the uterine decidua lining the remaining inner surface of the uterine cavity; also called decidua parietalis.

Cytotrophoblast

The inner layer of trophoblast (Langhans layer) present as early as 12 days gestation that disappears between the 20th and 24th weeks of pregnancy.

Syncytiotrophoblast

The outer layer of trophoblast containing chorionic villi that gives rise to the fetal membranes (chorion and amnion).

Chorion

The outer fetal membrane derived from the syncytiotrophoblast that combines with the decidua basalis to form the placenta.

Amnion

The inner fetal membrane that forms the amniotic sac, encloses amniotic fluid, and gives rise to the umbilical cord.

Umbilical Cord

The lifeline linking the embryo/fetus to the placenta, containing two umbilical arteries returning deoxygenated blood and one umbilical vein carrying oxygenated blood.

Amniotic Fluid

A pale, clear, straw-colored albuminous fluid with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH (7.0 to 7.25) surrounding the fetus that provides physical protection and serves diagnostic purposes.

Placenta

A temporary organ developing from the chorion and decidua basalis composed of 15 to 20 cotyledons that performs respiratory, gastrointestinal, circulatory, renal, and endocrine functions for the fetus.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

A hormone produced by the placenta that signals the corpus luteum to continue producing estrogen and progesterone, preventing menstruation; abbreviated hCG.

Human Placental Lactogen

A placental hormone (human chorionic somatomammotropin) that promotes mammary gland growth necessary for lactation; abbreviated hPL.

Ductus Venosus

A specialized fetal vascular shunt that directs oxygenated blood from the umbilical vein straight into the inferior vena cava, bypassing the liver.

Foramen Ovale

An open interatrial shunt in the fetal heart that allows oxygenated blood to stream directly from the right atrium into the left atrium, bypassing the lungs.

Ductus Arteriosus

A fetal vascular shunt connecting the pulmonary artery directly to the descending aorta, routing blood away from high-resistance pulmonary vessels.

Fetal Circulation

The cardiovascular system of the fetus utilizing three primary shunts (ductus venosus, foramen ovale, ductus arteriosus) and umbilical vessels to rely on the placenta rather than fetal lungs and liver for gas and nutrient exchange.

Embryo

The developing human organism from fertilization through the first 8 weeks of development, during which major organ systems are formed (organogenesis).

Fetus

The developing human organism from the beginning of the 9th week (end of 8th week) after fertilization until birth.

Quickening

The first maternal perception of fetal movement, occurring around the 5th lunar month of pregnancy.

Lanugo

Fine downy fetal hair that appears around the 4th lunar month, covers the body by the 5th lunar month, and begins to disappear by the 8th lunar month.

Vernix Caseosa

A white cheesy skin coating that appears on the fetus during the 5th lunar month and disappears by the 9th lunar month.

Critical Period of Fetal Growth

Specific time intervals in embryonic and fetal development during which developing organ systems are most susceptible to major structural abnormalities caused by environmental hazards or maternal illness.