Maternal and Child Nursing - Compiled Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, definitions, anatomy, and physiological processes in Maternal and Child Nursing lecture notes.

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Acts as consultant in their area of expertise.

Case Managers

Supervises group of patients from admission up to discharge and monitors into their home.

Nurse Practitioners

Nurses able to translate scientific knowledge into complex clinical interventions and who have potential to create leaders for organization and system management.

Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

A nurse with advanced study in health promotion and health and prevention of illness in women.

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)

A nurse with extensive skills in physical assessment, interviewing, and well-child counseling and care.

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)

Skilled in the care of newborns both well and ill.

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

A nurse who provides care not only to women but to family as a whole.

Certified Nurse-Midwife

Educated and licensed in two disciplines of nursing and midwifery; provides complete care during an uncomplicated pregnancy, labor, and birth.

Human Sexuality

Multidimensional concept that integrates somatic (bodily), emotional, intellectual, and social aspects of being a human sexual being.

Reproductive Sexuality

Component of human sexuality involving the biological aspect of conception and procreation, the reproductive system, and the menstrual cycle.

Gender Sexuality

Component of human sexuality involving the social and emotional aspects of being a man or a woman.

Erotic Sexuality

Component of human sexuality involving sexual love, arousing sexual desire, and erotic, romantic, and affectional attraction to the same sex, opposite sex, or both.

Sexual Orientation

Erotic, romantic, and affectional attraction to the same sex, to the opposite sex, or to both.

Sexual Identity

Inner sense of oneself as a sexual being, including one's identification in terms of gender and sexual orientation.

Sex

An anatomically-oriented term reflecting an organism's biological function in reproduction, or the act of intercourse itself.

Scrotum

"Pouchlike" structure made up of loose skin, fascia, connective tissue, and smooth-muscle fibers that hangs from the base of the penis; functions in temperature regulation and support of the testes.

Dartos Muscle

Scrotal muscle that creates wrinkles in the scrotum skin to reduce heat loss when external temperatures are cold, and relaxes in hot temperature to allow testes to fall away from the body.

Cremaster Muscle

Scrotal muscle that contracts to lift the scrotum closer to the body when external temperatures are too cold.

Penis

Vascular shaft and cylindrical organ composed of erectile tissue (2 corpus cavernosa and 1 corpus spongiosum) that deposits spermatozoa and provides sexual pleasure.

Glans Penis

The enlarged end of the body/tip of the penis covered by a prepuce (foreskin).

Testes (Testicles)

Two oval-shaped glandular organs found inside the scrotum that produce sperm and male hormone testosterone.

Tunica Albuginea

Dense white connective tissue capsule that surrounds the testis.

Lobules

Extensions of the tunica albuginea capsule that form into compartments within the testis.

Seminiferous Tubules

Structures filled with 2 or 4 tightly coiled tubules where sperm are formed.

Rete Testis

A set of tubules where sperm are emptied by the seminiferous tubules.

Sertoli Cells

Cells in the testes (also known as "mother" or "nurse" cells) that nourish developing sperm cells through spermatogenesis and secrete androgen-binding protein (ABP) and inhibin.

Interstitial Cells (Leydig Cells)

Cells surrounding the seminiferous tubules that produce male hormone androgens, specifically testosterone.

Epididymis

Tightly coiled tube (comprising head, body, and tail) where sperm are stored until completely mature and held until ejaculation.

Ductus Deferens (Vas Deferens)

Thick-walled tube protected by the spermatic cord that travels through the inguinal canal and functions to propel live sperm from storage sites in the epididymis into the urethra.

Urethra (Male)

Excretory duct for urine and semen extending from the bladder through the penis to the external urethral opening, divided into prostatic, membranous, and spongy (penile) regions.

Seminal Vesicles

Two pouchlike structures located at the base of the urinary bladder that produce a viscous, thick yellowish/milky fluid rich in fructose, vitamin C, prostaglandins, and alkaline fluid, producing 60% of semen fluid volume.

Prostate Gland

Single gland about the size and shape of a walnut/chestnut located below the bladder that secretes a slightly milky fluid into the urethra to increase sperm mobility and viability.

Bulbourethral Glands (Cowper's Gland)

Tiny, pea-sized glands inferior to the prostate gland that produce a thick/viscous clear mucus and secrete an alkaline fluid into the penile urethra.

Semen

Milky white, sticky mixture of sperms and seminal fluid with a normal sperm count of 50 million to 200 million/mL, ejaculate volume of 2 to 5 mL, and a slightly alkaline pH of 7.2 - 7.6.

Testosterone

The most important hormonal product of the testes that stimulates final stages of sperm development, stimulates secondary sex characteristics, and acts on target tissues.

Spermatogonium

Primitive stem cell with 46 chromosomes that begins the process of spermatogenesis, producing type A daughter cells and type B daughter cells.

Primary Spermatocytes

Cells derived from type B spermatogonia that begin meiosis and divide into two secondary spermatocytes with 23 chromosomes each.

Spermatids

Non-functional products of meiosis (total of 4 produced) containing 23 chromosomes each.

Spermiogenesis

The last stage of sperm development where spermatids mature into spermatozoa by sloughing off excess cytoplasm and forming a head, midpiece, and tail.

Primary Sex Organs

Gonads (testes in males and ovaries in females) that manufacture gametes (sperm and ovum) and secrete sex hormones.

Vulva

Female external genitalia referring to all structures visible externally from the pubis to the perineum.

Mons Pubis (Mons Veneris)

A fatty, rounded region containing adipose tissue overlying the symphysis pubis.

Labia Majora

Liplike structures or two fleshy longitudinal folds that protect underlying structures.

Labia Minora

Small hair-free soft folds that protect the vestibule, urinary meatus, and vaginal opening.

Clitoris

Small erectile tissue serving as the center of sexual arousal and orgasm for females, covered by a prepuce formed from joined labia minora extensions.

Vestibule

Region enclosing the vaginal orifice, urethral opening, and ducts from the greater vestibular glands.

Skene's Glands (Paraurethral Glands)

Glands located on each side of the urinary meatus with ducts opening into the urethra that secrete fluid to lubricate the urethral opening.

Bartholin's Glands (Vestibular Glands)

Two pea-sized glands located slightly posterior and to the left and right of the vaginal opening that secrete fluid for vaginal lubrication during coitus.

Perineum

Diamond-shaped region between the posterior end of the labial folds and the anus.

Fourchette

Tissue formed by the posterior joining of the labia minora and labia majora.

Vagina

Thin-walled tube 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 inches) long serving as the birth canal, passageway for sperm, and exit for menstrual flow, with an acidic pH of 4-5 due to Doderlein's Bacilli.

Uterus

Hollow pear-shaped muscular organ where fetal development occurs; weighs 60 g non-pregnant and 1000 g at term.

Endometrium

Inner layer of the uterus and site of implantation; consists of a functional layer (shed during menstruation) and a basal layer (rebuilds the functional layer).

Myometrium

Middle muscle layer of the uterus.

Perimetrium

Outermost layer of the uterus.

Fundus (Uterus)

Portion of the uterus between points of attachment of the fallopian tubes that can be palpated abdominally and is a common site of implantation.

Cervix

Lowest portion of the uterus leading to the vagina, containing the cervical canal.

Fallopian Tubes

Two fine tubes leading from ovaries into the uterus that transport the ovum from ovary to uterus and serve as the site of fertilization.

Ampulla

Dilated section of the fallopian tube that serves as the specific site of fertilization.

Ovaries

Primary female reproductive organs consisting of two almond-sized glands (6-10 g each) that produce mature ova (oogenesis) and secrete female hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Menarche

Onset of the first menstruation, occurring typically at age 12 (range 9 to 17).

Thelarche

Development of breast buds during puberty.

Adrenarche

Development of pubic and axillary hair due to androgen stimulation.

Menstruation

Periodic discharge of blood, mucus, and epithelial cells from the uterus.

Estrogen

Hormone produced by the graafian follicle responsible for maturation of ovarian follicles, fertile cervical mucus, increased vascularity, and development of female secondary sex characteristics.

Progesterone

Hormone produced by the corpus luteum that maintains the decidua during pregnancy, increases basal body temperature, and produces infertile cervical mucus.

Follicular Phase

Preovulatory phase (Days 1-13) of the ovarian cycle where FSH stimulates growth of follicles into a mature Graafian follicle.

Ovulation

Monthly release of a mature ovum from the ruptured Graafian follicle, triggered by a sudden surge of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) around Day 14.

Luteal Phase

Postovulatory phase (Days 15-28) of the ovarian cycle where LH stimulates development of the corpus luteum, which secretes progesterone and estrogens.

Mittelschmerz Pain

Pain felt at the left or right lower quadrant of the abdomen during ovulation.

Spinnbarkeit Test

Assessment of cervical mucus during ovulation showing thin, clear, watery, abundant mucus that is highly stretchable (more than 1 inch).

Fertilization

Union of ovum and spermatozoon (also known as conception, fecundation, or impregnation) occurring in the outer third or ampulla of the fallopian tube.

Ovum

Mature egg cell that remains viable and capable of being fertilized for 24 hours (48 hours at most) after ovulation, surrounded by the zona pellucida and corona radiata.

Acrosomal Reaction

Process where spermatozoa release hyaluronidase (dissolves corona radiata) and acrosin (dissolves zona pellucida) to enter the ovum, triggering structural changes to prevent polyspermy.

Zygote

Fertilized ovum containing 46 chromosomes formed by the union of sperm and ovum.

Morula

Solid ball of 16 to 50 blastomeres produced by cleavage that migrates down the fallopian tube to reach the uterine cavity 3-4 days after fertilization.

Blastocyst

Structure formed 3-4 days after the morula stage, consisting of an outer trophoblast layer and an inner embryonic disc surrounding a fluid space.

Trophoblast

Outer layer of the blastocyst that absorbs nutrients, secretes hCG, and develops into the placenta, fetal membranes, umbilical cord, and amniotic fluid.

Embryonic Disc

Inner cell mass of the blastocyst that gives rise to the three primary germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm).

Ectoderm

Outer primary germ layer giving rise to the central and peripheral nervous systems, epidermis, hair, nails, tooth enamel, mammary glands, and sense organs.

Mesoderm

Middle primary germ layer giving rise to the dermis, cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, urogenital system (kidneys, ureters), and reproductive organs.

Endoderm

Inner primary germ layer giving rise to the epithelial lining of the GI tract, respiratory tract, urinary bladder, urethra, liver, and pancreas.