Medical Terminology Ch. 8

Gamete

Reproductive cell (ovum or sperm)

Gestation

Time period from fertilization of the ovum to birth; pregnancy

gest (root) - pregnancy

ation (suffix) - process; condition

Cul-de-sac

Region in the lower abdomen, midway between the rectum and and the uterus

Labia Majora

two large, outer folds of skin thar surround the labia minora, and other vulva structures

Episiotomy

Incision of the vulva (perinium) to widen the opening of the vagina during a difficult childbirth

Episi (root) - vulva (external female genitalia

o (combing vowel)

tomy (suffix) - process of cutting

Fimbriae

finger- or fringe-like projections at the end of the fallopian tubes

Neonatology

study of the medical care of the newborn (neonate)

Neo (prefix) - new

nat (root) - birth

o (combining vowel)

logy (suffix) - study (process of)

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

secreted by the pituitary gland to stimulate hormone secretion and egg production by the ovaries

Abruptio Placentae

Premature separation of the normally implanted placenta

Ab (prefix) - away from

Cephalic Version

Procedure for turning the fetus so that its head is the presenting part to enter the birth canal first

Cephal (root) - head

ic (suffix) - pertaining to

version (suffix) - turning (condition of)

Gynecomastia

female-like breast enlargement in a male

gynec (root) - woman; female

o (combining vowel)

mast (root) - breast

ia (suffix) - condition

Metrorrhagia

bleeding at irregular intervals; between expected menstrual periods

Metr (root) - uterus (womb)

o (combining vowel)

rrhagia (suffix) - bursting forth (of blood)

Dystocia

difficult childbirth

Dys (prefix) - abnormal; difficult; painful; bad

toc (root) - labor; birth

ia (suffix) - condition

Menarche

beginning of the first menstrual period

Men (root) - menses; menstruation

arche (suffix) - beginning

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Inflammation and infection of organs in the pelvis and abdomen; salpingitis; oophoritis; endometritis; endocervicitis; PID

Endometriosis

abnormal condition of endometrial tissue located outside the uterus

Endo (prefix) - in; within

metri (root) - uterus (womb); measure

osis (suffix) - condition, usually abnormal

Cervicitis

inflammation of the cervix

Cervic (root) - neck; cervix (neck of uterus)

itis (suffix) - inflammation

Vagina

Muscular, mucosal canal extending from the uterus and the cervix to the exterior of the body

Genitalia

Reproductive organs (genitals)

Curettage

scraping of material from the skin or from the wall of a cavity

Menstruation

Monthly shedding of the lining of the uterus; menses

Myometrium

muscle layer of the uterus

My (root) - Muscle

o (combining vowel)

metr (root) - uterus (womb); measure

ium (suffix) - structure; tissue

Obstetrics

branch of medicine and surgery dealing with the care of women during pregnancy and childbirth

obstetr (root) - pregnancy; childbirth

ic (suffix) - pertaining to

Orifice

An opening

Ovarian Follicle

Tiny sac in the ovary that contains an egg cell (ovum)

Ovulation

Release of the ovum (egg cell) from the ovary

Ovul (root) - egg

ation (suffix) - process; condiiton

Ovum

mature egg cell (female gamete)

ov (root) - egg

um (suffix) - structure; tissue; thing

Parturition

Act of giving birth

Perineum

Area between the anus and vagina in females and the area between the anus and scrotal sac in males

Perine (root) - perineum

um (suffix) - structure; tissue; thing

Aspiration

the inhalation of food, fluid, or other material into the airway (trachea and lungs) instead of the esophagus

Carcinoma in situ

Early, localized form of cancer, confined to its site of origin

carcin (root) - cancerous; cancer

oma (suffix) - tumor; mass; fluid collection

Cauterization

destruction of tissue by burning

cauter (root) - heat; burn

ation (suffix) - process; condition

Cervical Dysplasia

Cervic (root) - neck; cervix (neck of uterus)

al (suffix) - pertaining to

Dys (prefix) - abnormal, painful, difficult, bad

plasia (suffix) - development; formation; growth

Cesarean section

a surgical operation for delivering a child by cutting through the wall of the mother's abdomen

sect (root) - to cut

ion (suffix) - process

Chlamydia

Bacterial infection (by chlamydia trachomatis) of the urethra and reproductive tract in men and women

Conization

removal of a cone-shaped section (biopsy) of the cervix

Dilation and Curettage

widening the cervix and scraping off the endometrial lining of the uterus; D&C

Ectopic Pregnancy

Pregnancy that is out of place (not in the uterus). A fallopian tube is the most common ectopic site

Ecto (prefix) - out; outside

Hydrocephalus

abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles (canals) of the brain

Hydr (root) - water

o (combining vowel)

cephal (root) - head

us (suffix) - structure; thing

Hysterosalpingography

X-ray imaging of the uterus and fallopian tubes after injection of contrast material

Hyster (root) - uterus; womb

o (combining vowel)

salping (root) - fallopian tube (oviduct); auditory (eustachian) tube

Laparoscopy

process of visually examining the abdomen using an endoscope (laparoscope); minimally invasive surgery

lapar (root) - abdominal wall; abdomen

o (combining vowel)

scopy (suffix) - visual examination

Leiomyoma

benign tumor of smooth, involuntary muscle; when in the uterus, called a fibroid

leiomy (root) - smooth (visceral) muscle

oma (suffix) - tumor; mass; fluid collection

Mammography

X-ray recording of the breast

Mamm (root) - breast

o (combining vowel)

graphy (suffix) - process of recording

Palpation

examining by touch

Placenta Previa

Abnormal implantation of the placenta over the cervical opening or in the lower region of the uterus

Preeclampsia

abnormal condition associated with pregnancy, marked by high blood pressure, proteinuria, edema, and headache

Pyloric Stenosis

Narrowing of the pyloric sphincter (opening of the stomach to the duodenum); often occurs in infants between birth and 6 months of age

pylor (root) - pylorus; pyloric sphincter

ic (suffix) - pertaining to

stenosis (suffix) - tightening; stricture

Tubal ligation

A sterilization procedure that blocks the fallopian tubes to prevent fertilization from occurring