Ch. 11 Female Reproductive System

External Female Genitalia

Vulva, labia majora, minora, clitoris, external opening of the vagina (introitus), Skene’s gland, Barholin’s gland.

Internal Female Genitalia

Vagina, uterus, 2 fallopian tubes and 2 ovaries.

Aborti

Abortion, miscarriage

Amnio

Amniotic sac

Cervico

Cervix

Chorio, choriodo

Membrane or sac. In OB, the sac that encloses the fetus.

Colpo

Vagina

Episio

Vulva

Feto

Fetus

Gameto

Egg or sperm

Gesto

Preganancy

Gonado

Sex glands (ovaries for females, testes for males)

Gyno, gyneco

Woman

Hystero

Uterus, womb

Labio

Lips

Lacti, lacto

Milk

Mammo

Breast

Masto

Breast, mammary gland

Meno, Menso

Menstruation

Metra/o, metr/o, metri/o

Uterus

Nata

Birth

Omphalo

Navel

O/o, ovi, ovo, ovulo

Ovum, egg cell

Oophro

Ovary

Pelvi, pelvo, pelvio

Pelvic

Pubo

Pubis

Salpingo

Oviduct, fallopian tube

Toco

Childbirth

Utero

Uterus

Vagino

Vagina

Vulvo

Vulva

Uterus

Central organ of the female reproductive system. Has 3 distinct regions: fundus, corpus, cervix uteri. Comprised of endometrium, myometrium, and a serous outer layer, perimetrium.

Fundus

Upper most portion of the uterus, closest to the tubes.

Corpus

Middle section. Body of the uterus.

Cervix Uteri

Lower portion of the uterus, tapering to connect to the vagina.

Cervix

Protrudes into the upper vaginal canal.

Fornix (fornices)

The anterior and posterior recesses of the upper vagina surrounding the vaginal attachment to the cervix.

Cervical os, external os

The opening in the cervix that communicates with the vagina.

Internal Os

The cervix the communicates with the corpus of the uterus.

Endometrium

Inner layer of the uterus that thickens and sloughs each month during the menstrual cycle. If fertilization and pregnancy occur, the thickened lining provides a comfortable home for the embryo to grow and provides some nutrition early on.

Myometrium

Muscle fibers in the uterus that run vertically and horizontally and diagonally to provide strong uterine contractions during labor and childbirth.

Perimetrium

Secretes a lubricating fluid that helps reduce friction.

Fallopian tubes

Sit on either side of the uterus, opposite from the bilateral ovaries. Aka oviducts, uterine tubes, tube and salpinges (salpinx)

Infundibulum

Distal ends of the fallopian tubes

Fimbriae

Fingers that help capture the ovum (egg or oocyte) at ovulation as they make their way into the tubes and to the uterus.

Ampulla

Section of fallopian tube that is the widest and longest. Where fertilization often takes place.

Uterine Horns (isthmus)

Where fallopian tubes narrow as it approaches the uterus.

Ovaries

The egg producing reproductive organ. Also produces hormones related to the reproductive cycle. Part of the reproductive and endocrine system.

Uterina Adnexa

Fallopian tubes, ovaries and ligaments.

Broad ligament

Thin sheet of peritoneum that drapes over the uterus and fallopian tubes to connect them to the lateral wall of the pelvis. Divided into 3 parts: mesosalpinx, mesovarium, and mesometrium.

Mesosalpinx

Part of the broad ligament that is adjacent to the fallopian tubes.

Mesovarium

Part of the broad ligament that is adjacent to the ovaries.

Mesometrium

Part of the broad ligament in area below the utero-ovarian ligament.

Cardinal Ligament (ligamentum transversum cervicis)

Supports the connection between the cervix and the pelvic wall,

Round Ligament (ligamentum teres)

Thickening of the broad ligament as it comes off the anterior surface of the uterus, connecting the anterior uterine horns to the anterior abdominal wall.

Utero-ovarian (UO) Ligament

Aka ovarian ligament, it connects the uterus to the ovary.

Uterosacral Ligament

Connects back of the uterus at the bottom (at the level of the cervix) to the sacrum. Integral to the structural support of the uterus such as in preventing uterine prolapse into the vagina.

Vagina

Tubular muscular canal leading from the uterus to outside of the body. The top surrounds the cervix, the distal end opens to the vulva and perineum

Vaginal Septum

A congenital partition in the vagina. May be longitudinal creating a double vagina or transverse

Transverse septum

May block menstrual flow or if incomplete may be a cause of dyspareunia or obstruct vaginal delivery of the fetus.

Dyspareunia

Pain during intercourse.

Vulva

The external structures that comprise the genitalia for a human female.

Mons Pubis

Pad of fat that is located on the anterior over the pubic bone. During puberty, it becomes covered in coarse pubic hair.

Labia Majora

Folds of hair covered skin that being posterior to the mons pubis.

Labia Minora

Thinner more pigmented, situated on the inside of the labia.

Clitoris

Encircled by the upper labia minora. A structure that originates from the same cells as the glans penis and has abdunant nerves that make it important in sexual sensation.

Hymen

Thin membrane located at the bottom portion of the vagina.

Introitus

Opening to the vagina and location of the hymen.

Bartholin’s Glands (greater vestibular glands)

Located slightly inferior and to either side of the vaginal introitus. Secretes a fluid used to lubricate the vagina.

Skene’s Glands (less vestibular glands or paraurethral glands)

Located on the anterior wall of the vagina around the lower end of the urethra. Release fluids into the urethra to lubricate it and contains antimicrobial substances which may help prevent UTIs. Aka female prostate. Secretes mucus- containing fluid as they become stimulated.

Perineum

Area between the pubi symphysis and the anus. Can be used for surgical access to the vagina or the rectum.

Pregnancy

The term used to describe the time in which a fetus develops inside a woman’s uterus.

Zygote

Fertilized egg, unicellular- one cell made of fused genetic material from the sperm and egg. Travels through the fallopian to the uterus, where it implants in the uterine wall. Lasts 4 days before becoming a blastocyst. Divides by cleavage.

Blastocyst

Stage after zygote stage. Implants in the endometrium and burrows into the wall of the uterus.

Gastrula

After the blastocyst stage.

Embryo Stage

Lasts until the 8th week after fertilization. Developing organism becomes a fetus when the basic germ layers are formed.

Organogenesis

Formation of organs

Placenta

Temporary organ, responsible for feeding and protecting a fetus. Facilitates blood flow, exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, and waste elimination. Grows alongside the fetus and then is expelled at birth. Sometimes called afterbirth.

Antepartum

Starts at conception and end when labor begins.

Intrapartum

Refers to the interval between the beginning of true labor and the delivery of the fetus and the placenta.

Postpartum

The time from the end of the intrapartum period to 6 weeks afterward.

1st Trimester

Up to 14 weeks pregnant

2nd Trimester

Starts at 14 weeks pregnancy and continues to less than 28 weeks.

3rd Trimester

Begins at 28 weeks of pregnancy and continues until delivery.

Full Term Pregnancy

37 weeks gestation

Pre-term Delivery

Delivery before 37 weeks.

Normal Pregnancy

40 weeks gestation

Post Term

Pregnancy that goes beyond 42 weeks.

Gravidity

Refers to the number of times a woman has been pregnant.

Parity

Number of times a woman has given birth to a fetus that is 24 or more weeks gestation. Fetus could be a live birth or not for the pregnancy to be counted.

GTPAL

G=gravidity, a= abortions or miscarriages, l= live births.

Nulligravida

A woman who has never been pregnant

Primigravida

A woman who is pregnant for the first time or has been pregnant once.

Multigravida (secundigravida)

A woman who has been pregnant more than once.

Braxton Hicks Contractions

Practice contractions which can happen for many weeks before real labor begins. Can be very painful, tend to occur at the end of the day.

Lightening

The sensation that the fetus has dropped lower and the head settles deep in the pelvis. Can happen from a few weeks to a few hours before labor begins.

Mucus Plug

Forms in cervix early in pregnancy as a protective barrier to the uterus. When the cervix dilates before labor, the plug is pushed into the vagina.

Bloody show

An increase in vaginal discharge that is clear, pink or slightly bloods.

Rupture of Membranes

When the amniotic sac breaks. Aka water breaking. Delivery should ideally occur with 24 hours to avoid amniotiis.

Amnionitis

Bacterial infection of the amniotic fluid, membranes and placenta pregnancy.