Female Reproductive Med Term

ovaries

almond-shaped organs located in the pelvic cavity; form and store egg cells (ova) and produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovaries, which can then travel through the fallopian tubes to the uterus

ovum

female egg cell

graafian follices

100,000 microscopic sacs that makeup a large portion of the ovaries. Each follicle contains an immature ovum. Normally one graafian follicle develops to maturity monthly between puberty and menopause. it moves to the surface of the ovary and releases the ovum, which passes into the fallopian tube

fallopian tubes

pair of tubes attached to the uterus that provides a passageway for the ovum to move from the ovary to the uterus (also called uterine tubes)

fimbria

finger-like projection at the free end of the fallopian tube

uterus

pear-sized and shaped muscular organ that lies in the pelvic cavity, except during pregnancy when it enlarges and extends up into the abdominal cavity. it functions are menstruation, pregnancy and labor

endometrium

inner lining of the uterus

myometrium

muscular middle lining of the uterus

perimetrium

outer protective layer of the uterus that secretes watery serous fluid to reduce friction (also called uterine serosa)

corpus

large central portion of the uterus (also called uterine body)

fundus

rounded upper portion of the uterus

cervix

narrow lower portion of the uterus

vagina

passageway between the uterus and the outside of the body

hymen

fold of membrane found near the opening of the vagina

vulva

external genitals of the female, including the mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, urinary meatus, and vaginal opening

perineum

pelvic floor in both the male and female. in females it refers to the area between the vaginal opening and the anus

bartholin glands

pair of mucus-producing glands located on each side of the vaginal opening (also called greater vestibular glands)

breasts

milk-producing glands. each breast consists of 15 to 20 divisions or lobules (also called mammary glands)

mammary papilla

breast nipple

areola

pigmented area around the breast nipple

cervic/o, trachel/o

cervix

colp/o

vagina

endometri/o

endometrium

episi/o, vulv/o

vulva

gynec/o

women, female reproductive organs

hymen/o

hymen

hyster/o, mamm/o, mast/o

breast

men/o

menstruation

metr/o

uterus

oophor/o

ovary

pelv/i

pelvic, pelvic cavity

perine/o

perineum

salping/o

fallopian tube

trachel/o

cervix

vagin/o

vagina

-algia

pain

-cleisis

surgical closure

-osis

abnormal condition

-pexy

surgical fixation

-plasty

surgical repair

-rrhagia

excessive bleeding

-rrhaphy

suturing, repairing

-rrhea

flow, discharge

-salpinx

fallopian tube (uterine tube)

amenorrhea

absence of menstrual flow

cervicitis

inflammation of the cervix

dysmenorrhea

painful menstral flow

endometriosis

abnormal condition of the endometrium (endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus in various areas in the pelvic cavity, including ovaries, fallopian tubes, intestines, and uterus)

hematosalpinx

blood in the fallopian tube

hydrosalpinx

water in the fallopian tube (a clear, watery fluid collects in the tube, and can cause blockage)

mastitis

inflammation of the breast

menometrorrhagia

excessive bleeding from the uterus at menstruation (and between menstrual cycles; heavy and irregular bleeding)

menorrhagia

excessive bleeding at menstruation (heavy bleeding in regular, cyclical pattern)

metrorrhagia

excessive bleeding from the uterus (irregular, out-of-cycle bleeding ranging from heavy to light, including spotting)

myometritis

inflammation of the uterine muscle (myometrium)

oligomenorrhea

scanty menstrual flow (infrequent menstrual flow)

oophoritis

inflammation of the ovary

perimetritis

inflammation surrounding the uterus (perimetrium)

pyosalpinx

pus in the fallopian tube

salpingitis

inflammation of the fallopian tube

salpingocele

hernia of the fallopian tube

vaginitis

Inflammation of the vagina

vaginosis

abnormal condition of the vagina (caused by bacterial imbalance) (also called bacterial vaginosis)

vulvovaginitis

inflammation of the vulva and vagina

abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB)

irregular bleeding in the absence of pregnancy; menometrorrhagia, menorrhagia, and metrorrhagia are some types of AUB

adenomyosis

growth of endometrium into the muscular portion of the uterus

bartholin cyst

blockage of one of the glands on either side of the vagina; usually causes a tender, swollen lump on the affected side, which may become infected, resulting in a Bartholin abscess

breast cancer

malignant tumor of the breast

cervical cancer

malignant tumor of the cervix, which progresses from cervical dysplasia to carcinoma. its cause is linked to HPV infection

endometrial cancer

malignant tumor of the endometrium (also called uterine cancer)

fibrocystic breast changes (FCC)

thickening of tissue (fibrosis), benign cysts, and pain or tenderness in one or both breasts; thought to be causes by monthly hormonal changes (also called fibrocystic breasts; formerly called fibrocystic breast disease)

ovarian cancer

malignant tumor of the ovary

pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

inflammation of some or all of the female pelvic organs; can be caused by many different pathogens. if untreated, the infection may spread upward from the vagina, involving the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and other pelvic organs. an ascending infection may result in infertility and, in acute cases, fatal septicemia

polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

condition typically characterized by hormonal imbalances, ovulatory dysfunction, and multiple ovarian cysts; symptoms can include irregular menstruation, acne, excess facial and body hair, and infertility. people with this condition have increased risks of CVD, obesity and glucose intolerance

premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

syndrome involving physical and emotional symptoms occurring up to 10 days before menstruation. symptoms can include nervous tension, irritability, mastaglia, edema, and headache

toxic shock syndrome (TSS)

severe illness characterized by high fever, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, and myalgia, followed by hypotension and in severe cases, shock, and death; usually affects menstruating women using tampons; caused by Staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus pyogenes

uterine fibroid

benign tumor of the uterine muscle (also called myoma of the uterus or leiomyoma)

uterovaginal prolapse

dropping of the uterus (and sometimes vagina) due to weakened pelvic muscles; the uterus moves downward and is sometimes visible outside the vagina

vaginal fistula

abnormal connection between the vagina and another organ, such as the urinary bladder, colon or rectum

colpocleisis

surgical closure of the vagina

colpoperineorrhaphy

suturing of the vagina and the perineum (performed to mend perineal vaginal tears)

colpoplasty

surgical repair of the vagina

colporrhaphy

suturing of the vagina (wall of the vagina)

episiorrhaphy

suturing of (a tear in) the vulva

hymenotomy

incision into the hymen

hysterectomy

excision of the uterus

hysteropexy

surgical fixation of the uterus

mammoplasty

surgical repair of the breast (performed to enlarge or reduce in size, and to reconstruct after removal of tumor)

masectomy

excision of the breast

mastopexy

surgical fixation of the breast (performed to lift sagging breast tissue or to create symmetry)

oopherectomy

excision of the ovary

perineorrhaphy

suturing of (a tear in) the preineum

salpingectomy

excision of the fallopian tube

salpingo-oophorectomy

excision of the fallopian tube and the ovary

salpingostomy

creation of an artificial opening in the fallopian tube (performed to restore patency)

trachelectomy

excision of the cervix (also called cervicectomy)

vulvectomy

excision of the vulva