Female Reproductive System: Part 1

Anatomy, Word Parts

ovaries

almond-shaped organs located in the pelvic cavity; form and store eggs (ova) and produce estrogen and progesterone

ovulation

the release of an egg from the ovaries, which can then travel through the fallopian tubes to the uterus

ovum

female egg cell

Graafian follicles

100,000 microscopic sacs that make up a large portion of the ovaries. Each follicle contains an immature ovum. Normally one ___ develops to maturity monthly btw 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 provide a passageway for the ovum to move from the ovary to the uterus

aka uterine tubes

fimbria

finger-like projection @ 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

Fx: menstruation, pregnancy, and labor

endometrium

inner lining of the uterus

myometrium

muscular middle layer of the uterus

perimetrium

outer protective layer of the uterus that secretes watery serous fluid to reduce friction

aka uterine serosa

corpus

large central portion of the uterus

aka uterine body

fundus

rounded upper portion of the uterus

cervix

narrow lower portion of the uterus

vagina

passageway btw 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 major, labia minor, clitoris, urinary meatus, and vaginal opening

perineum

pelvic floor in both M/F; in F it’s the area btw the vaginal opening and the anus

Bartholin glands

pair of mucus-producing glands located on each side of the vagina, just above the vaginal opening

aka greater vestibular glands

breasts

milk-producing glands; each consists of 15-20 division or lobules

aka mammary glands

mammary papilla

breast nipple

areola

pigmented area around the breast nipple

cervic/o

cervix

colp/o

vagina [c]

endometri/o

endometrium

episi/o

vulva (e)

gynec/o

woman, female reproductive organs

hymen/o

hymen

hyster/o

uterus (h)

mamm/o

breast (m)

mast/o

breast (t)

men/o

menstruation

metr/o

uterus (m)

oophar/o

ovary

pelv/i

pelvis, pelvic cavity (i)

perine/o

perineum

salping/o

fallopian tube (uterine tube) [cw]

trachel/o

cervix (t)

vagin/o

vagina (v)

vulv/o

vulva

hemat/o

blood

hydr/o

water

leuk/o

white

my/o

muscle

olig/o

scanty, few

py/o

pus

dys-

painful, abnormal, difficult, labored

endo-

w/n

peri-

surrounding (outer)

-al

pertaining to (-a)

-algia

pain

-cele

hernia, protrusion

-cleisis

surgical closure

-ectomy

excision, surgical removal

-gram

the record, radiographic image

-graphy

process of recording, radiographic imaging

-ic

pertaining to

-osis

abnormal condition

-pexy

surgical fixation

-plasty

surgical repair

-rrhagia

excessive bleeding

-rrhaphy

suturing, repairing

-rrhea

flow, discharge

-salpinx

fallopian tube (uterine tubes) [suffix]

-scope

instrument used for visual examination

-scopic

pertaining to visual examination

-scopy

visual examination

-tomy

cut into, incision

amenorrhea

absence of menstrual flow

cervicitis

inflammation of the cervix

dysmenorrhea

painful menstrual flow

endometriosis

abnormal condition of the endometrium

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

endometritis

inflammation of the endometrium

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 btw 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 a bacterial imbalance)

aka bacterial vaginosis

vulvovaginitis

inflammation of the vulva and vagina