ch 18-19 health vocab

menstrual cycle

process during which an ovary releases a mature egg that travels to the uterus; if the egg is not fertilized, the uterine lining is shed & a new cycle begins

blastocyst

a hollow, spherical structure made up of about 50-100 cells, formed when an embryo divides & grows

obstertrician

doctor who specializes in pregnancy & childbirth

preeclampsia

serious condition during pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure, swelling of the wrists & ankles, & high levels of protein in the urine

endocrine gland

gland that produces & releases chemical substances that signal changes in other parts of the body

hormone

chemical substance produced by an endocrine gland

hypothalamus

endocrine gland in the brain that is part of both the nervous & endocrine systems

pituitary gland

endocrine gland in the brain that controls many of the body's functions, including growth, reproduction, & metabolism

puberty

period of sexual development during which a person becomes sexually mature & physically able to reproduce

sperm

reproductive cells in males

fertilization

process of a sperm cell joining w/ an egg

testes

male reproductive glands

testosterone

sex hormone that affects the production of sperm & signals certain physical changes at puberty

scrotum

sac of skin that contains the testes

penis

external male sexual organ through which the sperm leaves the body

semen

mixture of sperm & fluids produced by the glands of the male reproductive system

ejaculation

ejection of semen from the penis

infertility

condition of being unable to reproduce

ova

reproductive cells in females

ovaries

female reproductive glands

estrogen

female sex hormones that signal certain physical changes at puberty & controls the maturation of eggs

progesterone

hormone that signals changes to a woman's reproductive system during the menstrual cycle & pregnancy

ovulation

process during which one of the ovaries releases a ripened egg

fallopian tubes

passage ways that carry eggs away from the ovaries

uterus

hollow, muscular, pear-shaped organ in which a fertilized egg develops & grows

vagina

hollow, muscular passage leading from the uterus to the outside of the female body

menopause

time of life during which the ovaries slow down their hormone production & no longer release mature eggs

pap smear

medical procedure in which a sample of cells is taken from the cervix & examined under a microscope

mammogram

x-ray of the breast that may detect breast cancer

zygote

united eggs & sperm

embryo

stage of human development from the two-cell stage until about 9 weeks after fertilization

implantation

process in which the blastocyst attaches itself to the wall of the uterus

amniotic sac

a fluid-filled bag of thin tissue that develops around the embryo

placenta

structure that holds the embryo to the wall of the uterus

umbilical cord

the cord-like structure that connects the embryo & the placenta

fetus

stage of human development from the 3rd month after fertilization until birth

prenatal care

medical care received during pregnancy

trimester

1 of the 3 periods of time that divide a pregnancy. each of these are about 3 months long

ultrasound

high-frequency sound waves used to create an image of a developing fetus

chronic villus sampling

prenatal test in which a piece of the developing placenta is removed & tested for inherited disorders

amniocentesis

prenatal test in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is removed & tested for abnormalities

ectopic pregnancy

condition resulting from the implantation of the blastocyst in a location in the abdomen other than the uterus

miscarriage

death of am embryo or fetus in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy

gestational diabetes

diabetes that develops during pregnancy

certified nurse-midwife

nurse who is trained to deliver babies

labor

work performed by a mother's body to push the fetus out at the end of a pregnancy

postpartum period

period of adjustment for parents & their newborn during the 6 weeks after birth

stillbirth

expulsion of a fetus that has died after the 20th week of pregnancy

cesarean section (c-section)

surgical method of birth

premature birth

delivery of a live baby before the 37th week of pregnancy

low birthweight

newborn weight of less than 5.5 lbs

multiple birth

delivery of more than one baby. ex: twins, triplets, etc.