Ch. 12: Female Reproductive System

external genitalia

sex organs visible on outside of body; vulva

gestation

length of time from conception to birth

lactation

production and release of milk by mammary glands

orifice

mouth; entrance, or outlet of any anatomical structure

episiotomy

surgical incision of the perineum to enlarge vaginal opening for delivery

amenorrhea

absence of a menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age

amniocentesis

surgical puncture of amnion/amniotic sac under ultrasound guidance using a needle and syringe to remove amniotic fluid

cervicitis

inflammation of the cervix

colp/o

vagina

colposcopy

visual examination of the vagina

vaginitis

inflammation of the vagina

galactopoiesis

formation, production of milk

lactogen

any substance that stimulates milk production

gynecologist

specialist in the study of female, woman

gynec/o

woman, female

hysterectomy

excision, removal of the uterus

endometrial

pertaining to within the uterus

uterovaginal

pertaining to the uterus and vagina

mammogram

record, writing of the breast

mastopexy

fixation, reconstruction of the breast

menorrhagia

bursting forth of menstruation; abnormally heavy, prolonged menstrual period

metroptosis

prolapse, downward displacement of the uterus

prenatal

pertaining to the period before birth

oophoroma

tumor of the ovary

ovariorrhexis

rupture of the ovary

perineorrhaphy

suture of the perineum; repairs an episiotomy or laceration that occurs during delivery of the fetus

salpingoplasty

surgical repair of a tube (usually fallopian or eustachian)

-arche

beginning

menarche

beginning of menstruation

-cyesis

pregnancy

pseudocyesis

false pregnancy

multigravida

many pregnancies

-para

to bear (offspring)

nullipara

women who have never had children

-salpinx

tube (usually fallopian or eustachian)

hemosalpinx

blood in fallopian tube

dystocia

painful, difficult childbirth/labor

retroversion

turning backward, behind

anteversion

turning before; in front of

dysmenorrhea

bad; painful; difficult menstruation flow; cramps

endometritis

inflammation within the uterus

multipara

bearing many offspring

postnatal

pertaining to the period after birth

primigravida

first pregnancy

gynecology

branch of medicine concerned with diseases of the female reproductive organs and breasts

obstetrics

branch of medicine that manages the health of a woman and her fetus during pregnancy and childbirth

puerperium

period of adjustment after childbirth during which the reproductive organs of the mother return to their normal, nonpregnant state

endometriosis

presence of functional endometrial tissue in areas outside the uterus

pelvic inflammatory disease

inflammation of the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and adjacent pelvic structures

coitus

sexual intercourse

atresia

congenital absence or closure of a normal body opening, such as the vagina

choriocarcinoma

malignant neoplasm of the uterus or at the site of an ectopic pregnancy

dyspareunia

occurrence of pain during sexual intercourse

endocervicitis

inflammation of the mucous lining of the cervix uteri

menstrual disorders

abnormal condition in the menstrual cycle

metrorrhagia

irregular uterine bleeding between menstrual periods or after menopause

oligomenorrhea

abnormally light or infrequent menstrual periods

premenstrual syndrome

symptoms that occur between ovulation and onset of menstruation (PMS)

sterility

inability of the female to become pregnant or the male to impregnate the female

uterine fibroids

benign tumors composed of muscle and fibrous tissue that develop in the uterus; also called fibroids

abortion

termination of a pregnancy before the embryo or fetus is capable of surviving on its own

abruptio placentae

premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall before the third stage of labor; placental abruption

breech presentation

common abnormality of delivery in which the fetal buttocks or feet present first rather than the head

Down syndrome

genetic condition in which there is an extra copy of chromosome 21 (trisomy), altering physical and mental development of the child; also called trisomy 21

eclampsia

most serious form of toxemia during pregnancy

ectopic pregnancy

pregnancy in which the fertilized ovum becomes implanted on any tissue other than the lining of the uterine cavity

placenta previa

obstetric complication in which the placenta is attached close to or covers the cervical canal and that results in bleeding during labor when the cervix dilates

chorionic villus sampling

sampling of placental tissues for prenatal diagnosis of potential genetic defects (advantage=can be undertaken in first trimester of pregnancy)

cordocentesis

diagnostic prenatal test in which a sample of the baby's blood is removed from the umbilical cord for testing

endometrial biopsy

removal of a sample of uterine endometrium for microscopic study

insufflation

delivery of pressurized air or gas into a cavity, chamber, or organ to allow visual examination, remove an obstruction, or apply medication

Papanicolaou Test

an exfoliative cytology test used to detect abnormal cells that are scraped from the cervix, usually obtained during routine pelvic examination

pelvimetry

measurement of pelvic dimensions to determine whether the head of the fetus will be able to pass through the bony pelvis to allow vaginal delivery

hysterosalpingography

radiography and, usually, fluoroscopy of the uterus and uterine tubes (oviducts) following injection of a contrast medium

mammography

radiographic examination of the breast to screen for breast cancer

transvaginal ultrasonography

ultrasonography of the pelvic area performed with a probe inserted into the vagina, which provides sharper images of pathological and normal structures within the pelvis

cerclage

suturing of the cervix to prevent it from dilating prematurely during pregnancy, thus decreasing the chance of a spontaneous abortion or preterm birth

cesarean section

incision of the abdomen and uterus to remove the fetus; C-section

colpocleisis

surgical closure of the vaginal canal

-cleisis

closure

conization

excision of a cone-shaped piece of tissue, such as mucosa of the cervix, for histological examination

cryosurgery

process of freezing tissue to destroy cells

dilation and curettage

widening of the cervical canal with a dilator and scraping of the uterine endometrium with a curette

subtotal

hysterectomy in which the cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes remain

total

hysterectomy in which the cervix is removed but the ovaries and fallopian tubes remain

total plus bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

total (complete) hysterectomy, including removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries

laparoscopy

visual examination of the abdominal cavity with a laparoscope through one or more small incisions in the abdominal wall, usually at the umbilicus

lumpectomy

excision of a small primary breast tumor (or "lump") and some of the normal tissue that surrounds it

mammoplasty

surgical reconstruction of the breasts to change the size, shape, or position

augmentation

insertion of a breast prosthesis beneath the skin or beneath the pectoralis major muscle

reduction

to decrease the size of a large, pendulous breast

mastectomy

removal of a breast

total (simple)

excision of entire breast, nipple, areola, and involved overlying skin

modified radical

excision of the entire breast, including the lymph nodes in the underarm (axillary dissection) but with the chest muscles left intact

radical

excision of the entire breast, all underarm lymph nodes, and the chest wall muscles under the breast

reconstructive breast surgery

creation of a breast-shaped mound to replace a breast that has been removed as a result of cancer or other disease

tissue (skin) expansion

common breast reconstruction technique in which a balloon expander is inserted beneath the skin and chest muscle, saline solution is gradually injected to increase size, and the expander is then replaced with a more permanent implant

transverse rectus abdominis muscle flap

surgical creation of a skin flap using skin and fat from the lower half of the abdomen, which is passed under the skin to the breast area; the abdominal tissue (flap) is then shaped into a natural-looking breast and sutured into place

tubal ligation

procedure that ties (ligates) the fallopian tubes to prevent pregnancy

intrauterine device

small, t-shaped device inserted by a physician inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy