Exploring Medical Language Chapter 8 - Female Reproductive System

ovaries

almond-sized organs that house developing eggs (ova) and produce hormones estrogen and progesterone

ovum (ova)

female egg cell

Graafian follicles

100,000 microscopic sacs that make up a large portion of the ovaries

uterine tubes

pair of tubes attached to the uterus that provide a passageway for the ovum to move from the ovary to the uterus

fimbria

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

uterus

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

corpus

large central portion of the uterus

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 usually refers to the area between the vaginal opening and the anus

Bartholin glands

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

breasts

milk-producing glands (also called mammary glands)

mammary papilla

breast nipple

areola

pigmented area around the breast nipple

arche/o

first, beginning

cervic/o, trachel/o

cervix

colp/o, vagin/o

vagina

endometri/o

endometrium

episi/o, vulv/o

vulva

gynec/o, gyn/o

woman

hymen/o

hymen

hyster/o, metr/o, uter/o

uterus

mamm/o, mast/o

breast

men/o

menstruation

oophor/o

ovary

pelv/i

pelvis, pelvic bones, pelvic cavity

perine/o

perineum

salping/o

fallopian tube

peri-

surrounding

-cleisis

surgical closure

-salpinx

fallopian tube

amenorrhea

absence of menstrual flow

Bartholin adenitis

inflammation of a Bartholin gland

cervicitis

inflammation of the cervix

dysmenorrhea

painful menstrual flow

endometriosis

abnormal growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus

endometritis

inflammation of the endometrium

hematosalpinx

blood in the uterine tube

hydrosalpinx

water in the uterine tube

mastitis

inflammation of the breast

menometrorrhagia

excessive bleeding from the uterus at menstruation

menorrhagia

excessive bleeding during menstruation

metrorrhagia

excessive bleeding from the uterus

myometritis

inflammation of the uterine muscle

oligomenorrhea

scanty menstrual flow

oophoritis

inflammation of the ovary

perimetritis

inflammation surrounding the uterus

pyosalpinx

pus in the fallopian tube

salpingitis

inflammation of a fallopian tube

salpingocele

hernia of the uterine tube

vaginitis

inflammation of the vagina

vaginosis

abnormal condition of the vagina

vulvovaginitis

adeninflammation of the vulva and vagina

adenomycosis

growth of endometrium into the muscular portion of the uterus

breast cancer

malignant tumor of the breast

cervical cancer

malignant tumor of the cervix

endometrial cancer

malignant tumor of the endometrium

fibrocystic breast changes

fibrosis, benign cysts, and pain or tenderness in one or both breasts

ovarian cancer

malignant tumor of the ovary

pelvic inflammatory disease

inflammation and infection of organs in the pelvic region

polycystic ovary syndrome

condition typically characterized by hormonal imbalances, ovulatory dysfunction, and multiple ovarian cysts

toxic shock syndrome

severe illness characterized by high fever, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, and myalgia, followed by hypotension and, in severe cases, shock and death

uterine fibroid

benign tumor of the uterine muscle

uterine prolapse

downward displacement of the uterus into the vagina

vaginal fistula

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

vesicovaginal fistula

abnormal opening between the bladder and the vagina

colovaginal fistula

abnormal opening between the colon and vagina

rectovaginal fistula

abnormal opening between the vagina and rectum

colpocleisis

surgical closure of the vagina

colpoperineorrhaphy

suturing of the vagina and perineum

colpoplasty

surgical repair of the vagina

colporrhaphy

suturing of the vagina

episioperineoplasty

surgical repair of the vulva and perineum

episiorrhaphy

suturing of (a tear in) the vulva

hymenectomy

excision of the hymen

hymenotomy

incision into the hymen

hysterectomy

excision of the uterus

hysteropexy

surgical fixation of the uterus

hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy

excision of the uterus, uterine tubes, and ovaries

mammoplasty

surgical repair of the breast

mastectomy

surgical removal of a breast

mastopexy

surgical fixation of the breast

total hysterectomy

excision of the entire uterus, including the cervix; can be performed abdominally, vaginally, or laparoscopically

subtotal hysterectomy

excision of the upper part of the uterus leaving the cervix in place

radical hysterectomy

excision of the uterus, ovaries, uterine tubes; lymph nodes, upper portion of the vagina, and the surrounding tissues (abdominal)

oophorectomy

excision of an ovary

perineorrhaphy

suturing of (a tear in) the perineum

salpingectomy

excision of a uterine tube

salpingo-oophorectomy

the surgical removal of a fallopian tube and ovary

salpingostomy

creation of an artificial opening in a uterine tube

trachelectomy

excision of the cervix (also called cervicectomy)

trachelorrhaphy

suturing of the cervix

vulvectomy

excision of the vulva

radical mastectomy

removal of breast tissue, nipple, lymph nodes, and underlying chest wall muscle; also called Halsted mastectomy