Fetal Development and Maternal Adaptation Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards defining core terms, anatomical structures, hormones, teratogens, and clinical indicators related to fetal development and maternal adaptations during pregnancy.

Conception

The union of a single female egg (ovum) and a male sperm cell, marking the beginning of pregnancy.

Fertilization

The process occurring when a sperm successfully penetrates the membrane surrounding the egg, combining their chromosomes.

Implantation

The process occurring 6 to 10 days after fertilization where the fertilized cell attaches itself into the endometrial lining of the upper uterus.

Zygote

A single cell formed by fertilization between male and female gametes, containing combined DNA during the first 14 days of development.

Gamete

A mature male or female reproductive cell.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)

A hormone produced by the developing embryo, placenta, and zygote that stimulates the corpus luteum to continue hormone production and serves as the marker detected by pregnancy tests.

Estrogen

A hormone produced primarily by the ovaries, corpus luteum, and placenta that stimulates uterine growth, breast development, vascularity of breast tissue, and skin hyperpigmentation.

Progesterone

Considered the major hormone of pregnancy, secreted by the ovarian corpus luteum for 10 weeks and then the placenta, which maintains the uterine lining and relaxes smooth muscle.

Teratogen

Any chemical, physical, or biological agent with the potential to cause a defect in an unborn child during pregnancy.

Hyperthermia

An abnormally high body temperature that can act as a physical teratogenic agent during pregnancy.

Nägele's Rule

A method used to calculate the estimated date of delivery (EDD) by taking the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP), subtracting 3 months, and adding 7 days.

Gravida

A woman who is pregnant, or the total number of pregnancies she has had regardless of the outcome.

Para

The number of pregnancies that have reached 20.0 weeks of gestation or more, regardless of the outcome.

Primigravida

A woman who is pregnant for the first time.

Multigravida

A woman who has had two or more pregnancies.

Primipara

A woman who has delivered one pregnancy at 20.0 weeks of gestation or more.

Multipara

A woman who has delivered two or more pregnancies at 20.0 weeks of gestation or more.

Grand Multipara

A woman who has delivered 5 or more pregnancies at 20.0 weeks of gestation or greater.

Preterm Pregnancy

A pregnancy that reaches 20 weeks of gestation but ends before the completion of 37 weeks.

Term Pregnancy

A pregnancy lasting from the beginning of week 38 to the end of week 42 (or 37.1 to 40.0+ weeks).

Post-term Pregnancy

A pregnancy extending beyond 40 to 42 weeks of gestation.

Viability

The capacity of the fetus to live outside of the uterus, occurring around 22 to 25 weeks gestation.

Presumptive Signs of Pregnancy

Subjective symptoms felt and reported by the woman, including quickening, nausea, vomiting, amenorrhea, fatigue, and breast tenderness.

Probable Signs of Pregnancy

Objective physiological changes observed by an examiner, such as Hegar's sign, Goodell's sign, Chadwick's sign, ballottement, and positive pregnancy tests.

Positive Signs of Pregnancy

Objective diagnostic signs attributed only to the presence of a fetus, including fetal heart tones, ultrasound visualization, and palpated fetal movement.

Quickening

Maternal perception of fetal movement in the uterus, classified as a presumptive sign of pregnancy.

Hegar's Sign

The softening and enlargement of the lower uterine segment felt on vaginal examination at 6 to 8 weeks gestation.

Goodell's Sign

The softening of the cervix felt upon vaginal examination at 6 to 8 weeks gestation.

Chadwick's Sign

Violet-bluish discoloration of the vaginal mucosa caused by increased mucosal vascularity during early pregnancy.

Ballottement

A palpatory technique at 16 weeks where tapping the lower uterine segment or cervix causes the fetus to float upward and sink back to tap the examiner's finger.

GTPAL System

A 5-digit obstetrical history classification system tracking Gravida (total pregnancies), Term births, Preterm births, Abortions, and Living children.

Folic Acid

A required nutrient needed at 400 mcg daily for women of childbearing age and 600 mcg daily during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects, cleft lip/palate, and cardiac defects.

Pica

The practice of craving and eating non-food substances such as ice, dirt, laundry starch, or antacids, frequently associated with iron deficiency anemia.

Placenta

The organ formed at implantation that provides respiration, excretion, nutrition, storage, and hormone secretion for the fetus.

Umbilical Cord

The structure connecting the fetus to the placenta, consisting of two arteries and one vein surrounded by Wharton's jelly.

Oligohydramnios

A condition characterized by an abnormally low volume of amniotic fluid.

Polyhydramnios

A condition characterized by an excessive volume of amniotic fluid.

Wharton's Jelly

The gelatinous connective tissue that surrounds and protects the blood vessels within the umbilical cord.

Nuchal Cord

A condition in which the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the neck of the fetus.

Lightening

The movement of the fetus dropping down into the maternal pelvis prior to delivery.