CH 12

external genitalia

sex, or reproductive, organs visible on the outside of the body; also called genitals

gestation

length of time from conception to birth (pregnancy)

lactation

production and release of milk by mammary glands

orifice

mouth; entrance, or outlet of any anatomical structure

Mons pubis

an elevation of adipose tissue covered by skin and coarse pubic hair that cushions the pubis

Perineum

area between vagina and anus

Ova

female reproductive cells

Ovaries

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

Graafian follicles

microscopic sacs in the ovaries

Mature follicle

large, fluid-filled follicle ready to expel secondary oocyte during ovulation

Ovulation

process in which an egg is released from the ovary

Corpus luteum

name given to a follicle after ovulation

Fallopian tubes

the tubes extending from the uterus to the ovary; also called the oviducts

Fimbriae

fingerlike projections that create wavelike currents in fluid surrounding the ovary to move the ovum into the uterine tube

Uterus

contains and nourishes the embryo from the time the fertilized egg is implanted until the fetus is born

Anteflexion

tilting forward

fundus

rounded upper portion of the uterus

body

central part of the uterus

cervix

inferior constricted portion of uterus neck of the uterus

vagina

a muscular tube that connects the uterus to the outside of the body

Bartholin glands

lubricates the vaginal orifice during sexual excitement

Clitoris

anterior to the vaginal orifice, composed of erectile tissue

episiotomy

surgical incision of the perineum to enlarge the vagina and so facilitate delivery during childbirth

Adipose tissue

enlarges size of breasts

lactiferous duct

A duct through which milk is secreted and which opens at the nipple

nipple

projection from the breast into which the lactiferous ducts open

areola

dark-pigmented area surrounding the breast nipple

menarche

the first menstrual period in puberty

parturition

childbirth

Stage of dilation

First stage of labor, begins with uterine contractions and terminates when there is complete dilation of the cervix (10 cm)

Stage of expulsion

time from complete cervical dilation to birth of the baby

Placental stage

birthing stage in which the placenta and umbilical cord are expelled from the mother's body

Amenorrhea

absence of menses

Menopause

gradual ending of menstruation

Climacteric; change of life

period in which symptoms of approaching menopause occur

vaginal atrophy

vaginal drying and thinning

Hormone replacement therapy

the use of the female hormones estrogen and progestin to replace those the body no longer produces during and after perimenopause

Embryo

what the unborn child is referred to as up to the third month of pregnancy

Fetus

what the unborn child is referred to as after the third month of pregnancy

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

painful sexual intercourse

endocervicitis

inflammation of the mucous lining of the cervix uteri

Menstrual disorders

Abnormal condition in the menstrual cycle; also called dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB)

Amenorrhea

absence of menstruation

dysmenorrhea

painful menstruation

menorrhagia

abnormally heavy or long menstrual periods

metorrhagia

irregular uterine bleeding between menstrual periods or after menopause

oligomenorrhea

abnormally light or infrequent menstruation

premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

symptoms that occur between ovulation and the onset of menstruation

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

abortion

termination of pregnancy

abruptio placentae

premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall

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 that results in bleeding during labor when the cervix dilates

amniocentesis

transabdominal puncture of the amniotic sac under ultrasound guidance using a needle and syringe to remove amniotic fluid

chorionic villus sampling

sampling of placental tissues for prenatal diagnosis of potential genetic defects

colposcopy

visual examination of the vagina and cervix with an optical magnifying instrument

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 (Pap) test

an exfoliative cytology test 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 delivery

hysterosalpingography

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

mammography

a radiographic examination of the breasts to detect the presence of tumors or precancerous cells

transvaginal ultrasound

ultrasound technique performed through the vagina

cerclage

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

cesarean section (C-section)

incision of the abdomen and uterus to remove the fetus

colpocleisis

surgical closure of the vaginal canal

conization

surgical removal of a core of cervical tissue for biopsy

cryosurgery

use of cold temperatures to destroy tissue

dilation and curettage (D&C)

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

Hysterectomy

surgical removal of the uterus

subtotal hysterectomy

hysterectomy where the cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes remain

Total hysterectomy

hysterectomy where 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 and some of the normal tissue that surrounds it

mammoplasty

surgical reconstruction of a breast

augmentation

insertion of a breast prosthesis (filled with silicone gel or saline) beneath the skin or beneath the pectoralis major muscle

reduction

breast reduction to reduce the size of a large, pendulous breast

mastectomy

removal of the breast

total (simple) mastectomy

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

Modified radical mastectomy

the surgical removal of the entire breast and all of the axillary lymph nodes under the adjacent arm but with the chest muscles left intact

radical

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

reconstructive breast surgery

creation of a breast-shaped mound to replace a breast that has been removed due to 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 (TRAM) 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, shaped into a natural-looking breast, and sutured into place

tubal ligation

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

intrauterine device (IUD)

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

amni/o

amnion

cervic/o

neck; cervix uteri

colp/o, vagin/o

vagina

galact/o, lact/o

milk

gynec/o

woman, female

hyster/o, metri/o, uter/o

uterus (womb)