The Female Reproductive System - Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Neonatology Study Notes

The Female Reproductive System - Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Neonatology

Gynecology

  • Definition: Gynecology is the medical practice dealing with the health of the female reproductive system.

  • Word Parts:

    • Gynec/o or Gyn/o: Prefix meaning "Woman"

  • Gynecologist: A specialist in the study of women’s health.

  • Abbreviation: GYN is the abbreviation for Gynecology.

External Gynecology

  • Key Components:

    • Vulva: The external part of the female genitalia.

    • Clitoris: A small, sensitive organ at the top of the vulva.

    • Labia Majora: The outer folds of skin surrounding the vulva.

    • Labia Minora: The inner folds of skin surrounding the vaginal opening.

    • Urethral Meatus: The external opening of the urethra.

    • Vaginal Opening: The entry point into the vagina.

    • Breasts: Mammary glands for lactation.

External Gynecology Word Parts

  • Colp/o & Vagin/o: Prefixes meaning "Vagina"

  • Episi/o & Vulv/o: Prefixes meaning "Vulva"

  • Perine/o: Prefix meaning "Perineum"

Episiotomy & Perineotomy

  • Episiotomy:

    • Word Breakdown: Episi/o + -tomy

    • Definition: Incision into the vulva.

  • Perineotomy:

    • Word Breakdown: Perine/o + -tomy

    • Definition: Incision into the perineum.

Perineum

  • Perineocele:

    • Word Breakdown: Perine/o + -cele

    • Definition: Hernia in the perineal region.

External Gynecology Word Parts (Breasts)

  • Mast/o & Mamm/o: Prefixes meaning "Breast"

  • Lact/o: Prefix meaning "Milk"

Pain in External Organs

  • Vulvodynia:

    • Word Breakdown: Vulv/o + -dynia

    • Definition: Pain in the vulva.

  • Mastalgia:

    • Word Breakdown: Mast/o + -algia

    • Definition: Pain in the breast.

  • Vaginodynia:

    • Word Breakdown: Vagin/o + -dynia

    • Definition: Pain in the vagina.

  • Hysteralgia:

    • Word Breakdown: Hyster/o + -algia

    • Definition: Pain in the uterus.

Mammogram

  • Definition: A record resulting from a breast exam.

  • Word Breakdown: Mamm/o + -gram.

Mastectomy

  • Definition: Surgical removal of the breast.

  • Word Breakdown: Mast/o + -ectomy.

Mammoplasty & Mastopexy

  • Mammoplasty:

    • Word Breakdown: Mamm/o + -plasty

    • Definition: Surgical reconstruction of the breast.

  • Mastopexy:

    • Word Breakdown: Mast/o + -pexy

    • Definition: Surgical fixation of the breast.

Internal Gynecology

  • Components:

    • Ovaries: Organs that produce eggs.

    • Fallopian Tubes: Tubes through which eggs travel from the ovaries to the uterus.

    • Uterus: The organ where a fertilized egg implants and a fetus develops.

    • Vagina: The canal leading from the external genitals to the uterus.

Internal Gynecology Word Parts

  • Cervic/o: Prefix meaning "Cervix"

  • Cx: Abbreviation for cervix.

  • Hyster/o, Metr/o, Uter/o: Prefixes meaning "Uterus"

  • Pelv/i: Prefix meaning "Pelvic"

  • Oophor/o, Ovari/i: Prefixes meaning "Ovary"

  • Men/o: Prefix meaning "Menstruation"

  • Salping/o: Prefix meaning "Fallopian Tube"

Structures of the Uterus

  • Endometrium: Inner layer of uterine tissue.

  • Myometrium: Middle layer of the uterus; consists of muscle tissue.

  • Perimetrium: Tissue layer on the outside of the uterus.

Hysterectomy

  • Definition: Surgical removal of the uterus.

  • Word Breakdown: Hyster/o + -ectomy.

  • VH: Abbreviation for Vaginal Hysterectomy.

Speculum

  • Definition: A device for examining a body cavity, most commonly the vagina.

  • Origin: Latin for "mirror".

Colposcopy

  • Colposcopy:

    • Word Breakdown: Colp/o + -scopy

    • Definition: A procedure to inspect the vagina.

  • Colposcope:

    • Word Breakdown: Colp/o + -scope

    • Definition: Instrument for looking at the vagina.

Pelvis

  • CIPP: Abbreviation for Chronic Idiopathic Pelvic Pain.

  • PID: Abbreviation for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.

  • CPD: Cephalopelvic Disproportion—condition where the mother's pelvis cannot accommodate the baby's passage through the birth canal.

  • Pelvic Sonograph: Use of sound waves to image the pelvis.

  • Pelvimetry: Measurement of the pelvis.

Menarche & Menopause

  • Menarche:

    • Word Breakdown: Men/o + -arche

    • Definition: The beginning of menstruation.

  • Menopause:

    • Word Breakdown: Men/o + -pause

    • Definition: Stopping or cessation of menstruation.

Menses and Related Terms

  • Menses: Defined as Men/o.

  • **Mistreatment *****

    • Dysmenorrhea: Painful menstruation.

    • Oligomenorrhea: Infrequent or light menstrual periods.

    • Polymenorrhea: Menstrual periods occurring with greater-than-normal frequency.

    • Amenorrhea: Absence of menstruation.

  • -rrhagia: Refers to excessive discharge or bleeding.

    • Menorrhagia: Excessive menstrual flow.

    • Metrorrhagia: Menstrual bleeding at irregular times.

    • Metromenorrhagia: Excessive menstrual bleeding at irregular times.

TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome)

  • Definition: A rare, life-threatening complication from certain bacterial infections.

  • Involved Bacteria:

    • Staphylococcus Aureus (Staph)

    • Group A Streptococcus (Strep).

Amenorrhea vs. Amniorrhea

  • Amenorrhea:

    • Word Breakdown: A- + Men/o + -rrhea

    • Definition: Absence of menstruation.

  • Amniorrhea:

    • Word Breakdown: Amnion/o + -rrhea

    • Definition: Discharge of amniotic fluid, often termed "water breaking".

Ovaries & Fallopian Tubes

  • Oophorectomy:

    • Word Breakdown: Oophor/o + -ectomy

    • Definition: Surgical removal of an ovary.

  • Salpingectomy:

    • Word Breakdown: Salping/o + -ectomy

    • Definition: Surgical removal of the fallopian tube.

Obstetrics

  • Definition: A branch of medicine dealing with the care of the pregnant female, including pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

  • Obstetrician: Specialist in pregnancy, labor, and delivery of newborns.

  • Fetal Connection: The fetus is connected to the placenta via the umbilical cord and is surrounded by a fluid known as amniotic fluid.

  • Labor: The process of giving birth; involves thinning and widening of the cervix.

Obstetric Word Parts

  • Amni/o: Means Amnion (the fluid-filled sac surrounding the fetus).

  • -Cyesis: Means pregnancy.

  • Chori/o or Chorion/o: Means Chorion (outer fetal membrane).

Obstetric Focus

  • Part/o: Refers to birth.

  • P: Abbreviation for births.

  • G: Gravida: Refers to number of pregnancies regardless of outcomes.

  • Nat/o: Refers to being born.

Amniotic Conditions

  • Oligohydramnios:

    • Word Breakdown: Olig/o + hydr/o + -amnios

    • Definition: Condition of insufficient amniotic fluid.

  • Polyhydramnios:

    • Word Breakdown: Poly + hydr/o + -amnios

    • Definition: Excessive amount of amniotic fluid.

  • Amniocentesis:

    • Word Breakdown: Amni/o + -centesis

    • Definition: Procedure involving puncturing the amnion for sampling amniotic fluid.

Stages of Labor

  • Stages:

    • Early Dilation Stage

    • Late Dilation Stage

    • Expulsion Stage

    • Placental Stage

  • Toc/o: Prefix meaning labor.

    • Eutocia: Normal labor.

    • Bradytocia: Slow labor.

    • Dystocia: Difficult labor.

Pregnancy Terms

  • Amniorrhea:

    • Word Breakdown: Amni/o + -rrhea

    • Definition: Discharge of amniotic fluid.

  • Amniorrhexis:

    • Word Breakdown: Amni/o + -rrhexis

    • Definition: Rupture of the amniotic sac.

  • Braxton Hicks Contraction: False labor characterized by sporadic contractions not indicative of active labor; named after physician John Braxton Hicks, who first noted them in 1872.

Medications in Obstetrics

  • Oxytocin:

    • Word Breakdown: Oxy + toc/o + -in

    • Definition: Agent that stimulates uterine contractions and accelerates labor.

  • Tocolytic:

    • Word Breakdown: Toc/o + -lytic

    • Definition: Agent that stops or delays premature labor and contractions.

Preeclampsia & Eclampsia

  • Preeclampsia:

    • Word Breakdown: Pre- + Eclampsia

    • Definition: Condition characterized by high blood pressure and protein in urine, a precursor to eclampsia.

  • Eclampsia:

    • Definition: Life-threatening condition characterized by seizures during pregnancy; derived from Greek meaning "to shine" or "lightening".

Conditions of Pregnancy

  • Ectopic Pregnancy:

    • Definition: Implantation of the fertilized egg outside of the uterus.

  • Salpingocyesis: Ectopic pregnancy in a fallopian tube.

  • Ovariocyesis: Ectopic pregnancy in an ovary.

  • Pseudocyesis: False pregnancy.

Conditions of Early Termination of Pregnancy

  • Abortion: Termination of pregnancy.

    • Spontaneous Abortion: Naturally occurring termination (miscarriage).

    • Induced Abortion: Intentional termination of pregnancy.

  • Abortifacient: Drug or device causing termination of pregnancy.

  • D&C: Dilation and curettage, a surgical procedure to remove tissue.

Chorion

  • Chorioangioma:

    • Word Breakdown: Chori/o + angi/o + -oma

    • Definition: Blood vessel tumor of the chorion.

  • Choriocarcinoma:

    • Word Breakdown: Chori/o + carcin/o + -oma

    • Definition: Cancerous tumor of the chorion.

Placental Conditions

  • Abruptio Placentae: Condition where the placenta tears away from the uterus.

  • Placenta Previa: Condition where the placenta is positioned at the cervix's exit.

Terms Related to Conception

  • Contraception: Prevention of pregnancy.

  • Ovulation: Release of an egg from the ovary.

  • Fertilization: Union of sperm and egg.

  • Implantation: Attachment of fertilized egg to the uterine wall.

  • Gestation: Period of fetal development.

Terms Related to Birth

  • -partum: Suffix meaning birth.

    • Antepartum: Before birth.

    • Intrapartum: During birth.

    • Postpartum: After birth.

  • Nat/o + -al: Pertaining to birth.

    • Neonatal: Pertaining to the newborn.

    • Prenatal: Before birth.

    • Perinatal: Around the time of birth.

    • Postnatal: After birth.

Obstetric Word Parts

  • Fet/o: Referring to fetus.

  • Fetus: Latin for offspring, with the Greek equivalent being "embryo".

Neonatology

  • Definition: The study of new birth or the neonatal period.

  • Neonatologist: Specialist in the study of the neonatal period.

Teratology

  • Definition: The branch of medicine dealing with birth defects and their causes.

  • Terat/o: Prefix meaning "Monster".

  • Teratogens: Agents causing birth defects; derived from Terat/o + gens meaning “creation of a monster”.

Conclusion

  • This document summarizes all critical concepts, terms, and definitions related to Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Neonatology, providing an in-depth look at the female reproductive system and associated medical terminology.