ovum (ova)
female sex cell (egg)
sperm
Male sex cell
gamete
sex cell
Fertilization
nuclei of 2 gametes unite to form a single nucleus with half of the chromosomes and genetic code from each parent
gonads
ovaries and testes, produce the gametes
coitus
sexual intercourse; copulation
zygote
stage in prenatal development from fertilization and implantation up to 2 weeks
embryo
stage in prenatal development from 2 to 8 weeks
fetus
stage in prenatal development from 8 to 39 or 40 weeks
secondary sex characteristics
nonreproductive sexual characteristics, such as female breasts and hips, male voice quality, and body hair
menarche
the first menstrual period
menopause
the time of natural cessation of menstruation; also refers to the biological changes a woman experiences as her ability to reproduce declines, once all the ova are released
placenta
Vascular organ attached to the uterine wall during pregnancy. It permits the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and fetal waste products between mother and fetus.
menstruation
monthly shedding of the uterine lining
hormones of the ovaries
estrogen and progesterone
pituitary gland
endocrine gland at the base of the brain, secretes regulatory hormones that affect the functions of the breasts, ovaries, and uterus
gynecology
study of the female reproductive system and its diseases
obstetrics
specialty concerned with pregnancy and the delivery of the fetus
neonatology
study of the care of newborns and the treatment of their disorders
ovary
pair of small almond shaped organs located in the pelvis
fallopian tubes
lead from each ovary to the uterus
uterus
fibromuscular organ situated between the urinary bladder and the rectum, normally the size and shape of a pear
cul-de-sac
region in the abdominal cavity midway between the uterus and the rectum
vagina
tubular structure that extends from the uterus to the exterior of the body
bartholin glands
2 small rounded glands on either side of the vaginal orifice, produce a mucous secretion to lubricate the vagina
clitoris
organ of sensitive, erectile tissue located anterior to the vaginal orifice and in front of the urethral meatus
perineum
region between the vaginal orifice and the anus
vulva
external female genitalia
labia majora
the larger outer folds of the vulva.
labia minora
Smaller pair of skin folds that protect the vaginal opening
hymen
mucous membrane partially or completely covering the opening to the vagina
utero-ovarian ligament
holds each ovary in place on either side of the uterus
ovulation
The process of releasing a mature ovum into the fallopian tube each month
adnexa
the accessory or adjoining anatomical parts of an organ
Days 1-5 of menstrual cycle
menstrual period, discharge of bloody fluid containing disintegrated endometrial cells, glandular secretions, and blood cells
Days 6-12 of the Menstrual Cycle
after bleeding ceases the endometrium begins to repair itself, maturing follicles in the ovary release estrogen which aids in repair, the ovum grows in the follicle at this time
Days 13-14 of the Menstrual Cycle
ovulatory period, follicle ruptures and the egg leaves the ovary (ovulation), passing through the fallopian tube
Days 15-28 of the menstrual cycle
secretory phase, empty follicle fills with yellow material and becomes the corpus luteum
corpus luteum
Endocrine tissue which produces hormones, estrogen, and progesterone which prepares the uterine lining for receiving an embryo, stimulates building up of the lining in anticipation of fertilization
if fertilization does occur, the CL continues to produce
PMS
premenstrual syndrome, when fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum stops producing progesterone and regresses, decrease in hormones causes PMS symptoms
amnion
Innermost membranous sac surrounding the developing fetus in amniotic fluid
hCG
human chorionic gonadotropin, produced by the placenta, tested to indicate pregnancy, stimulates the corpus luteum to continue producing hormones until the third month of pregnancy when the placenta takes over endocrine function
progesterone
maintains the development of the placenta, low levels can lead to spontaneous abortion or irregular menstrual cycles
onset of true labor
rhythmic contractions, dilation of the cervix, and a discharge of bloody mucus from the cervix and vagina
cephalic presentation
in a normal delivery position, the baby's head appears first
vernix caseosa
Waxy or "cheesy" white substance found coating the skin of newborn humans, protects newborn skin from chapping or hardening after being bathed in amniotic fluid during gestation
FSH and LH
follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone secreted by the pituitary gland after the onset of menstruation, stimulate maturation of the ovum and ovulation, after ovulation LH influences the maintenance of the corpus luteum
production stops durin
IUD
intrauterine device; contraceptive, prevents implanation of the embryo
HRT
hormone replacement therapy, relieves symptoms of menopause due to decreases in estrogen levels, delays onset of osteoporosis, increased risk of breast cancer, stroke, or heart attack
chart of female hormones
adnexa uteri
fallopian tubes, ovaries, and supporting ligaments
areola
dark-pigmented area surrounding the breast nipple
cervix
The opening to the uterus
chorion
Outermost layer of the two membranes surrounding the embryo; it forms the fetal part of the placenta.
endometrium
inner lining of the uterus
estrogen
Female sex hormone
fallopian tube
one of a pair of ducts through which the ovum travels to the uterus, aka oviduct
genitalia
reproductive organs; also called genitals
gestation
period from fertilization of the ovum to birth
myometrium
muscular middle layer of the uterus
orifice
mouth, opening
ovarian follicle
developing sac enclosing each ovum within the ovary, only about 400 mature in a woman's lifetime
parturition
act of giving birth
pregnancy
Condition in a female of having a developing embryo and fetus in her uterus for about 40 weeks
puberty
the period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing
uterine serosa
outermost layer surrounding the uterus
amni/o
amnion
amniotic fluid
fluid within the amniotic sac that surrounds and protects the fetus
bartholin/o
Bartholin gland
bartholinitis
inflammation of the Bartholin glands
cervic/o
cervix
endocervitis
inflammation of the inner lining of the cervix
chori/o, chorion/o
chorion (outermost membrane of the fetus)
chorionic
pertaining to the chorion
colp/o
vagina
culd/o
cul-de-sac
episi/o
vulva
episiotomy
surgical incision of the perineum to enlarge the vagina and so facilitate delivery during childbirth
galact/o
milk
galactorrhea
abnormal, persistent discharge of milk
gynec/o
woman, female
gynecomastia
development of breast tissue in males
hyster/o
uterus, womb
hysterectomy
surgical removal of the uterus
lact/o
milk
lactation
secretion of milk
mamm/o, mast/o
breast
inframammary
below the breast
mammoplasty
surgical repair of the breast
mastitis
inflammation of the breast
mastectomy
surgical removal of a breast
men/o
menses, menstruation
amenorrhea
absence of menstruation
dysmenorrhea
painful menstruation
oligomenorrhea
scanty or infrequent menstrual flow
menorrhagia
excessive bleeding during menstruation
metr/o, metri/o, uter/o
uterus
metrorrhagia
bleeding between periods
my/o, myom/o
muscle, muscle tumor
myomectomy
the surgical removal of uterine fibroids
nat/i
birth
neonatal
pertaining to newborn
myoma
a benign tumor made up of muscle tissue, aka fibroids
obstetr/o
pregnancy and childbirth
o/o, ov/o, ovul/o
egg
oogenesis
Egg production
oocyte
immature egg cell
oophor/o, ovari/o
ovary
oophorectomy
excision of an ovary
ovum
A mature egg cell
ovarian
pertaining to the ovary
anovulatory
ovulation does not occur; ovum is not released from the ovary
perine/o
perineum
perineorrhaphy
suturing of (a tear in) the perineum
phor/o
to bear
oophoritis
inflammation of an ovary
salping/o
fallopian tube
salpingectomy
surgical removal of a fallopian tube
uterine prolapse
the condition in which the uterus slides from its normal position in the pelvic cavity and sags into the vagina
vagin/o
vagina
vaginal orifice
opening of the vagina
vaginitis
inflammation of the vagina
vulv/o
vulva
vulvovaginitis
inflammation of the vulva and vagina
vulvodynia
chronic pain in the vulva
-arche
beginning
-cyesis
pregnancy
-gravida
pregnant
-parous
bearing, bringing forth
-rrhea
flow, discharge
-salpinx
fallopian (uterine) tube
-tocia
labor, birth
-version
act of turning
pseudocyesis
false pregnancy
primigravida
first pregnancy
primiparous
Pertaining to a woman who has given birth to at least one child
leukorrhea
white discharge from the vagina
menorrhea
normal menstruation
pyosalpinx
pus in the fallopian tube
dystocia
difficult labor
oxytocia
rapid labor and delivery
cephalic version
turning of the head of the fetus toward the cervix
dys-
painful
dyspareunia
painful intercourse
endo-
within
endometritis
inflammation of the endometrium
in-
in
involution of the uterus
the uterus returns to its normal nonpregnant size
intra-
within
intrauterine
within the uterus
multi-
many
multipara
many births
multigravida
woman who has been pregnant more than once
nulli-
no, not, none
nulligravida
a woman who has never been pregnant
nullipara
a woman who has never given birth
pre-
before
prenatal
before birth
primi-
first
primipara
first birth
retro-
backward
retroversion
uterus is abnormally tilted backward
carcinoma of the cervix
malignant cells within the cervix (cervical cancer), can be from HPV
cervicitis
inflammation of the cervix, can be caused by some STIs
carcinoma of the endometrium
malignant tumor of the uterine lining (adenocarcinoma)
endometriosis
endometrial tissue located outside the uterus
fibroids
benign tumors in the uterus
ovarian cancer
malignant tumor of the ovary (adenocarcinoma)
ovarian cysts
collections of fluid within a sac (cyst) in the ovary
Cystadenocarcinoma
a malignant tumor that forms cysts
Benign cystic teratoma
Composed of multiple dermal tissues including hair, teeth, and sebaceous glands
pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
inflammation and infection of organs in the pelvic region; salpingitis, oophoritis, endometritis, endocervicitis, leading cause is STIs
breast cancer
malignant tumor of the breast (arising from milk glands and ducts)
fibrocystic breast disease
numerous small sacs of fluid surrounded by dense strands of fibrous tissue in the breast
abruptio placentae
premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall
ectopic pregnancy
implantation of the fertilized egg in any site other than the normal uterine location
multiple gestations
more than one fetus inside the uterus
placenta previa
implantation of the placenta over the cervical opening or in the lower region of the uterus
preeclampsia
abnormal condition associated with pregnancy, marked by high blood pressure, proteinuria, edema, and headache
apgar score
a scale of 1-10 to evaluate a newborn infant's physical status at 1 and 5 minutes after birth, heart rate, respiration, color, muscle tone and response to stimuli
Down Syndrome
chromosomal abnormality (trisomy 21) results in mental retardation, retarded growth, a flat face with a short nose, low-set ears, and slanted eyes
erythroblastosis fetalis
hemolytic disease in the newborn (HDN) caused by a blood group (Rh factor) incompatibility between the mother and the fetus
hyaline membrane disease/respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn
acute lung disease commonly seen in the premature newborn from a surfactant deficiency
hydroencephalus
collection of fluid in the ventricles of the brain
fontanelle
soft spot between the skull bones of an infant
meconium aspiration syndrome
abnormal inhalation of meconium (first stool) produced by a fetus or newborn
pyloric stenosis
narrowing of the opening of the stomach to the duodenum, frequently associated with down syndrome
Pap smear
Test for early detection of cervical cancer; scraping of cells removed from cervix for examination under microscope.
pregnancy test
blood or urine test to detect the presence of hCG
hysterosalpingography
x-ray imaging of the uterus and fallopian tubes after injection of contrast material
mammography
x-ray imaging of the breast
aspiration
withdrawal of fluid from a cavity or sac with an instrument using suction
cauterization
destruction of tissue by burning
loop electrocautery excision procedure (LEEP)
a procedure done to remove abnormal cells in cervical dysplasia
colposcopy
visual examination of the vagina and cervix using a colposcope
conization
removal of a cone-shaped section (cone biopsy) of the cervix
cryosurgery
use of cold temperatures to destroy tissue
culdocentesis
needle aspiration of fluid from the cul-de-sac
dilation and curettage (D&C)
widening the cervix and scraping off the endometrial lining of the uterus
exenteration
removal of internal organs within a cavity
tubal ligation
blocking the fallopian tubes to prevent fertilization from occurring
sterilization
making an individual incapable of reproduction
abortion
termination of pregnancy
amniocentesis
needle puncture of the amniotic sac to withdraw amniotic fluid for analysis
cesarean section
surgical incision of the abdominal wall and uterus to deliver a fetus
chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
sampling of placental tissues (chorionic villi) for prenatal diagnosis
fetal monitoring
continuous recording of the fetal heart rate and maternal uterine contractions to assess fetal status and the progress of labor
in vitro fertilization (IVF)
egg and sperm cells are combined outside the body in a laboratory dish (in vitro) to facilitate fertilization
intracytoplasmic sperm injection
fertilization accomplished by injecting a sperm cell directly into an egg
AB
abortion
AFP
alpha-fetoprotein
BRCA1 BRCA2
breast cancer 1 and 2 - genetic mutations associated with increased risk for breast cancer
CA-125
protein marker elevated in ovarian cancer
BSE
breast self-examination
C-section, CS
cesarean section
CIN
cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
CIS
carcinoma in situ
CX
cervix
D&C
dilation and curettage
DCIS
ductal carcinoma in situ
DUB
dysfunctional uterine bleeding
FHR
fetal heart rate
G
gravida
GnRH
gonadotropin releasing hormone
HCG
human chorionic gonadotropin
HDN
hemolytic disease of the newborn
HPV
human papillomavirus
HSG
hysterosalpingography
LMP
last menstrual period
para 2-0-1-2
a woman's reproductive history: 2 full-term infants, 0 preterm, 1 abortion, and 2 living children
sentinel lymph node biopsy
injection of blue dye and/or radioactive isotope used to identify the sentinel lymph nodes
TAH-BSO
total abdominal hysterectomy/bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
UAE
uterine artery embolization
VH
vaginal hysterectomy