| abortifacient |
substance that speeds or promotes abortion |
| abortion |
early termination of a pregnancy |
| abruptio placentae |
separation of the placenta from the uterine wall before birth |
| abstinence |
refraining from something (in this case, sexual intercourse) |
| amastia |
failure of breast tissue to develop |
| amenorrhea |
failure of menstruation to occur |
| amniocentesis |
sampling amniotic fluid during pregnancy |
| amnion |
one of the membranes surrounding the developing fetus |
| amniorrhea |
abnormal flow of amniotic fluid |
| amniorrhexis |
rupture of the amniotic sac ("breaking water") |
| amnioscope |
instrument for looking inside the amniotic sac |
| amnioscopy |
process of looking inside the amniotic sac |
| amniotomy |
cutting into the amniotic sac |
| anomaly |
a person, structure, or process that is out of the ordinary |
| anorchidism |
condition of no testis |
| anovulation |
condition of no ovulation |
| antepartum |
time period before birth |
| antral |
ovarian follicles in a resting state and visible by ultrasound (i.e. 2-9 mm diameter) |
| areola |
pigmented area around the nipple |
| aspermia |
no sperm |
| azoospermia |
no living (moving) sperm |
| balanitis |
inflammation of the glans penis |
| balanoplasty |
surgical revision of the glans penis |
| balanorrhea |
abnormal flow (discharge) from the glans penis |
| Bartholin glands |
glands in the female vagina that produce a lubricating fluid (analogous to male bulbourethral gland) |
| blastocele |
fluid-filled cavity inside the embryo at the blastocyst stage |
| blastocyst |
stage of embryonic development where the embryo forms a fluid-filled cavity (about 5-6 days after fertilization) |
| bradytocia |
abnormally slow process of childbirth |
| bulbourethral |
glands found next to the urethra in the male; also called Cowper's gland; produce Cowper's fluid ("pre-cum") |
| cardiotocograph |
instrument for recording the child's heartbeat during childbirth |
| cephalopelvic |
pertaining to the head of the baby in relationship to the pelvis of the mother |
| cervicectomy |
surgical removal of the cervix |
| cervicitis |
inflammation of the cervix |
| cervicocolpitis |
inflammation of the cervix and vagina |
| cervicodynia |
pain in the cervix |
| cervicography |
procedure for photographing the cervix after application of acetic acid (vinegar) |
| cervicovaginitis |
inflammation of the cervix and vagina |
| cervix |
the opening of the uterus into the vagina |
| cesarean section |
childbirth performed with surgical methods |
| chancre |
ulcer on the genitalia caused by syphilis |
| Chlamydia |
bacterial genus causing a sexually transmitted disease or the disease caused by this organism |
| chorioamnionitis |
inflammation of the fetal chorion and amniotic sac |
| chorioangioma |
tumor of the blood vessels supplying the chorion |
| choriocarcinoma |
cancerous tumor of the chorion |
| chorion |
outermost membrane surrounding the embryo; contributes to the formation of the placenta |
| chorionitis |
inflammation of the fetal chorion |
| circumcision |
removal of the foreskin |
| clitoris |
erectile, sexually responsive tissue in the female |
| coitus |
the process of sexual intercourse |
| colpitis |
inflammation of the vagina |
| colpocystitis |
inflammation of the vagina and bladder |
| colpopexy |
surgical fixation of the vagina |
| colpoplasty |
surgical revision of the vagina |
| colpoptosis |
drooping (displacement) of the vagina |
| colposcope |
instrument for looking inside the vulva at the vagina and cervix |
| colposcopy |
process of looking inside vulva at the vagina and cervix |
| colpostenosis |
narrowing of the vagina |
| conception |
the process of fertilization; when sperm meets egg |
| condom |
device for preventing the emission of sperm by covering the penis |
| congenital |
occurring or apparent at birth |
| contraception |
a drug or device that reduces the rate of conception |
| contraction |
shortening of a muscle (in this context, especially uterine smooth muscle) |
| corpora cavernosum |
erectile tissue in the male penis forming the bulk of the penis |
| corpora albicans |
remnant of a shed egg seen on the surface of the ovary |
| corpus hemorrhagicum |
remnant of a shed egg seen on the surface of the ovary with evident blood |
| corpus luteum |
remnant of a shed egg seen on the surface of the ovary which secretes hormones for about two weeks after the egg is shed |
| corpus spongiosum |
erectile tissue in the male penis surrounding the urethra |
| cremaster |
muscle that covers the testes and spermatic cord in males |
| cryptorchidism |
condition of hidden testis (i.e. undescended testis) |
| cytomegalovirus |
virus related to herpes that can cause birth defects |
| dartos |
muscle that underlies the scrotum or labia majora |
| decidua |
inner lining of uterus that is shed during childbirth |
| dermoid cyst |
common congenital cyst |
| dizygotic |
type of twin that results from two zygotes; fraternal twins |
| dysmenorrhea |
abnormally painful menstrual flow |
| dyspareunia |
pain during sexual intercourse |
| dysplasia |
malformation of a structure |
| dystocia |
difficulty during the process of childbirth |
| eclampsia |
seizures resulting from high blood pressure with pregnancy |
| ectoderm |
one of the layers of the developing embryo which forms epidermis and nervous tissue |
| ectopic |
development of an embryo anywhere except the uterine lining |
| ejaculation |
emission of semen as the result of sexual stimulation |
| embryonic |
pertaining to the first 10 weeks after conception |
| endocervicitis |
inflammation of the lining of the cervical canal |
| endoderm |
one of the layers of the developing embryo which forms the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and urinary system |
| endometriosis |
displacement of the inner lining of the uterus to places where it does not belong |
| endometritis |
inflammation of the inner lining of the uterus |
| endometrium |
the inner lining of the uterus |
| epididymectomy |
surgical removal of the epididymis |
| epididymis |
the "waiting room" where sperm go to mature between being made in the testes and ejaculated |
| epididymitis |
inflammation of the epididymis |
| epididymo-orchitis |
inflammation of the epididymis and testes |
| epididymotomy |
cutting into the epididymis |
| episiorrhaphy |
suturing the opening of the vulva near the perineum, especially to repair episiotomy |
| episiostenosis |
narrowing of the opening of the vulva |
| episiotomy |
cutting into the opening of the vulva near the perineum (to decrease the chance that these structures will tear) |
| erectile |
tissues that fill with blood during sexual arousal |
| eutocia |
perfect process of childbirth |
| extraembryonic |
membranes outside the embryo |
| fecund |
fertile or productive |
| fecundability |
ability to bear children |
| fertilization |
the union of a spermatozoon with a female egg, producing a zygote |
| fertilized |
an egg which has united with a spermatozoon |
| fetometry |
process of measuring a fetus |
| fimbria |
finger-like extensions of the uterine (Fallopian) tubes; help move the egg shed from the ovary into the tube |
| fraternal |
type of twin that results from two zygotes; share the same amount of DNA as any two non-twin siblings |
| gastrulation |
the process of infolding in the human embryo that forms three layers; occurs at about day 16 after fertilization or day 30 after the last menstrual period |
| gestation |
the process of carrying a fetus |
| glans |
the pigmented, enlarged end of the male penis or female clitoris |
| gonad |
an organ of sexual reproduction |
| gonadarche |
the beginning of gonadal development |
| gonadotropin |
a hormone which acts on the gonads |
| gonorrhea |
a sexually transmitted disease characterized by abnormal flow from the gonads |
| granulosa |
description of small, scattered cells in a tissue |
| gravida |
number of pregnancies |
| gravidarum |
associated with pregnancy or pregnant persons |
| gravidity |
number of pregnancies (compare to parity) |
| gynecologist |
medical specialist who studies the female reproductive system |
| gynecology |
medical specialty of female reproduction |
| gynecomastia |
enlarged breasts in the male |
| hematosalpinx |
blood in the uterine (Fallopian) tubes |
| hemorrhagicum |
pertaining to blood |
| hermaphrodite |
a person who has congenital external characteristics that lie between male and female; intersex |
| herpes |
virus that infects the nervous system, often lying dormant for years |
| hydrocele |
a fluid-filled sac inside the scrotum |
| hydrocelectomy |
surgical removal of a hydrocele |
| hydrosalpinx |
a fluid-filled sac in the wall of the uterine (Fallopian) tube |
| hymen |
thin membrane covering the female vulva at birth |
| hyperadrogenism |
condition of high male hormone levels |
| hypermastia |
condition of excessively large breasts |
| hypomastia |
condition of excessively small breasts |
| hysteralgia |
pain in the uterus |
| hysterectomy |
surgical removal of the uterus |
| hysterocele |
herniation of the uterus |
| hysterodynia |
pain in the uterus |
| hysterography |
procedure for imaging the uterus, especially as part of a fertility test |
| hysteropexy |
surgical fixation of the uterus |
| hysteroptosis |
drooping (displacement) of the uterus |
| hysterorrhexis |
rupture of the uterus |
| hysterosalpingectomy |
surgical removal of the uterus and uterine (Fallopian) tubes |
| hysterosalpingogram |
x-ray image of the uterus and uterine (Fallopian) tubes |
| hysteroscope |
instrument for looking inside the uterus |
| hysteroscopy |
process of looking inside the uterus |
| hysterotomy |
cutting into the uterus |
| implantation |
the process of an embryo burrowing into the uterine wall; occurs at about 6 days after fertilization or about 20 days after last period |
| in vitro |
occurring in a laboratory |
| infertile |
unable to bear children |
| infertility |
inability to conceive offspring |
| inhibin |
hormone that acts to reduce gonadotropin secretion |
| intersex |
an individual who does not perfectly fit the anatomical definition of "male" or "female" which predominates in their society |
| intraepithelial |
cells on the surface of the cervix; used to describe the location of abnormal cervical cells in a Pap smear |
| intrapartum |
time period during birth |
| intrauterine |
type of insemination that involves direct insertion of semen into the uterus |
| labia majora |
external genitalia of the female |
| labia minora |
external genitalia of the female |
| labioscrotal |
pertaining to the tissues which develop into the labia in females and the scrotum in males |
| lactation |
the process of producing breast milk |
| lactogenic |
substance which promotes the formation of breast milk |
| lactorrhea |
abnormal flow of breast milk |
| leiomyoma |
tumor of the smooth muscle layer of the uterus |
| leukorrhea |
abnormal flow of whitish fluid from the vagina |
| ligation |
tying together with a suture, such as a sterilization procedure in females (tubal ligation) |
| macromastia |
enlarged breasts |
| macrosomia |
abnormally large body size in a fetus |
| mammogram |
image of breast tissue |
| mammoplasty |
surgical revision of the breast |
| mastalgia |
pain in the breast |
| mastectomy |
surgical removal of the breast |
| mastitis |
inflammation of the breast |
| mastopexy |
surgical fixation of the breast |
| mastoptosis |
drooping (displacement) of the breast |
| menarche |
the beginning of menstrual cycles in a female |
| menopause |
the end of menstrual cycles in a female |
| menorrhagia |
menstrual flow lasting longer than 7 days |
| menorrhalgia |
(abnormally intense) pain with menstruation |
| menorrhea |
flow of menstrual blood |
| menstruation |
the process of shedding blood and tissue from the uterine lining on a monthly cycle |
| mesoderm |
one of the layers of the developing embryo which forms muscle, connective tissue, and kidneys |
| mesonephric duct |
an embryonic structure which forms the epididymis, vas deferens, and seminal vesicles |
| metrocolpocele |
herniation of the uterus and vagina |
| metromenorrhagia |
excessive uterine bleeding |
| metrophlebitis |
inflammation of the uterine veins |
| metrorrhagia |
abnormal uterine bleeding |
| microcephalus |
condition of a fetus with a smaller than normal head |
| micromastia |
condition of small breasts |
| monozygotic |
twins resulting from the splitting of a fertilized egg early in embryonic development; identical twins |
| myoepithelial |
cells of the breast which share muscle and epithelial tissue characteristics |
| myometritis |
inflammation of the muscular layer of the uterus |
| myometrium |
smooth muscle layer of the uterus |
| neonatal |
pertaining to the time immediately after childbirth |
| neonatologist |
medical specialist who studies newborn infants |
| neonatology |
medical specialty of newborn infants |
| neoplasia |
process of cancer formation |
| nulliparous |
has not ever given birth before |
| obstetric |
pertaining to childbirth |
| obstetrician |
medical specialist who studies childbirth |
| oligohydramnios |
condition of an unusually sparse amount of amniotic fluid |
| oligomenorrhea |
condition of unusually sparse flow of menstrual fluid |
| oligospermia |
condition of unusually low number of sperm |
| oocyte |
female gamete; egg cell |
| oogonia |
stage in development of the oocyte |
| oophorectomy |
surgical removal of the ovary |
| oophoritis |
inflammation of the ovary |
| oophorocystectomy |
surgical removal of an ovarian cyst |
| oophorocystosis |
condition of ovarian cysts |
| oophoroma |
tumor of the ovary |
| oophorotomy |
cutting into the ovary |
| orchidalgia |
pain in the testis |
| orchidectomy |
surgical removal of the testis |
| orchiditis |
inflammation of the testis |
| orchidopexy |
surgical fixation of the testis |
| orchidoptosis |
drooping (displacement) of the testis |
| orchidotomy |
cutting into the testis |
| orchiectomy |
surgical removal of the testis |
| orchiepididymitis |
inflammation of the testis and epididymis |
| orchiodynia |
pain in the testis |
| orchiopathy |
disease of the testis |
| orchiopexy |
surgical fixation of the testis |
| orchioplasty |
surgical revision of the testis |
| orchitis |
inflammation of the testis |
| organogenesis |
the formation of organs during embryonic development |
| orifice |
opening |
| ovaralgia |
pain in the ovary |
| ovarialgia |
pain in the ovary |
| ovarian |
pertaining to the ovary |
| ovariocentesis |
surgical puncture of an ovary or ovarian cyst |
| ovariocyesis |
ectopic pregnancy involving implantation of an embryo on the ovary |
| ovariorrhexis |
rupture of an ovarian follicle or cyst |
| ovariostomy |
creating an opening in an ovarian cyst |
| ovaritis |
inflammation of the ovary |
| ovary |
the gonads of the female; organ which creates, matures, and sheds female gametes (eggs) and secretes hormones |
| ovulation |
process of developing and shedding mature oocytes (ova) |
| ovum |
mature ooctye |
| oxytocin |
polypeptide hormone that increases uterine contractions during childbirth; mediates milk let-down during suckling; promotes pair bonding between mates |
| Pap smear |
clinical test for obtaining a biopsy of cervical tissue for microscopic examination; used to detect precancerous and cancerous conditions |
| papilloma |
wart, especially one caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) |
| para |
bearing a child; pregnancy that becomes obvious (cf. parity) |
| paramesonephric ducts |
Müllerian ducts; embryonic structures that develop into the uterine (Fallopian) tubes, uterus, cervix, and part of the vagina |
| paraurethral glands |
Skene's glands; become engorged with blood and secrete fluid during female sexual arousal |
| parity |
the number of live births (compare to gravidity) |
| pelvic |
pertaining to the bones and organs near the hips |
| pelvicephalometry |
measurement of the mother's pelvis in relationship to the baby's head |
| pelvimetry |
measurement of the pelvis |
| penis |
male organ used for sexual intercourse |
| perimetritis |
inflammation of the membranes surrounding the uterus |
| perimetrium |
membrane surrounding the uterus (i.e. visceral peritoneum of the uterus) |
| perinatal |
pertaining to the time period immediately before and after birth |
| perinatologist |
medical specialist who studies the period immediately before and after birth |
| perinatology |
medical specialty of the period immediately before and after birth |
| perineocele |
herniation of the perineum |
| perineoplasty |
surgical revision of the perineum |
| perineorrhaphy |
suturing of the perineum, especially to repair an episiotomy |
| perineotomy |
cutting into the perineum (to decrease the chance that these structures will tear) |
| perineum |
the tissue between the genitals and anus |
| placenta previa |
condition where the baby's exit is blocked by the placenta |
| placental abruption |
condition in which the placenta tears free of the uterine lining before labor and delivery |
| polyhydramnios |
abnormally large amount of amniotic fluid |
| polymenorrhea |
abnormally large flow of menstrual fluid |
| polyspermy |
abnormal condition where multiple sperm penetrate a single egg (usually incompatible with fertilization) |
| postnatal |
time period after birth (from the baby's perspective) |
| postpartum |
time period after labor and delivery (from the mother's perspective) |
| preeclampsia |
high blood pressure which has not yet, but may lead to, the complications of eclampsia |
| prenatal |
time period before birth |
| prepuce |
foreskin of the penis |
| priapism |
condition of permanent erection |
| prolapse |
condition where nearby organs (uterus, bowel, bladder, or upper vagina) bulge into the vagina |
| pronucleus |
transient structure derived from the egg or sperm nucleus during fertilization |
| prostate |
gland surrounding the male urethra near its exit from the bladder |
| prostatectomy |
surgical removal of the prostate gland |
| prostatitis |
inflammation of the prostate gland |
| prostatocystitis |
inflammation of the prostate gland and bladder |
| prostatolith |
stone in the prostate gland |
| prostatolithotomy |
surgical removal of a stone in the prostate |
| prostatomegaly |
enlargement of the prostate gland |
| prostatorrhea |
abnormal flow from the prostate |
| prostatovesiculectomy |
surgical removal of the prostate and seminal vesicle |
| prostatovesiculitis |
inflammation of the prostate gland and seminal vesicle |
| pseudocyesis |
false pregnancy |
| pseudohermaphrodite |
inconsistency between the apparent sex of an individual and their genetic makeup |
| pubarche |
the beginning of the development of hte pubic region |
| pubic |
pertaining to the anterior wall of the pelvis |
| pubis |
the anterior wall of the pelvis |
| pubocervical ligament |
ligament attaching the cervix to the pubic symphysis (in the midline, where the pelvic bones join) |
| pyosalpinx |
pus in the uterine (Fallopian) tubes |
| rectocele |
herniation of the rectum |
| relaxin |
hormone that aids childbirth by relaxing the mother's muscles |
| rete testis |
network of tubes between the testicle and epididymis |
| salpingectomy |
surgical removal of the uterine (Fallopian) tube |
| salpingitis |
inflammation of the uterine (Fallopian) tube |
| salpingocele |
herniation of the uterine (Fallopian) tube |
| salpingocyesis |
ectopic pregnancy involving implantation of an embryo in the uterine (Fallopian) tubes |
| salpingo-oophorectomy |
surgical removal of the uterine (Fallopian) tube and ovary |
| salpingo-oophoritis |
inflammation of the uterine (Fallopian) tube and ovary |
| salpingopexy |
surgical fixation of the uterine (Fallopian) tube |
| salpingoscope |
instrument for looking inside the uterine (Fallopian) tubes |
| semen |
mixture of sperm and secretions of the seminal vesicles, prostate, and bulbourethral glands |
| seminal vesicles |
glands which provide about 2/3 of the semen by volume |
| seminiferous tubules |
network of tubes in the testicle that collect sperm cells |
| seminoma |
tumor of the seminal vesicles |
| somatomammotropin |
hormone released from the placenta that acts on the mother's metabolism, protecting the fetus from malnutrition |
| sonohysterography |
procedure for visualizing the uterus using ultrasound, especially as part of a fertility test |
| speculum |
medical instrument used to enlarge the vagina for easier inspection by a clinician |
| spermatid |
stage in the development of a spermatozoon |
| spermatocele |
fluid-filled sac near the top of the testis; spermatic cyst |
| spermatocyte |
stage in the development of a spermatozoon |
| spermatogenesis |
the process of creating spermatozoa |
| spermatogenic cells |
cells in the testis that are responsible for sperm production |
| spermatogonia |
stage in the development of a spermatozoon |
| spermatolysis |
breakdown of spermatozoa |
| spermatozoa |
mature sperm cells (plural) |
| spermatozoon |
a mature sperm cell (singular) |
| spermicide |
substance that kills or incapacitates sperm |
| spermolytic |
substance that breaks down sperm |
| stroma |
fibrous connective tissue |
| suckling |
the process used by an infant to draw milk from a mother's breast |
| sustentacular cells |
Sertoli cells; cells that support spermatogenesis and respond to follicle-stimulating hormone |
| syphilis |
sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum |
| teratogen |
substance that causes birth defects |
| teratogenic |
pertaining to birth defects |
| teratology |
medical specialty of the causes of birth defects |
| teratoma |
striking abnormality in the development of a fetus |
| testes |
the gonads of the male; organ which creates, matures, and sheds male gametes (sperm) and secretes hormones |
| testicle |
testis |
| testicular |
pertaining to the testicles |
| testis |
singular of testes; testicle |
| testitis |
inflammation of the testis |
| testotoxicosis |
condition of excessive testosterone production in an child leading to early puberty |
| tocodynagraph |
instrument for recording the force of uterine contractions |
| tocograph |
instrument for recording the force of uterine contractions |
| tocography |
procedure for recording the force of uterine contractions |
| tocolytic |
substance that slows or stops the process of childbirth |
| torsion |
twisting something in a spiral fashion |
| toxoplasmosis |
disease caused by the single-celled parasite Toxoplasma gondii, commonly found in cat feces; can cause birth defects |
| transvaginal |
procedure that operates through the vaginal wall (e.g. ultrasound or surgery) |
| trichomoniasis |
sexually transmitted disease caused by the single-celled parasite Trichomonas vaginalis; as the name implies, it's usually asymptomatic in males |
| trophoectoderm |
cells surrounding the blastocyst that contact the uterine lining at implantation (about days 5-6) |
| tunica albuginea |
connective tissue layer around the corpus cavernosum of the penis; also the connective tissue layer around the scrotum or ovaries |
| urethra |
tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside world |
| urethrocele |
herniation of the urethra (urethral prolapse) |
| uterine |
pertaining to the uterus |
| uterus |
female organ that houses the embryo during gestation; womb |
| vagina |
female organ used for sexual intercourse and as a passage during childbirth |
| vaginitis |
inflammation of the vagina |
| vaginodynia |
pain in the vagina |
| vaginomycosis |
fungal infection of the vagina |
| vaginoperineoplasty |
surgical revision of the vagina and perineum |
| vaginoperineorrhaphy |
suturing the vagina and perineum |
| vaginoperineotomy |
cutting into the vagina and perineum |
| vaginoplasty |
surgical revision of the vagina |
| vaginoscope |
instrument for looking inside the vagina |
| vaginosis |
abnormal flora (bacteria) in the vagina |
| varicocele |
enlargement of the veins draining the testis |
| vas deferens |
tube which carries sperm from the epididymis to the urethra |
| vasectomy |
surgical removal or ligation of the vas deferens |
| vasovasostomy |
creating an opening between two cut ends of the vas deferens; reversing a vasectomy |
| vesicovaginal |
pertaining to the bladder and vagina |
| vesiculectomy |
surgical removal of the seminal vesicle |
| vesiculitis |
inflammation of the seminal vesicle |
| vesiculotomy |
cutting into the seminal vesicle |
| vulva |
outer opening of the vagina |
| vulvitis |
inflammation of the vulva |
| vulvodynia |
pain in the vulva |
| vulvovaginitis |
inflammation of the vulva and vagina |
| zygote |
fertilized but not yet implanted embryo |
