Chapter 11: Reproductive System Pathology Terms

Question 1

amenorrhea (ă-mĕn-ō-RĒ-ă)

Answer 1

absence of menses in a woman between the ages of 16 and 40

Question 2

Bartholin’s gland cyst (BĀR-tō-lĭnz glānd sĭst)

Answer 2

blockage of one or both Bartholin’s glands, causing inflammation and tenderness

Question 3

candidiasis

Answer 3

vaginal fungal infection caused by Candida albicans, with key symptoms including itching, burning, and a thick, curdy discharge; also known as a vaginal yeast infection

Question 4

dysmenorrhea (dĭs-mĕn-ō-RĒ-ă)

Answer 4

pain in the lower abdominopelvic area and other discomfort associated with menses

Question 5

ectopic pregnancy (ĕk-TŎ-pĭk PRĔG-năn-sē)

Answer 5

implantation of a fertilized ovum outside of the uterus, often in the fallopian tube; also called tubal pregnancy

Question 6

endometriosis (ĕn-dō-mē-trē-Ō-sĭs)

Answer 6

growth of endometrial tissue in abnormal sites in the lower abdominopelvic area

Question 7

fibrocystic breast disease (fī-brō-SĬS-tĭk brĕst dĭ-ZĒZ)

Answer 7

presence of multiple lumps in the breast, consisting of fibrous tumors or fluid-filled cysts

Question 8

infertility (ĭn-fĕr-TIL-ĭ-tē)

Answer 8

inability to achieve pregnancy after trying to conceive for a period of 1 year or more; may be primary, which is an inability to conceive a first child, or secondary, which is infertility in a woman who has previously conceived

Question 9

ovarian cyst (ō-VĀ-rē-ăn sĭst)

Answer 9

sac of fluid or semisolid mass that grows within the ovary

Question 10

pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) (PĒL-vĭk ĭn-FLĀ-mă-tōrē dĭ-ZĒZ)

Answer 10

any acute or chronic infection of the female reproductive system, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries

Question 11

premenstrual syndrome (prē-MĔN-stroo-ăl SĬN-drōm)

Answer 11

range of symptoms occurring 7 to 14 days before menstruation, including fluid retention, bloating, temporary weight gain, breast tenderness, headaches, depression, irritability, diarrhea, constipation, and appetite changes

Question 12

toxic shock syndrome (TSS) (TŎKS-ĭk shŏk SĬN-drōm)

Answer 12

rare disorder caused by bacterial exotoxins; most commonly occurs in young women who use tampons

Question 13

uterine fibroids (ŭ-tĕr-ĭn FĪ-broyds)

Answer 13

benign, smooth tumors made of muscle and fat; also called leiomyomas

Question 14

uterine prolapse (ŭ-tĕr-ĭn PRŌ-lăps)

Answer 14

downward protrusion of the uterus into the vaginal opening

Question 15

abortion (ă-BOR-shŭn)

Answer 15

spontaneous or therapeutic loss of a pregnancy at less than 20 weeks; also called miscarriage

Question 16

abruptio placentae (ă-BRŬP-shē-ō plă-SĔN-tă)

Answer 16

sudden, premature detachment of the placenta from the uterine wall

Question 17

eclampsia (ĕ-KLĀMP-sē-ă)

Answer 17

complication of pregnancy characterized by severe hypertension, seizures, and possible coma

Question 18

gestational diabetes (jĕs-TĀ-shŭn-ăl dī-ă-BĒ-tēz)

Answer 18

development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a pregnant woman who did not have diabetes before becoming pregnant

Question 19

placenta previa (plă-SĔN-tă PRĒ-vē-ă)

Answer 19

implantation of the placenta in the lower uterine segment rather than the central or upper portion of the uterine wall, which may cause maternal hemorrhage during labor

Question 20

balanoposthitis (băl-ă-nō-pŏs-THĪ-tĭs)

Answer 20

inflammation of the glans penis and foreskin covering the glans penis; also called balanitis

Question 21

benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) (bē-NĪN prŏs-TĀT-ĭc hī-PĔR-trŏ-fē)

Answer 21

noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, common in elderly men

Question 22

cryptorchidism (krĭpt-ŎR-kĭd-ĭ-zum)

Answer 22

failure of one or both testes to descend into the scrotum

Question 23

epididymitis (ĕp-ĭ-dĭd-ĭ-MĪ-tĭs)

Answer 23

acute or chronic inflammation or infection of the epididymis, a tubular structure on the posterior surface of the testicle

Question 24

erectile dysfunction (ED) (ĕ-RĔK-tīl dĭs-FŬNK-shŭn)

Answer 24

general term that describes several disorders, all of which affect the ability of a man to attain an erection adequate to achieve a satisfactory sexual experience; also called impotence

Question 25

impotence (ĬM-pŏ-tĕns)

Answer 25

inability of a male to achieve or maintain an erection

Question 26

orchitis (or-KĪ-tĭs)

Answer 26

acute or chronic condition of inflammation of one or both testicles, caused by (usually viral) infection

Question 27

prostatitis (prŏs-tă-TĪ-tĭs)

Answer 27

acute or chronic inflammation of the prostate gland

Question 28

testicular torsion (tĕs-TĬK-ū-lăr TŌR-shŭn)

Answer 28

condition in which the testicles become twisted and the spermatic cord, blood vessels, nerves, and vas deferens become strangled

Question 29

varicocele (VĀR-ĭ-kō-sēl)

Answer 29

enlargement and dilation or herniation of the veins of the spermatic cord that drain the testis

Question 30

chlamydia (klă-MĬD-ē-ă)

Answer 30

the most common STI, a bacterial infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis

Question 31

gonorrhea (gŏn-ō-RĒ-ă)

Answer 31

STI caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae that results in inflammation of mucous membranes

Question 32

herpes genitalis (HĔRP-ēs jĕn-ĭ-TĀL-ĭs)

Answer 32

STI caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 that results in painful vesicles; commonly called genital herpes

Question 33

human papillomavirus (HŪ-măn păp-ĭ-LŌ-mă VĪ-rŭs)

Answer 33

STI caused by human papillomavirus that results in painless, cauliflower-like warts; a cause of cervical cancer in women

Question 34

sterility (stĕr-ĬL-ĭ-tē)

Answer 34

inability to produce offspring

Question 35

syphilis (SĬF-ĭ-lĭs)

Answer 35

multistage STI caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum, with key symptoms including skin lesions; eventually fatal unless treated

Question 36

trichomoniasis (trĭk-ō-mō-NĪ-ă-sĭs)

Answer 36

STI infestation with Trichomonas vaginalis parasites; key symptoms include vaginitis, urethritis, and cystitis