Chapter 12: Female Reproductive System Flashcards
Roles of the female reproductive system:
1) Produce and transport ova
2) Discharge ova from the body if fertilization doesn’t occur.
3) Provide a place for a developing fetus if fertilization does occur.
4) Produce sex hormones including estrogen and pregesterone.
Define external genetalia:
Sex organs visible on the outside of the body; also called genitals. These are called vulva in women.
Define gestation:
Length of time from conception to birth. For humans, this is ~280 days from LMP. Gestation of less than 36 weeks is considered premature.
Define lactation:
Production and release of milk by mammary glands.
Define orifice:
Mouth; entrance or outlet of any anatomical structure.
What are the internal female reproductive structures?
1) Ovaries
2) Fallopian tubes
3) Uterus
4) Vagina
What is the collective name for external female reproductive organs?
Vulva
What are the externa; female reproductive structures?
1) Labia minora
2) Labia majora
3) Clitoris
4) Bartholin glands
5) Mons pubis
What is the area between the vaginal orifice and the anus called?
Perineum
What are female reproductive cells called?
Ova; singular ovum
What are ovaries?
Almond-shaped glands located in the pelvic cavity; one is located on each side of the uterus.
What are graafian follicles?
Tiny, sac-like structure; there are thousands of these in each ovary, and each contains a single ovum.
What process begins ovulation?
A mature graafian follicle moves to the surface of the ovary, ruptures, and releases its ovum.
What is a corpus luteum?
An empty graafian follicle after ovulation is complete; this is a small, yellow mass that secretes estrogen and progesterone; degenerates at the end of a non-fertile cycle.
What are fallopian tubes?
Also known as oviducts or uterine tubes; these connect the ovaries to the uterus; they are also the site of fertilization of the ovum (should there be sperm present).
What are fimbriae?
Finger-like projections from the fallopian tubes that create wave-like currents in the fluid surrounding the ovaries to move the ovum into the fallopian tube.
Tell me about the uterus…
Contains and nourishes an embryo from the time a fertilized egg is implanted until the fetus is born. Has 3 parts:
1) Fundus: upper, rounded part
2) Body: central part.
3) Cervix: constricted portion that opens into the vagina; also called cervix uteri.
Tell me about the vagina…
It is a muscular tube that extends from the cervix to the exterior of the body. The lining consists of folds of a mucous membrane to give it elasticity. The vagina also discharges menstrual flow, and acts as a passageway for delivery of a fetus.
What are Bartholin glands?
These lubricate the vagina during sex.
What is the clitoris?
Located anterior to the vaginal orifice; composed of erectile tissue that is richly innervated with sensory endings.
What’s an episiotomy?
Surgical incision of the perineum during childbirth to enlarge the vaginal opening for delivery.
Tell me about mammary glands?
Present in both sexes, but only function in females, and their biological role is lactation. Each breast has ~15-20 lobules of mammary glands that are drained by a lactiferous duct that opens at the nipple.
What is lactation?
To secrete milk from the mammary glands for nourishment of a newborn child.
What’s menarche?
The initial menstrual period; occurs around age 12.
How long does menstruation normally occur for?
~40 years with the exception of time being pregnant.
What is the duration of a menstrual cycle?
~28 days
Days 1-5 menstrual
Days 6-14 ovulatory
Days 15-28 post-ovulatory
What happens to the vaginal canal during pregnancy?
It elongates to prepare for becoming the birth canal.
What is the medical term for childbirth?
parturition
What is labor?
Labor is the physiological process by which a fetus is expelled from the uterus.
What are the 3 stages of labor?
1) Dilation: Begins with uterine contractions and ends when there’s full dilation (10 cm).
2) Expulsion: Time from complete cervical dilation to the birth of the baby.
3) Placental (afterbirth): Begins shortly after childbirth when uterine contractions discharge the placenta from the uterus.
What is menopause?
Cessation of ovarian activity and diminished hormone production that occurs around age 50. Also called the “change of life” or “climacteric” period.
What is amenorrhea?
Absence of menstruation
What is vaginal atrophy?
Vaginal thinning or drying; occurs during menopause.
What is hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?
External administration of estrogen used to treat vaginal atrophy and osteoporosis, and is believed to play a role in heart attack prevention. There is restraint in prescribing this for long-term use in menopausal women, because this may induce neoplastic changes in estrogen-sensitive aging tissue.
amni/o
amnion (amniotic sac)
cervic/o
neck; cervix uteri (neck of the uterus)
colp/o
vagin/o
vagina
galact/o
lact/o
milk
gynec/o
woman, female
hyster/o
metri/o
uter/o
uterus
mamm/o
mast/o
breast
men/o
menses; menstruation
metr/o
uterus (womb); measure
nat/o
birth
oophor/o
ovari/o
ovary
perine/o
perineum
salping/o
tube (usually fallopian or eustachian)
-arche
beginning
-cyesis
pregnancy
-gravida
pregnant woman
-para
to bear (offspring)
-salpinx
tube (usually fallopian or eustachian)
-tocia
childbirth; labor
-version
turning
ante-
before, in front of
dys-
bad; painful; difficult
endo-
in, within
multi-
many; much
post-
after
primi-
first
What are some signs and sx of STDs?
Pain, itching, lesions, and vaginal discharge.
What is gynecology (GYN)?
Branch of medicine concerned with diseases of the female reproductive organs and breasts.
What is obstetrics (OB)?
Branch of medicine that manages the health of a woman and her fetus during pregnancy and childbirth.
What is puerperium?
Period of adjustment after childbirth during which the reproductive organs of the mother return to their normal, non-pregnant state. Generally lasts 6-8 weeks and ends with the first menstruation.
Tell me about endometriosis:
It is the presence of functional endometrial tissue in areas outside the uterus. Over time, the tissue develops into “implants, lesions, or growths” that may cause pain, infertility, and other problems. This tissue may be found anywhere in the abdominopelvic cavity, and responds to normal fluctuations of the menstrual cycle.
What is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)?
General term for inflammation of the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and adjacent pelvic structures. Usually caused by bacterial infection that occurs during coitus, childbirth, abortion, or during the postpartum period. Can be treated with antibiotics; if left untreated, may lead to serious long-term complications.
Tell me about breast cancer:
Also called carcinoma of the breast, and is the most common form of cancer in women in the U.S. Predisposing factors include ovarian hormonal function, eating a high-fat diet, family hx of breast cancer, and possibly HRT. Woman are also more likely to develop breast cancer if they’re nulliparous, have an early menarche, or have a late onset of menopause.
Tell me about cervical cancer:
Most commonly affects women 40-49 and those with a history of STDs. Predisposing factors include first coitus at a young age, large number of sex partners, STD infection, and frequent intercourse with men whose previous partners had cervical cancer. Diagnosed with a Pap test and treatment includes surgery and chemo/radiation. If left untreated, this cancer will metastasize and lead to death.
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. Although its actual cause is unknown, this is a rare tumor that occurs after pregnancy or abortion.
dyspareunia
Occurrence of pain during sexual intercourse.
endocervicitis
Inflammation of the mucous lining of the cervix uteri. Usually chronic, commonly a result of infection, and accompanied by cervical erosion.
Definition of menstrual disorder:
Abnormal condition in the menstrual cycle; also called dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB).
Amenorrhea
Absence of a menstrual period in women of a reproductive age.
Dysmenorrhea
Cramps or painful mensturation.
Menorrhagia
Abnormally long, heavy menstrual period.
Metrorrhagia
Irregular bleeding between menstrual periods or after menopause.
Oligomenorrhea
Abnormally light or infrequent menstrual periods.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Symptoms that occur between ovulation and 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 develops in the uterus; also called leiomyomas, myomas, or fibroids.
Termination of pregnancy before the embryo or fetus is capable of surviving on its own.
Abortion (AB)
Premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall before the third stage of labor; also called placental abruption. Results in uterine hemorrhage and threatens the life of the mother. Also threatens the life of the fetus by decreasing flow of O2 through the umbilical cord.
Abruptio placentae
Common abnormality of delivery in which the fetal buttocks or feet present first rather than the head.
Breech presentation
Genetic condition in which there’s an extra copy of chromosome 21 (trisomy), altering physical and mental development of the child; also called trisomy 21.
Down syndrome
Most serious form of toxemia during pregnancy. Signs include HTN, edema, convulsions, renal dysfunction, proteinuria, and in severe cases, coma.
Eclampsia
Pregnancy in which the fertilized ovum becomes implanted on any tissue other than the lining of the uterine cavity.
Ectopic pregnancy
Obstetric complication in which the placenta is attached close to or covers the cervical canal and that results in bleeding during labor when the cervix dilates.
Placenta previa
Transabdominal puncture of the amniotic sac under US guidance using a needle (with the needles position verified by US on a monitor) and syringe to remove amniotic fluid. This can help detect genetic and biochemical disorders in a fetus, and can give blood and medicine to the fetus if needed.
Amniocentesis
Sampling of placental tissues for prenatal diagnosis of potential genetic defects. Unlike amniocentesis, this procedure can be done in the first trimester.
Chorionic Villus Sampling
Visual examination of the vagina and cervix with a colposcope. Helps identify cervical dysplasia in women who’ve had an abnormal Pap test, and aids in biopsy or excision procedures.
Colposcopy
Diagnostic prenatal test in which a sample of the baby’s blood is removed from the umbilical cord for testing; also called percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS). Used to identify hemolytic diseases or genetic abnormalities.
Cordocentesis
Removal of a sample of the uterine endometrium for microscopic study. Commonly used in fertility assessment to confirm ovulation, and as a diagnostic tool to determine causes of abnormal bleeding.
Endometrial biopsy
Delivery of pressurized air or gas into a cavity, chamber, or organ to allow visual examination, remove an obstruction, or apply medication.
Insufflation
An exfoliative cytology test to detect abnormal cells that are scraped from the cervix, usually obtained during routine pelvic examination. Commonly used to screen for cervical cancer and detect changes that indicate malignancy.
Papanicolaou (Pap) test
Measurement of the pelvic dimensions to determine whether the head of the fetus will be able to pass through the bony pelvis to allow vaginal delivery.
Pelvimetry
Radiography, and usually fluoroscopy, of the uterus and uterine tubes (oviducts) following injection of a contrast medium. Helps determine pathology in the uterine cavity, evaluate tubal patency, and determine the cause of infertility.
Hysterosalpingography (HSG)
Radiographic examination of the breast to screen for breast cancer.
Mammography
Ultrasonography of the pelvic area performed with a probe inserted into the vagina, which provides sharper images of pathological and normal structures within the pelvis.
Transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS)
Suturing of the cervix to prevent it from dilating prematurely during pregnancy, thus decreasing the chance of spontaneous abortion or preterm birth. Sometimes referred to as the purse-string procedure. The sutures are removed before delivery.
Cerclage
Incision of the abdomen and uterus to remove the fetus; also called c-section. Most commonly used in the event of cephalopevic disproportion, presence of STD, fetal distress, and breech presentation.
Cesarean (C-section)
Surgical closure of the vaginal canal. Used in elderly women who are no longer sexually active to reduce prolapse of the vagina.
Colpocleisis
Excision of a cone-shaped piece of tissue, such as mucosa of the cervix, for histological examination.
Conization
Process of freezing tissue to destroy cells; also called cryocautery. Used for chronic cervical infections and erosions because offending organisms may be entrenched in cervical cells and glands. This destroys the infected cells that are replenished with normal cells.
Cryosurgery
Widening of the cervical canal with a dilator and scraping of the uterine endometrium with a curette. Obtains a sample for cytological examination of tissue, controls abnormal uterine bleeding, and treats incomplete abortion.
Dilation & curettage
Excision of the uterus. Indications include presence of cancer, bleeding, or fibroid tumors.
Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy in which the cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes remain.
Subtotal hysterectomy
Hysterectomy in which the cervix is removed but the ovaries and fallopian tubes remain; also called complete hysterectomy.
Total hysterectomy
Total (complete) hysterectomy, including removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
Total plus bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.
Visual examination of the abdominal cavity with a laparoscope through 1 or more small incisions in the abdominal wall, usually at the umbilicus. Standard technique for many routine surgical procedures, including gynecological sterilization by fulguration of the oviducts and tubal ligation.
Laparoscopy
Excision of a small primary breast tumor, or “lump”, and some of the normal tissue that surrounds it. Lymph nodes may also be removed because they’re located within the breast tissue taken during surgery.
Lumpectomy
Surgical reconstruction of the breast(s) to change the size, shape or position.
Mammoplasty
Insertion of a breast prosthesis (filled with silicone gel or saline) beneath the skin or beneath the pectoralis major muscle. This increases breast size or replaces a breast that has been surgically removed.
Augmentation
Breast reduction to reduce the size of a large, pendulous breast. May be performed in conjunction with a mastopexy, a surgery to uplift sagging breasts.
Breast reduction
Removal of the breast.
Mastectomy
Excision of the entire breast, nipple, areola, and the involved overlying skin.
Total (simple) mastectomy
Excision of the entire breast, including axillary lymph nodes, but with the chest muscles intact. Most common mastectomy.
Modified radical mastectomy
Excision of the entire breast, all underarm lymph nodes, and the chest wall muscles under the breast.
Radical mastectomy
Creation of a breast-shaped mound to replace a breast that has been removed as a result of cancer or other disease. Possible immediately following mastectomy so the patient awakens with a breast mound already in place.
Reconstructive breast surgery.
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.
Tissue (skin) expansion
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; the abdominal tissue (flap) is then shaped into a natural-looking breast and is sutured into place.
Transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) flap
Small, T-shaped device inserted by a physician inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy.
Copper IUD: releases copper particles to prevent pregnancy.
Hormonal IUD: releases progestin to prevent pregnancy.
Intrauterine device (IUD)
Treat vaginal yeast infection by altering the yeast cell membrane or interfering with a metabolic process. Usually applied topically as ointments, suppositories, or vaginal tablets.
Antifungals
Treat symptoms of menopause (hot flashes, vaginal dryness, fatigue) through HRT; may be given orally or topically; topical use may decrease risks. Long-term use has been linked with thrombophlebitis and breast/endometrial cancers.
Estrogens
Synthetic hormones used to prevent pregnancy and treat menstrual disorders. Oral contraceptives contain a combination of estrogen and progestin and are highly effective at preventing pregnancy if taken as directed.
Oral contraceptives
Induce labor at term by increasing the strength and frequency of uterine contractions. Also used during the postpartum period to control bleeding after expulsion of the placenta.
Oxytocins
Terminate pregnancy
Prostaglandins
Chemically destroy sperm by creating a highly acidic environment in the uterus. Used within the female vagina for contraception. When used alone, these have a higher failure rate than other methods of birth control.
Spermicides
AUB
abnormal uterine bleeding
C-section, CS
cesarean section
CVS
Chorionic villus sampling
D&C
Dilation and curettage
DUB
Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
GYN
gynecology
HRT
hormone replacement therapy
IUD
intrauterine device
LMP
last menstrual period
OB
obstetrics
OCPs
oral contraceptive pills
Pap
Papanicolaou test
para 1, 2, 3 and so on
unipara, bipara, tripara (number of viable births)
PUBS
percutaneous umbilical blood sampling
PID
pelvic inflammatory disease
STI
sexually transmitted infection
TRAM
transverse rectus abdominis muscle (flap)
TVUS
transvaginal ultrasound
