Definitions Flashcards
Alpha-feto protein (αFP)
Protein produced by the yolk sac and fetal liver.
Amenorrhoea
Absence of menstruation.
Amniocentesis
Transabdominal, transuterine insertion of a needle into the amniotic cavity to extract amniotic fluid.
Amnion
The inner fetal membrane.
Amniotic fluid
The fluid surrounding the fetus.
Amniotomy
Artificial creation of a hole in both fetal membranes (amnion and chorion); used to induce or accelerate labour (also called Artificial Rupture of Membranes (ARM) or puncture of membranes (POM).
Anovulation
Failure of the ovary to release an oocyte during a menstrual cycle
Antepartum haemorrhage (APH):
Bleeding from the genital tract from 24+0 weeks of gestation to the birth of the baby.
Anti-D immunoglobulin
Immunoglobulin G used to prevent Rhesus D antibody formation in Rhesus D negative women.
Apgar score
A method of assessing the clinical condition of the neonate by scoring out of 10. Scores are usually given at 1 and 5 minutes of life.
Marks are given for:
- heart rate (2),
- respiration (2)
- colour (2)
- tone (2)
- reflex activity (2)
Arias-Stella reaction
A benign histological change of the endometrium present in ectopic pregnancy.
Ashermann’s syndrome
Amennorhoea due to adhensions within the uterine cavity
Asthenozoospermia
Reduced sperm motility
Asymptomatic bacteriuria
Bacteria in a concentration of ≥ 10^5/ml of urine without symptoms of urinary tract infection.
Azoospermia
Absence of sperm in semen.
Bartholin’s glands
Mucous-secreting paravaginal glands susceptible to cystic enlargement and abscess formation
Biophysical profile
A method of assessing fetal well-being by ultrasound inspection of the fetal behaviour and amniotic fluid volume.
A score out of 8 is given for:
- fetal breathing movement (2)
- fetal tone (2)
- fetal gross body movement (2)
- amniotic fluid volume (2).
It is often used in conjunction with cardiotocography.
Bishop’s score
A method of recording the examination of the cervix.
Breech presentation
(Subtypes?)
The situation when the fetal buttocks or lower limbs are closest to the maternal cervix. It is subdivided into:
- Complete breech (hips and knees flexed)
- Frank breech (hips flexed, knees extended)
- Footling (hips and knees extended)
Complete Breech
The situation when the fetal buttocks or lower limbs are closest to the maternal cervix with hips and knees flexed
Bradycardia (fetal)
A fetal heart rate below 100 beats per minute for 5 minutes.
Braxton Hick’s contractions
Painless sporadic contractions of the uterus.
Frank Breech
The situation when the fetal buttocks or lower limbs are closest to the maternal cervix with hips flexed, knees extended
Footling
The situation when the fetal buttocks or lower limbs are closest to the maternal cervix with hips and knees extended
Candidiasis
Clinical infection with the yeast Candida albicans.
Brow
The part of the fetal head between the root of the nose and the anterior fontanelle.
Caesarean Section
The delivery of the fetus through a transabdominal transuterine incision.
Caput succedaneum and what it should be differentiated from?
Soft tissue oedema of the baby’s scalp following delivery.
A benign condition to be distinguished from cephalohematoma (subperiosteal haematoma) and chignon (following vacuum extraction)
Cardio-tocography
Simulataneous recording of the fetal heart rate (‘cardio’) and uterine contraction (’toco’). It is widely used to assess fetal well-being.
Cephalo-pelvic disproportion
Maternal pelvis of inadequate dimensions to accommodate passage of the fetal head.
Cervical incompetence
This is an imprecise clinical term applied to women with a history of second-trimester miscarriage where it has been assumed that the cervix was ‘weak’ and unable to remained closed during pregnancy.
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
A potentially pre-malignant histological state of the cervix associated with colposcopic abnormalities.
Chloasma
Brown discolouration of the face during pregnancy.
Choriocarcinoma
Malignant tumour of the placenta usually preceded by a hydatidiform mole.
Chorion
The outer fetal membrane.
Chorionic gonadotrophin
A hormone produced by the syncytiotrophoblast.
Chocolate cyst
A cyst of the ovary containing old blood, and therefore brown in colour. It is often, but not exclusively, associated with endometriosis.
Chorionic villi
Branching tentacles of the placenta coming from the chorion.
They allow for maximum contact between the maternal and fetal circulations. They are sites of metabolic and gaseous exchange. Chorionic villi are of fetal origin and thus, may be sampled during pregnancy to provide fetal genetic material for chromosomal or genetic analysis.
Colostrum
Thin fluid secreted by the breasts during the first days after delivery and before the production of milk. It is rich in immunoglobulins.
Climacteric
The phase of time around the end of the reproductive life in the female.
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
The procedure of obtaining a biopsy of the chorion villi for chromosomal or genetic analysis.
Colposcopy
Direct inspection of the cervix through a magnifying lens.
Colporrhaphy
A surgical procedure of the vagina used to treat cystocele and rectocele.
Cord prolapse
An obstetric emergency in which the umbilical cord is extruded through the cervix and usually into the vagina while the fetus remains in the uterus.
Corpus luteum
The structure formed from the ovarian follicle following ovulation.
Cotyledon
The lobes of the placenta
Couvelaire uterus
A uterus in which blood has penetrated into the myometrium (and occasionally through the full thickness of the myometrium and into the peritoneal cavity) following severe placental abruption.
Decidua
The endometrium during pregnancy, which is shed following delivery.
Cryptomenorrhoea
Menstrual blood retained within the uterus or vagina. It occurs because of a lower genital tract outflow obstruction, usually an imperforate hymen, and presents as primary amenorrhoea
Vs. Haematocolpos: Menstrual blood retained within the vagina.
Curettage
Surgical removal of the endometrium by scraping with a curette.
Cystocele
Prolapse of bladder, producing a bulge of the anterior vaginal wall.
Cystometry
Technique for assessing the response of the bladder to increasing volume. It is also called ‘Urodynamics’.
Dermoid cyst
A benign teratoma of the ovary.
Cysto-uretrocele:
Prolapse of the bladder and urethra.
Dizygotic twinning
Twin pregnancy resulting from two individual zygotes.
Donor gamete
Sperm or oocyte collected from a donor and used in assisted reproduction.
Doppler ultrasound
Use of ultrasound waves to assess velocity of blood flow.
Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
Abnormal menstruation in the absence of demonstrable uterine or endocrine pathology.
Dysgerminoma
A germ cell tumour of the ovary.
Dysmenorrhoea
Painful menstruation
Dyspareunia
Painful sexual intercourse.
Dystocia
Abnormal progress in labour.
Ductus arteriosus:
The connection between the fetal pulmonary artery and the descending arch of the aorta.
Eclampsia
A disease of pregnancy causing seizures, in the presence of new onset hypertension.
Ectopic pregnancy
Implantation of a pregnancy outside of the uterine cavity. It occurs most commonly in the fallopian tube.
Endometriosis
The presence of endometrial tissue outside of the uterine cavity.
Endometrium
The mucous membrane lining the uterus which responds to ovarian hormones during the menstrual cycle.
Engagement
The fetal head is engaged when its maximum diameters (suboccipito-bregmatic and biparietal, when the head is well flexed) have passed through the pelvic inlet.
Epidural analgesia
Injection or infusion of a local anaesthetic into the epidural space to effect analagesia.
Episiotomy
Incision of the perineum to facilitate childbirth and to protect the anal sphincters from obstetric injury.
Ergometrine
A primary ergot alkaloid used to effect contraction of the myometrium.
External cephalic version
Manual conversion of fetal presentation from breech to cephalic, by manipulation through the maternal abdominal wall.
Fetal growth restriction
The failure of a fetus to reach its growth potential.
Ferning
Description of the typical pattern of cervical mucous on a laboratory slide at the time of ovulation. A ferning pattern is also produced by amniotic fluid after rupture of the fetal membranes.
First Trimester Screening
A screening test (not a diagnostic test) for Trisomies 13, 18 and 21.
Follicular cyst:
A small normal cyst of the ovarian surface that develops from a graafian follicle. It is usually < 5 cm in maximum diameter and is unilocular.
Fontanelle
The space at the junction between three of more bones of the skull.
Fourchette
The fold of skin formed by the merging of the labia minor and labia majora posteriorly.
Gamete
Mature haploid cells ready for fertilisation; spermatoza from the male and oocytes from the female.
Gamete intra-fallopian transfer
An assisted reproduction technique involving the placement of oocytes and sperm in the fallopian tube following oocyte retrieval
Gestational diabetes mellitus
Impaired glucose metabolism with onset or first recognition during pregnancy.
Gondal dysgenesis
Failure of the gonads to form normally.
Grand multipara
A term used to describe a women with a parity ≥ 4.
Gravid
The number of pregnancies experienced, irrespective of pregnancy outcome and including the current pregnancy.
Haematocolpos
Menstrual blood retained within the vagina. It occurs because of a lower genital tract outflow obstruction, usually an imperforate hymen, and presents as primary amenorrhoea (see Cryptomenorrhoea).
HELLP syndrome
A variant of pre-eclampsia typified by haemolysis (H), elevated liver enzymes (EL) and low platelets (LP).
Herpes gestationis (also called Phemphigoid gestationis)
An autoimmune bullous dermatosis of pregnancy unrelated to the herpes virus.
Hydatidiform mole
An abnormal form of trophoblastic proliferation with malignant potential.
Hydrops fetalis
Accumulation of fluid in at least two body compartments of the fetus and the subcutaneous tissues.
Hyperemesis gravidarum
Excessive vomiting in pregnancy not secondary to any cause other than pregnancy.
Hypospadias
A malformation of the male penis where the urethra opens on its under surface or on the perineum.
Hysterosalpingogram
An x-ray examination of the outline of the uterine cavity and lumina of the fallopian tubes following injection of radio-opaque dye through the cervix.
Hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (HyCoSy)
An ultrasound examination of the outline of the uterine cavity and lumina of the fallopian tubes following injection of radio-opaque dye through the cervix.
Hysterectomy
Surgical removal of the uterus
Hysteroscopy
Inspection of the uterine cavity through a fibre-optic endoscope.
Implantation
Penetration of the endometrium by the blastocyst which becomes completely surrounded by decidua.
Intermenstrual bleeding(IMB)
Vaginal bleeding (other than postcoital) at any time during the menstrual cycle other than during normal menstruation
Introitus
The entrance to the vagina.
Inversion of the uterus
Uterus turned inside-out.
Kernicterus
Brain dysfunction in a neonate due to high levels of bilirubin.
Labour
The process by which the products of conception are expelled from the uterus via the birth canal after 24+0 weeks of gestation.
Lactation
The production of milk by the mammalian breast.
Laparoscopy
Inspection of the intra-abdominal structures using a fibre-optic endoscope.
Leiomyosarcoma
A malignant tumour of the smooth muscle which can occur in the uterus as well as in other smooth muscle tissues.
Lie
The longitudinal axis of the fetus compared to the longitudinal axis of the mother.
Leucorrhoea
Normal physiological vaginal discharge.
Lower uterine segment
The lower portion of the uterus which lies below the utero-vesical fold of peritoneum and develops after 28 week’s gestation.
Linea nigra
A brown line of hyperpigmentation of the midline of the anterior abdominal during pregnancy.
Lochia
The discharge from the uterus during the puerperium.
Low birthweight
Usually defined as a birth weight of less than 2.5 kg regardless of gestation, or less than 10th centile for gestational age.
Maternal death
The death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of the end of pregnancy from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy.
Meconium
Greenish-black mucous from the fetal bowel.
Menarche
Onset of menstruation.
Menorrhagia
Excessive menstrual blood loss.
Menopause
Final cessation of menstruation.
Mentum
The chin
Miscarriage:
The spontaneous ending of a pregnancy that hasn’t reached viability.
Threatened miscarriage
Vaginal bleeding before 24+0 weeks of gestation with a closed cervix
Inevitable miscarriage
Vaginal bleeding before 24+0 weeks of gestation with an open cervix. Products of conception are certain to be expelled
Missed/Silent miscarriage
Fetal demise before 24+0 weeks of gestation with fetus remaining within the uterus
Septic miscarriage
Miscarriage complicated by infection
Recurrent miscarriage
Three or more consecutive miscarriages
Complete miscarriage
No tissue remaining within the uterus after miscarriage
Incomplete miscarriage
Tissue remaining within the uterus after miscarriage
Monozygotic twinning
Twin pregnancy resulting from cleavage of a single zygote.
Moulding
Alteration in shape and diameters of the fetal head during labour
Multigravida
A woman who is pregnant for the second or subsequent time.
Multipara
A woman who is parous (ie a woman who has experienced a pregnancy that has reached viability).
Naegle’s rule
A method of calculating the estimated date of delivery (EDD).
EDD is calculated by adding 9 months and 7 days to the date of the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP) in a woman with regular 28 day cycles.
For example, an LMP of 20.9.14 will give and EDD of 27.6.15.
Neonatal death
The death of a liveborn infant within 28 days of birth, after 24 week’s gestation.
It is divided into early neonatal death (birth to day 7 of life) and late neonatal death (day 8 to day 28 of life).
Necrotising enterocolitis
A life-threatening complication of the neonate where portions of the bowel undergo spontaneous necrosis.
Neural tube defects
A spectrum of congenital malformations caused by failure of the neural tube to close in early embryonic life.
Nullipara
A woman who has never given birth
Occiput
The back part of the head.
Oligohydramnios
Reduced amniotic fluid volume. Causes include placental insufficiency, fetal renal tract anomalies or ruptured membranes.
Oligomenorrhoea
Infrequent menstruation.
Oligospermia
Reduced concentration of spermatozoa in semen.
Oopherectomy
Surgical removal of an ovary.
Operculum
The plug of mucous that occludes the cervical canal during pregnancy.
Parametrium
The connective tissue lying lateral to the uterus within the leaves of the broad ligament.
Oxytocin
A hormone produced by the posterior pituitary which stimulates rhythmic contraction of the uterus during labour as well as milk production during lactation.
Parity
The number of previous pregnancies that have reached viability irrespective of the number of children resulting from each pregnancy or whether the pregnancies resulted in livebirths.
Parous
A woman who has experienced a pregnancy that has reached viability.
Partogram
A graphical representation of the progress of labour by plotting cervical dilatation (Y axis) against time (X axis)
Perinatal mortality rate
Rate of stillbirths and early neonatal deaths combined after 24 weeks’ gestation
Pessary
It can refer to a device placed in the vagina to treat pelvic floor prolapse (eg ring pessary, shelf pessary). It can also refer to preparations of medication for intra-vaginal administration.
Placenta praevia
A placenta implanted wholly or partly in the lower uterine segment, diagnosed after 28 week’s gestation when the lower uterine segment has developed.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
An endocrine disorder associated with oligomenorrhoea, subfertility, hirsuitism, obesity, elevated serum LH, type II diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia. The ovaries may contain multiple small cysts, or they may have a normal appearance
Placenta
A fetal organ responsible for gas and nutrient exchange with the maternal circulation during pregnancy. It also produces multiple hormones that are needed for pregnancy
Polyhydramnios
An excessive amount of amniotic fluid as measured by deepest pool of amniotic fluid on ultrasound of greater than 10cm
Postcoital bleeding (PCB)
Non-menstrual bleeding that occurs immediately after sexual intercourse
Posterior fontanelle
Small triangular space in the fetal skull situated at the posterior end of the sagittal suture and the midline of the lambdoid suture. It is bordered by the occipital bone and the left and right parietal bones
Postmenopausal bleeding
Bleeding from the vagina after a woman has stopped having menstrual cycles due to menopause.
Post-partum haemorrhage (PPH):
Bleeding of > 500ml from the genital tract after the second stage of labour.
It is sub-divided as follows:
- Primary PPH:Occurring within 24 hours of delivery
- Secondary PPH: Occurring from 24 hours to six weeks of delivery
Pre-eclampsia
A pregnancy induced condition of new hypertension after 20 weeks’ gestation of >140/90mmHg in the presence of one of the following:
- Proteinuria > 300mg/day
- Abnormal laboratory results (low platelets, abnormal renal or liver tests)
- Fetal growth restriction
- Neurological complications ( eclampsia, altered mental status, blindness, stroke, severe headache, clonus).
Pre-menstrual syndrome
A condition which manifests with distressing physical, behavioural and psychological symptoms, in the absence of organic or underlying psychiatric disease, which regularly recurs during the luteal phase of each cycle and which disappears or significantly regresses by the end of menstruation.
Presentation
The part of the fetus nearest to the pelvic brim
Pre-term
The time before 37+0 weeks of gestation.
Primigravid
A woman who is pregnant for the first time.
Procidentia
Complete prolapse of the uterus so that it is entirely outside the introitus of the vagina.
Prolapse of the pelvic floor
Protrusion of the uterus (uterine prolapse), bladder (cystocele), rectum (rectocele), urethra (urerthocele) or pouch of Douglas (enterocele) into the vagina.
Prostaglandins
A group of lipid compounds derived from arachadonic acid through the cyclooxygenase pathway.
Pudenal nerve block
The administration of local anaesthetic around the pudenal nerve.
Puerperium
The six weeks following delivery when the mother’s body is returning to the non-pregnant state.
Pyometra
Collection of pus in the uterine cavity.
Pyosalpinx
Collection of pus on the lumen of the fallopian tube
Retained placenta
A placenta that is still in utero one hour after delivery of the baby.
Retroversion of the uterus
Description of the relative angle of the cervix to the vagina. The uterine cervix tilts posteriorly so that the fundus lies in the rectovaginal pouch of Douglas instead of anteriorly on the bladder. It occurs in 10-20% of women and is usually asymptomatic.
Salpingectomy
Surgical removal of the fallopian tube.
Salpingitis
Inflammation of the fallopian tube, usually secondary to infection.
Salpingostomy
Surgery to open blocked fallopian tubes.
Sheehan’s syndrome
Hypopituitarism secondary to pituitary infarction caused by hypovolaemic shock from severe postpartum haemorrhage.
“Show”
A discharge of mucous and blood before, or at, the onset of labour when the cervix begins to dilate and the operculum falls out.
Sinciput
The part of the fetal head in front of the anterior fontanelle – it is subdivided into the brow and face.
Small-for-dates/Small-for gestational age
A baby that is below an arbitrary centile (usually the 10th, occasionally the 5th or 3rd) for the gestation
Stages of labour
Station
The relationship of the presenting part of the fetus to the maternal ischial spines
Stillbirth
Fetal demise prior after viability from 24 weeks’ onwards
Stress incontinence
Involuntary leakage of urine when the intr-abdominal presure is increased (eg by coughing, lifting or laughing).
It is due to weakness of the pelvic floor muscles supporting the bladder neck and proximal urethra
Striae gravidarum
Lines of the skin of the abdomen that develop during pregnancy due to stretching of the skin.
They are initially red or purple in colour and become silvery-white in colour after delivery.
They are also referred to simply as ‘stretch marks’.
Supine hypotension
A state of hypotension induced by the pressure of the gravid uterus on the inferior vena cava
Term
The time from 37+0 to 42+0 weeks of gestation in which it is considered ‘normal’ for the baby to be born
Testicular feminisation
Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome.
Third degree tear (also called obstetric anal sphincter injury)
Tear of the anal sphincters during childbirth with intact rectal mucosa.
Trophoblast
Ectodermal tissue of the placenta consisting of cytotrophoblast (inner layer, nearest the fetus) and syncitiotrophoblast (outer layer, in contact with the maternal tissues).
Unstable lie
Changing fetal presentation in a 24 hour period at term.
Vacuum extraction
The alternative to a forceps delivery where an instrument is used to apply negative pressure to the fetal head to assist with vaginal delivery
Vasa praevia
The presence of blood vessels in the membranes below the fetal head which may rupture and exsanguinate the fetus.
Vertex
The area on top of the fetal head bounded by anterior and posterior fontanelles and the parietal eminences
Vesico-vaginal fistula
An abnormal connection between the bladder and the vagina which causes urine to leak continuously through the vagina.
Viability
The stage at which the fetus becomes capable of surviving independently from its mother’s body. It is usually defined as from 23+0 weeks of gestation or a fetal weight ≥ 500g.
Vulva
Area that include the labia majora and minora, the clitoris and clitoral hood and the introitus of the vagina.
