Female Reproductive System Flashcards
Fallopian tubes, ovaries, and supporting ligaments.
adnexa uteri
Innermost membrane surrounding the embryo and fetus.
amnion
Dark-pigmented area surrounding the best nipple.
areola
Small, mucus-secreting exocrine glands at the vaginal orifice. Named after a Danish anatomist who described the glands in 1637.
Bartholin glands
Lower, neck-like portion of the uterus.
cervix
Outermost membrane surrounding the embryo and fetus; it forms the fetal part of the placenta.
chorion
Organ of sensitive erectile tissue anterior to the opening of the female urethra.
clitoris
Sexual intercourse; copulation.
coitus
Empty ovarian follicle that secretes progesterone after release of the egg cell; literally means yellow body.
corpus luteum
Region in the lower abdomen, midway between the rectum and the uterus.
cul-de-sac
Stage in prenatal development from 2 to 8 weeks.
embryo
Inner mucous membrane lining of the uterus.
endometrium
Hormone produced by the ovaries; promotes female secondary sex characteristics.
estrogen
One of a pair of ducts through which the ovum travels to the uterus; also called an oviduct. The tubes were named for an Italian anatomist.
fallopian tubes
Union of the sperm and ovum from which the embryo develops.
fertilization
Stage in prenatal development from 8 weeks to birth.
fetus
Finger- or fringe-like projections at the end of the fallopian tubes.
fimbriae (singular fimbria)
Secreted by the pituitary gland to stimulate maturation of the egg cell.
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
Male or female sexual reproductive cell; sperm cell or ovum.
gamete
Reproductive organs; also called genitals.
genitalia
Time period from fertilization of the ovum to birth; pregnancy.
gestation
Female or male reproductive organ that produces sex cells and hormones; ovaries or testes.
gonad
Study of the female reproductive organs, including the breasts.
gynecology
Hormone produced by the placenta to sustain pregnancy by stimulating the ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone.
human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
Mucous membrane partially or completely covering the opening to the vagina.
hymen
Lips of the vagina; majora and menora.
labia
Tubes that carry milk from the mammary glands to the nipple.
lactiferous ducts
Secreted by the pituitary gland to promote ovulation.
luteinizing hormone (LH)
Nipple of the breast.
mammary papilla
Beginning of the first menstrual period and ability to reproduce.
menarche
Gradual ending of menstruation.
menopause
Monthly shedding of the urine lining.
menstruation
The flow of blood and tissue normally discharged during menstruation.
menses
Muscle layer of the uterus.
myometrium
Study of the medical care of the newborn.
neonatology
Branch of medicine and surgery concerned with pregnancy and childbirth.
obstetrics
An opening.
orifice
Developing sac enclosing each ovum within the ovary. Only about 400 of these sacs nature in a person’s lifetime.
ovarian follicle
One of a pair of female organs on each side of the pelvis. Almond-shaped, about the size of large walnuts, and produce egg cells and hormones.
ovary
Release of the ovum from the ovary.
ovulation
Mature egg cell. They develop from immature egg cells called oocytes.
ovum (plural ova)
Act of giving birth.
parturition
Outermost layer of the uterus; uterine serosa.
perimetrium
In females, the area between the anus and the vagina.
perineum
Endocrine gland at the base of the brain. It produces hormones that stimulate the ovaries. Also regulates other endocrine organs.
pituitary gland
Vascular organ attached to the urine wall during pregnancy. It permits the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and fetal waste products between parent and fetus.
placenta
Gestation.
pregnancy
Hormone produced by the corpus luteum in the ovary and the placenta of pregnant people.
progesterone
Period of adolescent development at which secondary sex characteristics develop and gametes are produced.
puberty
Hollow, pear-shaped muscular female organ in which the embryo and fetus develop, and from which menstruation occurs.
uterus
Upper portion of the uterus.
fundus
Middle portion of the uterus.
corpus
Lowermost, neck-like portion of the uterus.
cervix
Muscular, mucosa-lined canal extending from the uterus to the exterior of the body.
vagina
External female genitalia; includes the labia, hymen, clitoris, and vaginal orifice.
vulva
Stage in prenatal development from fertilization and implantation up to 2 weeks.
zygote
