7.1: Female Reproductive System Introduction
Learning Objectives
- Apply the rules of medical language to build, analyze, spell, pronounce, abbreviate, and define terms as they relate to the female reproductive system
- Identify meanings of keyword components of the female reproductive system
- Categorize diagnostic, therapeutic, procedural, or anatomic terms related to the female reproductive system
- Use terms related to the female reproductive system
- Use terms related to the diseases and disorders of the female reproductive system
Introduction to the Female Reproductive System
The female reproductive system produces hormones and matures eggs (called ova) during the monthly menstrual cycle. Every month, an egg (called an ovum) is released from one of the female’s ovaries with the potential to become fertilized by male sperm. If fertilization occurs, female hormones develop the fertilized egg into a fetus and, ultimately, a baby ready for delivery in about 40 weeks.
This chapter will review common word components related to the female reproductive system to assist learning how to analyze, build, and define medical terms. Other female reproductive terms, whose definitions cannot be easily built from word components, will be described in context based on the anatomy and physiology of the female reproductive system and common diseases and disorders. Medical specialists, diagnostic tests, and procedures related to the female reproductive system will also be discussed. Additional information about pregnancy will be discussed in the “ Obstetrics Terminology ” chapter.
View the following YouTube video [1] on the anatomy and physiology of the female reproductive system: Reproductive System, Part 1 – Female Reproductive System: Crash Course A&P #40
- CrashCourse. (2015, October 26). Reproductive system, Part 1 - Female reproductive system: Crash Course Anatomy & Physiology #40 [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/RFDatCchpus?si=1h92ZbG3QUjVHw6b ↵