5.7: Glossary

To review common anatomical and directional terms, please see  Chapter 1. Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System. 

Acidosis - Acidosis is a condition in which there is too much acid in the body fluids. It is the opposite of alkalosis (a condition in which there is too much base in the body fluids). [6]

Adrenal glands - endocrine glands located at the top of each kidney that are important for the regulation of the stress response, blood pressure and blood volume, water homeostasis, and electrolyte levels. [1]

Adrenocorticotropic - An anterior pituitary hormone that stimulates the ADRENAL CORTEX and its production of CORTICOSTEROIDS. ACTH is a 39-amino acid polypeptide of which the N-terminal 24-amino acid segment is identical in all species and contains the adrenocorticotrophic activity. Upon further tissue-specific processing, ACTH can yield ALPHA-MSH and corticotrophin-like intermediate lobe peptide (CLIP). [7]

Afterbirth - third stage of childbirth in which the placenta and associated fetal membranes are expelled. [3]

Anemia - Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. [6]

Alloimmunization

alveolar capillaries

Androgens - Male sex hormones; for example, testosterone. [10]

Antiemetic - Drug used to prevent NAUSEA or VOMITING. [7]

Anticoagulants - Agents that prevent BLOOD CLOTTING. [7]

Antispholipid antibody syndome

Apgar Score - Apgar is a quick test performed on a baby at 1 and 5 minutes after birth. The 1-minute score determines how well the baby tolerated the birthing process. The 5-minute score tells the health care provider how well the baby is doing outside the mother's womb. It also helps measure how well the baby responds if resuscitation is needed right after birth. [6]

Aspirate - Aspiration means to draw in or out using a sucking motion. [6]

Bile - Bile is a fluid that is made and released by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bile helps with digestion. It breaks down fats into fatty acids, which can be taken into the body by the digestive tract. [6]

Bilirubin - Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment found in bile, which is a fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. [6]

Bimanual

Blastocyst - A post-MORULA preimplantation mammalian embryo that develops from a 32-cell stage into a fluid-filled hollow ball of over a hundred cells. A blastocyst has two distinctive tissues. The outer layer of trophoblasts gives rise to extra-embryonic tissues. The inner cell mass gives rise to the embryonic disc and eventual embryo proper. [7]

Braxton Hicks - weak and irregular peristaltic contractions that can occur in the second and third trimesters; they do not indicate that childbirth is imminent. [3]

Brown adipose tissue - highly vascularized fat tissue that is packed with mitochondria; these properties confer the ability to oxidize fatty acids to generate heat. [4]

Bucally

Cannula - Short, hollow cylinders or tubes for insertion into a canal, vessel, or body cavity. [7]

Capillary - smallest of blood vessels where physical exchange occurs between the blood and tissue cells surrounded by interstitial fluid. [1]

carotid arteries - Two principal arteries on both sides of the neck that supply blood to the head and neck; each divides into two branches, the internal carotid artery and the external carotid artery. [7]

cervical os -  Neck portion of the UTERUS between the lower isthmus and the VAGINA forming the cervical canal.

chloasma

Chronic adrenal failure

Coagulation - The process of the interaction of BLOOD COAGULATION FACTORS that results in an insoluble FIBRIN clot.

Coagulopathy

collagenous tissue

Comorbid

contractile myoepithelial cells

Contraindication - A contraindication is a specific situation in which a medicine, procedure, or surgery should not be used because it may be harmful to the person. [6]

Corpus luteum - transformed follicle after ovulation that secretes progesterone. [1]

Curettage - A scraping, usually of the interior of a cavity or tract, for removal of new growth or other abnormal tissue, or to obtain material for tissue diagnosis. It is performed with a curet (curette), a spoon-shaped instrument designed for that purpose. [7]

decidual cells

Diabetes Mellitus - A heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by HYPERGLYCEMIA and GLUCOSE INTOLERANCE. [7]

Differential diagnosis - Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures. [7]

Dilapan

Dilation - first stage of childbirth, involving an increase in cervical diameter. [3]

Ductus Arteriosus - shunt in the fetal pulmonary trunk that diverts oxygenated blood back to the aorta Ductus Venosus. [1]

dyspnea - Difficult or labored breathing. [7]

eclampsia - Eclampsia is the new onset of seizures or coma in a pregnant woman with preeclampsia. These seizures are not related to an existing brain condition. [6]

Ectopic pregnancy - implantation of an embryo outside of the uterus. [2]

effaces

Endometrium - inner lining of the uterus, part of which builds up during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle and then sheds with menses. [1]

Endometritis - Inflammation of the ENDOMETRIUM, usually caused by intrauterine infections. Endometritis is the most common cause of postpartum fever. [7]

Endothelium - A layer of epithelium that lines the heart, blood vessels, lymph vessels, and the serous cavities of the body. [7]

Episiotomy - incision made in the posterior vaginal wall and perineum that facilitates vaginal birth. [3]

Erythrocyte - Red blood cell. Mature erythrocytes are non-nucleated, biconcave disks containing HEMOGLOBIN whose function is to transport OXYGEN. [7]

Expulsion - second stage of childbirth, during which the mother bears down with contractions; this stage ends in birth. [3]

foley catheter

Foramen Ovale - shunt that directly connects the right and left atria and helps to divert oxygenated blood from the fetal pulmonary circuit. [1]

Foremilk - watery, translucent breast milk that is secreted first during a feeding and is rich in lactose and protein; quenches the infant’s thirst. [5]

Gestation

Hematocrit - Hematocrit is a blood test that measures how much of a person's blood is made up of red blood cells. This measurement depends on the number of and size of the red blood cells. [6]

Hemodynamics - The movement and the forces involved in the movement of the blood through the CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM. [7]

Hemoglobin - Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The hemoglobin test measures how much hemoglobin is in your blood. [6]

Hemorrhagic - Hemorrhage is the medical term for bleeding. It most often refers to excessive bleeding. Hemorrhagic diseases are caused by bleeding, or they result in bleeding (hemorrhaging). [6]

hyperbilirubinemia - A condition characterized by an abnormal increase of BILIRUBIN in the blood, which may result in JAUNDICE. Bilirubin, a breakdown product of HEME, is normally excreted in the BILE or further catabolized before excretion in the urine. [7]

Hindmilk - opaque, creamy breast milk delivered toward the end of a feeding; rich in fat; satisfies the infant’s appetite. [5]

human chorionic (hCG) hormone

Hydrops fetalis - Hydrops fetalis is a serious condition. It occurs when abnormal amounts of fluid build up in two or more body areas of a fetus or newborn. It is a symptom of underlying problems. [6]

Iliac artery - Either of two large arteries originating from the abdominal aorta; they supply blood to the pelvis, abdominal wall and legs. [7]

Immunoglobulins - Multi-subunit proteins which function in IMMUNITY. They are produced by B LYMPHOCYTES from the IMMUNOGLOBULIN GENES. They are comprised of two heavy (IMMUNOGLOBULIN HEAVY CHAINS) and two light chains (IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAINS) with additional ancillary polypeptide chains depending on their isoforms. The variety of isoforms include monomeric or polymeric forms, and transmembrane forms (B-CELL ANTIGEN RECEPTORS) or secreted forms (ANTIBODIES). They are divided by the amino acid sequence of their heavy chains into five classes (IMMUNOGLOBULIN A; IMMUNOGLOBULIN D; IMMUNOGLOBULIN E; IMMUNOGLOBULIN G; IMMUNOGLOBULIN M) and various subclasses. [7]

Incidence - Incidence is the number of new cases of a condition, symptom, death, or injury that develop during a specific time period, such as a year. Incidence shows the likelihood that a person in a certain population will be newly affected by that condition in a specific period of time. [6]

Intrauterine device (IUD) - An intrauterine device (IUD) is a small plastic T-shaped device used for birth control. It is inserted into the uterus where it stays to prevent pregnancy. [6]

Intravenous - Intravenous means "within a vein." Most often it refers to giving medicines or fluids through a needle or tube inserted into a vein. This allows the medicine or fluid to enter your bloodstream right away. For example, your health care provider may prescribe medicines to be given through a vein, or an intravenous (IV) line. [6]

Involution - postpartum shrinkage of the uterus back to its pre-pregnancy volume. [3]

Lactation - process by which milk is synthesized and secreted from the mammary glands of the postpartum female breast in response to sucking at the nipple. [5]

lactiferous sinuses

lactocytes

lactogen

Laminaria - A genus of BROWN ALGAE in the family Laminariaceae. Dried pencil-like pieces may be inserted in the cervix where they swell as they absorb moisture, serving as osmotic dilators.

lanugo

Let-down reflex - release of milk from the alveoli triggered by infant suckling. [5]

Leukocyte - White blood cell. These include granular leukocytes (BASOPHILS; EOSINOPHILS; and NEUTROPHILS) as well as non-granular leukocytes (LYMPHOCYTES and MONOCYTES). [7]

Lightening - descent of the fetus lower into the pelvis in late pregnancy; also called “dropping”. [3]

linea nigra

Lociha - postpartum vaginal discharge that begins as blood and ends as a whitish discharge; the end of lochia signals that the site of placental attachment has healed

Mammary glands - glands inside the breast that secrete milk. [2]

Meconium - fetal wastes consisting of ingested amniotic fluid, cellular debris, mucus, and bile. [2]

Melanocyte-stimulating hormone - Peptides with the ability to stimulate pigmented cells MELANOCYTES in mammals and MELANOPHORES in lower vertebrates. By stimulating the synthesis and distribution of MELANIN in these pigmented cells, they increase coloration of skin and other tissue. [7]

Medical abortion (MAB)

Mesoderm - The middle germ layer of an embryo derived from three paired mesenchymal aggregates along the neural tube.

Methotrexate - An antineoplastic antimetabolite with immunosuppressant properties. It is an inhibitor of TETRAHYDROFOLATE DEHYDROGENASE and prevents the formation of tetrahydrofolate, necessary for synthesis of thymidylate, an essential component of DNA. [7]

Mifepristone -Mifepristone (Korlym) is used to treat hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) in people with a certain type of Cushing's syndrome in which the body makes too much cortisol (a hormone) and who have failed surgery or cannot have surgery to treat this condition. Mifepristone is in a class of medications called cortisol receptor blockers. It works by blocking the activity of cortisol. Mifepristone is also available as another product (Mifeprex) that is used alone or in combination with another medication to end an early pregnancy. This monograph only gives information about mifepristone (Korlym) used to control hyperglycemia in people with a certain type of Cushing's syndrome. If you are using mifepristone to terminate a pregnancy, read the monograph entitled mifepristone (Mifeprex), which has been written about this product. [8]

Misoprostol - Misoprostol is used to prevent ulcers in people who take certain arthritis or pain medicines, including aspirin, that can cause ulcers. It protects the stomach lining and decreases stomach acid secretion. [8]

Molar pregnancy

Montgomery glands

Myometrium - smooth muscle layer of uterus that allows for uterine contractions during labor and expulsion of menstrual blood. [1]

Nonshivering thermogenesis - process of breaking down brown adipose tissue to produce heat in the absence of a shivering response. [4]

Obstetrician - Qualified medical professionals who specialize in OBSTETRICS - a medical-surgical specialty concerned with management and care of women during pregnancy, parturition, and the puerperium. [7]

Occiput

Opiates - Opiates or opioids are drugs used to treat pain. Opiates are derived from plants and opioids are synthetic drugs that have the same actions as opiates. The term narcotic refers to either type of drug. [6]

Osmotic dilators

ovalis

Oxytocin - hypothalamic hormone stored in the posterior pituitary gland and important in stimulating uterine contractions in labor, milk ejection during breastfeeding, and feelings of attachment (also produced in males). [1]

Parturition - childbirth. [3]

paracervical block

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) - Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of a woman's womb (uterus), ovaries, or fallopian tubes. [6]

Perineal tear

Peristalsis - Peristalsis is a series of muscle contractions. These contractions occur in your digestive tract. Peristalsis is also seen in the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder. [6]

Pituitary gland - A small, unpaired gland situated in the SELLA TURCICA. It is connected to the HYPOTHALAMUS by a short stalk which is called the INFUNDIBULUM. [7]

Placenta - A highly vascularized mammalian fetal-maternal organ and major site of transport of oxygen, nutrients, and fetal waste products. It includes a fetal portion (CHORIONIC VILLI) derived from TROPHOBLASTS and a maternal portion (DECIDUA) derived from the uterine ENDOMETRIUM. The placenta produces an array of steroid, protein and peptide hormones (PLACENTAL HORMONES). [7]

POC

Polyp forceps

Pratt cervical dilators

Preeclampsia - Preeclampsia is high blood pressure and signs of liver or kidney damage that occur in women after the 20th week of pregnancy. While it is rare, preeclampsia also may occur in a woman after delivering her baby, most often within 48 hours. This is called postpartum preeclampsia. [6]

Prevalence - The total number of cases of a given disease in a specified population at a designated time. It is differentiated from INCIDENCE, which refers to the number of new cases in the population at a given time. [7]

Prophylactic

Prophyria

Progesterone - sex hormone important in regulating the reproductive cycle in those with ovaries and the maintenance of pregnancy. [1]

prolactin - pituitary hormone that establishes and maintains the supply of breast milk; also important for the mobilization of maternal micronutrients for breast milk. [5]

Prostaglandins - A group of compounds derived from unsaturated 20-carbon fatty acids, primarily arachidonic acid, via the cyclooxygenase pathway. They are extremely potent mediators of a diverse group of physiological processes. [7]

Pulmonary alveoli - Small polyhedral outpouchings along the walls of the alveolar sacs, alveolar ducts and terminal bronchioles through the walls of which gas exchange between alveolar air and pulmonary capillary blood takes place. [7]

Pulmonary trunk - large arterial vessel that carries blood ejected from the right ventricle; divides into the left and right pulmonary arteries. [9]

Quickening - fetal movements that are strong enough to be felt by the mother [2]

RH status - blood-type classification based on the presence or absence of the antigen Rh on the erythrocyte membrane surface. [9]

Shunt - circulatory shortcut that diverts the flow of blood from one region to another. [2]

striae

subcutaneous fat - The term "cutaneous" refers to the skin. Subcutaneous means beneath, or under, all the layers of the skin. [6]

Tenaculum

Teratogenicity

Thrombophilia - A disorder of HEMOSTASIS in which there is a tendency for the occurrence of THROMBOSIS. [7]

thyrotropin

True labor - regular contractions that immediately precede childbirth; they do not abate with hydration or rest, and they become more frequent and powerful with time. [3]

Uterotonics

Vasovagal

vasovagal syncope - Loss of consciousness due to a reduction in blood pressure that is associated with an increase in vagal tone and peripheral vasodilation. [7]

Vena Cavae - The inferior (venous trunk which receives blood from the lower extremities and from the pelvic and abdominal organs) and superior (venous trunk which returns blood from the head, neck, upper extremities and chest) venae cavae. [7]

Vernix caseosa - waxy, cheese-like substance that protects the delicate fetal skin until birth. [2]

Wharton Jelly -Jelly-like connective tissue of the UMBILICAL CORD that contains MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS. [7]

References

1. Menefee, Whitney, Julie Jenks, Chiara Mazzasette, and Kim-Lelioni Nguyen. 2021. LibreTexts Human Anatomy (OERI). CC BY
2. Lange, Jennifer et al. 2023 General Human Anatomy. LibreTexts, https://med.libretexts.org/Bookshelv...ic_Development. Page titled 24.3: Fetal Development is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jennifer Lange et al.
3. Lange, Jennifer et al. 2023 General Human Anatomy. LibreTexts, https://med.libretexts.org/Bookshelv...ic_Development. Page titled 24.4: Maternal Changes During Pregnancy, Labor, and Birth is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jennifer Lange et al .
4. Lange, Jennifer et al. 2023 General Human Anatomy. LibreTexts, https://med.libretexts.org/Bookshelv...ic_Development. Page titled 24.5: Adjustments of the Infant at Birth and Postnatal Stages is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jennifer Lange et al.
5. pituitary hormone that establishes and maintains the supply of breast milk; also important for the mobilization of maternal micronutrients for breast milk. Page titled 24.6: Lactation is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jennifer Lange et al.
6. A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia [Internet]. Johns Creek (GA): Ebix, Inc., A.D.A.M.; c1997-2020. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003247.htm MedlinePlus. MedlinePlus.org. https://medlineplus.gov/ Public Domain.
7. National Library of Medicine(NLM). Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) thesaurus. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh?Db...BMeSH+Terms%5D.
8. AHFS Patient Medication Information [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc.; c2024. MedlinePlus Drugs and Supplements. https://medlineplus.gov/druginformation.html. Public Domain.
9. Anatomy and Physiology 2e (OpenStax) "Key Terms". https://med.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Anatomy_and_Physiology/Anatomy_and_Physiology_2e_(OpenStax)
10. Nelson, Andrea and Katherine Greene. 2022. "1.18 Obstetrics". LibreTexts Medical Terminology for Healthcare Professionals.