Chapter 4

Front 1

Prepuce

Back 1

A loose fold of skin that covers the clitoris. Also called the clitoral hood.

Front 2

Bartholin's Glands

Back 2

A pair of glands on either side of the vaginal opening that open by a duct into the space between the hymen and the labia minora.

Front 3

Hymen

Back 3

A thin fold of vascularized mucous membrane at the vaginal opening.

Front 4

Gragenberg Spot (G-Spot)

Back 4

A structure that is said to lie on the anterior (front) wall of the vagina and is reputed to be a seat of sexual pleasure when stimulated.

Front 5

Ovum

Back 5

The female reproductive cell or gamete; plural is ova.

Front 6

Perimetrium

Back 6

The outer wall of the uterus.

Front 7

Myometrium

Back 7

The smooth muscle layer of the uterus.

Front 8

Endometrium

Back 8

The mucous membrane lining the uterus.

Front 9

Ovulation

Back 9

The phase of the menstrual cycle in which an ovum is released.

Front 10

Fimbriae

Back 10

The branched, finger-like border at the end of each Fallopian tube.

Front 11

Gynecologist

Back 11

A physician who specializes in the study and treatment of disorders of the female reproductive system.

Front 12

Lactation

Back 12

The collective name for milk creation, secretion, and ejection from the nipple.

Front 13

Oxytocin

Back 13

A hormone secreted by the hypothalamus that stimulates contraction of both the uterus for delivery of the newborn and the mammary gland ducts for lactation.

Front 14

Corpus Luteum

Back 14

A yellowish endocrine gland in the ovary formed when a follicle has discharged its secondary oocyte.

Front 15

Menses

Back 15

The blood and tissue discharged from the uterus during menstruation.

Front 16

Anemia

Back 16

A deficiency in the oxygen-carrying material of the blood, often causing symptoms of fatigue, irritability, dizziness, memory problems, shortness of breath, and headaches.

Front 17

Hot Flashes

Back 17

A symptom of menopause in which a woman feels sudden heat, often accompanied by a flush.

Front 18

Menstrual Manipulation

Back 18

The ability to plan and schedule the arrival of menstruation.

Front 19

Menstrual Suppression

Back 19

The elimination of menstrual periods.

Front 20

Laparoscope

Back 20

A small instrument through which structures within the abdomen and pelvis can be viewed.

Front 21

Douching

Back 21

A method of vaginal rinsing or cleaning that involves squirting water or other solutions into the vagina.

Front 22

Pubococcygeus Muscle

Back 22

A muscle that surrounds and supports the vagina.

Front 23

Dilators

Back 23

A graduated series of metal rods used in the treatment of vaginismus.

Front 24

Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome

Back 24

Syndrome that causes pain and burning in the vaginal vestibule and often occurs during sexual intercourse, tampon insertion, gynecological examinations, bicycle riding, and wearing tight pants.

Front 25

Hysterectomy

Back 25

The surgical removal of the uterus.

Front 26

Dilation and Curttage (D&C)

Back 26

The surgical scraping of the uterine wall with a spoon-shaped instrument.

Front 27

Ovarian Cysts

Back 27

Small, fluid-filled sacs, which can form on the ovary, that do not pose a health threat under most conditions.

Front 28

Mammography

Back 28

A procedure for internal imaging of the breasts to evaluate breast disease or screen for breast cancer.

Front 29

Radical Mastectomy

Back 29

A surgical procedure that involves removal of the breast, its surrounding tissue, the muscles supporting the breast, and underarm lymph nodes.

Front 30

Radiation

Back 30

A procedure that uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells by damaging their DNA.

Front 31

Chemotherapy

Back 31

A procedure that uses chemicals to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells.

Front 32

Speculum

Back 32

An instrument for dilating the vagina to examine the cervix and other internal structures.

Front 33

Papanicolaou (Pap) Smear

Back 33

A microscopic examination of cells scraped from the cervix. Named after its inventor.

Front 34

Vulva

Back 34

Female external sex organs collectively.

Front 35

Mons Veneris or Mons Pubis

Back 35

The fatty cushion resting over the front surface of the pubic bone. It becomes covered with pubic hair after puberty. Serves largely as a protective cushion for the genitals.

Front 36

Labia Majora

Back 36

Outer lips; are two longitudinal folds of fatty tissue that extend downward and backward from the mons pubis, frame the rest of the female genitalia, and meet at the perineum.

Front 37

Labia Minora

Back 37

Inner lips; are two smaller pink skin folds inside the labia majora that join at the clitoris to from the prepuce.

Front 38

Clitoris

Back 38

Homologous to the penis; sole function is to bring sexual pleasure.

Front 39

Vestibule

Back 39

The name for the entire region between the labia minora. It contains the openings of the urethra and vagina, and the ducts of Bartholin's glands.

Front 40

Perineum

Back 40

The area of tissue between the vestibule and the anus.

Front 41

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Back 41

When bacteria gets into the urinary tract. Common symptoms include pain or burning in the urethra or bladder and an increased urge to urinate.

Front 42

Introitus

Back 42

The entrance of the vagina; located in the vestibule.

Front 43

Vagina

Back 43

A thin-walled tube extending from the cervix of the uterus to the external genitalia.

Front 44

Uterus

Back 44

A thick-walled, hollow, muscular organ in the pelvis sandwiched between the bladder in front and the rectum behind.

Front 45

Cervix

Back 45

The lower portion of the uterus that contains the opening through which menstrual fluid flows out of the body of the uterus and sperm gains entrance.

Front 46

Fallopian Tubes

Back 46

Also called oviducts; are 4 inch long trumpet-shaped tubes that extend laterally from the sides of the uterus.

Front 47

Oviducts

Back 47

Another name for Fallopian tubes.

Front 48

Oocyte

Back 48

Also known as eggs or ovum.

Front 49

Prolactin

Back 49

The hormone released from the posterior pituitary gland that signals milk synthesis.

Front 50

Menarche

Back 50

The name of the monthly bleeding that the majority of healthy women of reproductive age experience. Also called a period.

Front 51

Follicular Phase

Back 51

This phase begins after the last menstruation has completed and lasts from 6 to 13 days. Estrogen is released by the ovaries stimulating the regrowth of the endometrium's outer layer. The first phase of the menstrual cycle.

Front 52

Ovulatory Phase

Back 52

The phase in which an ovum is released, usually about the 14th day of the cycle. The second phase of the menstrual cycle.

Front 53

Luteal Phase

Back 53

The phase where immediately after ovulation, a small, pouchlike gland, the corpus luteum, forms on the ovary. The corpus luteum secretes additional progesterone and estrogen for 10 to 12 days. Fertilization phase. Third phase in the menstrual cycle.

Front 54

Menstrual Phase

Back 54

In this phase the endometrial cells shrink and slough off. Usually stops about 3 to 7 days.

Front 55

Menopause

Back 55

The cessation of menstrual cycling, which typically occurs between the age of 40 and 58.

Front 56

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Back 56

In the past was used to help maintain vaginal elasticity and lubrication, restore regular sleep patterns, and reduce hot flashes. However, it was found to be linked to increased rate of breast cancer and the use has since declined significantly.

Front 57

Amenorrhea

Back 57

The absence of menstruation.

Front 58

Dysmenorrhea

Back 58

Extremely painful menstruation.

Front 59

Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

Back 59

Includes irregular periods or unusually heavy periods.

Front 60

Menorrhagia

Back 60

Excessive menstrual flow.

Front 61

Premenstrual Syndrom (PMS)

Back 61

Refers to physical or emotional symptoms that appear in some women during the latter half of the menstrual cycle.

Front 62

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

Back 62

The most debilitating cases of PMS.

Front 63

Endometriosis

Back 63

A common gynecological condition that occurs when endometrial cells begin to migrate to places other than the uterus.

Front 64

Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome (mTSS)

Back 64

An acute inflammatory disease that develops when Staphylococcus aureus bacteria are allowed to grow in the vagina. It is most commonly associated with the use of high-absorbency tampons and forgetting to remove a tampon, which becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.

Front 65

Vaginismus

Back 65

Involves contractions of the pubococcygeus muscle, which can make vaginal penetration impossible.

Front 66

Dyspareunia

Back 66

Involves slight to extreme pain before, during, or after sexual behavior.

Front 67

Vulvodynia

Back 67

Chronic pain in the vulva.

Front 68

Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia

Back 68

Cervical cancer has high cure rates because it starts as an easily identifiable lesion, called a _______, which usually progresses slowly into cervical cancer.

Front 69

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Back 69

Is a condition in which a woman's levels of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone are out of balance.

Front 70

False Negatives

Back 70

When a test says its negative when it's positive.

Front 71

Benign

Back 71

Not harmful.

Front 72

Malignant

Back 72

Infectious.

Front 73

Lumpectomy

Back 73

Involves the removal of the tumor, together with some surrounding tissue, but the breast is left intact.

Front 74

Smegma

Back 74

A pasty white substance that may accumulate around the clitoris.