Obs/gyne Glossary A-C

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Complete abortion

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Complete expulsion of the entire products of conception.

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Incomplete abortion

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Incomplete expulsion of the products of conception

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Induced abortion

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termination of a pregnancy by medical or surgical intervention

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Induced abortion

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Termination of a pregnancy by medical or surgical intervention.

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Abnormal Uterine bleeding

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Bleeding that occurs between menstrual periods, bleeding after sex, spottinganytime in the menstrual cycle, bleeding that is heavier than normal or bleeding after menopause. Menstrualcycles that are longer than 35 days or shorter than 21 days are also abnormal. The lack of menstrual bleedingfor 3-6 months in a reproductive aged woman is also abnormal.

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Abruptio placentae

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Separation of the normally implanted placenta from its uterine attachment after the20th week of pregnancy and before the birth of the infant. It occurs mainly in the third trimester.

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Acromegaly

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Overgrowth of the terminal parts of the skeletal system after epiphyseal fusion as a result of overproduction of growth hormone

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Acute abdomen

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Pain in the abdomen that usually comes on suddenly and is so severe that it requires surgical management. Typical PE findings include guarding and rebound

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Adenomyosis

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Presence of endometrial tissue within the myometrium

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Adnexae

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Uterine appendage, including the fallopian tubes, ovaries and associated ligaments

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Adrenal hyperplasia

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Congenital or acquired increase in the number of the adrenal cortex, occuring bilaterally and resulting in excessive secretion of 17 ketosteroids with signs of virilzation

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Advanced directive

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Legal documents that allow people to communicate their decisions about medical care to family, friends, and health care professioinals in the event that they are unable to make those decisions themselves

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Alloimmunization

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An immune response generated in an individual by an alloantigen from a different individual of the same species

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Amenorrhea

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Absence or cessation of menstruation

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Primary amenorrhea

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Failure of menarche to occur by age 16

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Secondary amenorrhea

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Absence of menses for three or more months after menarche

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Amniocentesis

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Aspiration of amniotic fluid, usually transabdominally, for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes

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Amniotic fluid

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The fluid confined by the amnion, which serves several functions in normal pregnancy.

The volume and make up of amniotic fluid change over the course of the pregnancy

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Androgen excess

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the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age.

it can cause variable clinical features such as acne, hirsutism, virilization and reproductive dysfunction

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Androgen insensitivity syndrome

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A syndrome of androgen insensitivity characterized by primary amenorrhea, a female phenotype, testes (abdominal or inquinal) instead of ovaries, the absence of a uterus, and a male genotype

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Anemia, megaloblastic

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Anemia with an excessive number of megaloblasts in circulation caused primarily by deficiency of folic acid, vitamin B12 or both

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Anemia, iron deficiency

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Advanced stage of iron deficiency whereby there is insufficient stored iron tomeet the demands of the body. Also called microcytic anemia.

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Anorexia nervosa

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Eating disorder characterized by altered body image and marked reduction in the intakeof food, caused by psychogenic factors and leading to malnutrition and amenorrhea.

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Anovulatory bleeding

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Irregular uterine bleeding that occurs in the absence of ovulation.

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Antepartum

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Occurring during pregnancy prior to labor.

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APGAR score

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A physical assessment of the newborn, performed at 1 and 5 minutes after birth, used todetermine the need for resuscitation.

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Ascites

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abnormal accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity.

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Atony, uterine

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Loss of uterine muscular tonicity, which may result in failure of labor to progress or inpostpartum hemorrhage.

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Autoimmune

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Relating to disease caused by antibodies or lymphocytes produced against substancesnaturally present in the body.

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Autonomy

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A patient’s right to determine what healthcare she will accept.

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Barr bodies

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Sex chromatin masses on the nuclear membrane. The number of Barr bodies is one fewer than the number of X chromosomes in that cell.

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Bartholin abscess

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Cystic swelling of a Bartholin gland caused by obstruction of its duct with infection of thecontents.

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Bartholin cyst

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Cystic swelling of a Bartholin gland caused by obstruction of its duct.

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Basal body temperature

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The oral temperature at rest, used for detection of ovulation.

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Biophysical profile

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An assessment of fetal well-being, including ultrasound evaluation of fetal movement,breathing movements, fetal tone, amniotic fluid volume and nonstress test.

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Biphasic temperature curve

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A graph showing a basal body temperature in the luteal phase that is 0.3°Fhigher than that of the follicular phase, which indicates that ovulation has occurred.

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Blood flow uteroplacental

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The circulation by which the fetus exchanges nutrients and waste productswith the mother.

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Blood product transfusion

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The transferring of a blood product (red blood cells, blood plasma or platelets)from a donor to another individual.

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Breakthrough bleeding

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Endometrial bleeding that occurs at inappropriate times during the use ofhormonal contraceptives.

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Breech

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The buttocks (often refers to a fetal presentation)

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Cancer staging

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A neoplasm in which the tumor cells are confined by the basement membrane of theepithelium of origin.

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Cerclage

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The use of a suture to encircle and tighten the opening of a malfunctioning cervix.

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Cesarean delivery

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Birth of the fetus through incisions made in the abdomen and uterine wall.

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Child abuse

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Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death,serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation of a child.

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Cholasma

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Irregular brownish patches of various sizes that may appear on the face during pregnancy orduring the use of oral contraceptives, often referred to as “mask of pregnancy.”

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Chorioamnionitis

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Infection of the fetal membranes

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Choriocarcinoma

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A malignant tumour composed of sheets of cellular and syncytial trophoblast

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Chorionic villus sampling

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The transcervical or transabdominal sampling of the chorionic villi forcytogenetic evaluation of the fetus.

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Chronic pelvic pain

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Pain located in the pelvis lasting six months or more. May be structural or functional.

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Circumcision

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The action or practice of cutting off the penile foreskin

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Climacteric

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The period of life or the syndrome of endocrine, somatic and psychic changes that occur in awoman during the transition from the reproductive to the nonreproductive state. May also be usedinterchangeably with perimenopause.

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Clomiphene

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A ligand, that is in a group of compounds known as selective estrogen receptor modulators(SERM), which stimulates the maturation of follicles and thereby ovulation as a result of its antiestrogeniceffect on the hypothalamus.

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Coitus interruptus

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Withdrawal of the penis during coitus before ejaculation

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Anterior colporrhaphy

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A surgical procedure used to repair cystocele, traditionally done by plicating in themidline of the connective tissue (sometimes called vesicovaginal connective tissue or pubocervialfascia) that supports the bladder. There are other approaches to repair a cystocele, which are notcalled colporrhapy – for example transvaginal graft placement or a paravaginal repair from anabdominal approach.

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Posterior colporrhaphy

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A surgical procedure used to repair rectocele, traditionally done by plicating therectovaginal connective tissue in the midline to create more support for the rectum. Otherapproaches can include site-specific repairs or graft use.

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Colposcopy

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Examination of the vagina and cervix by means of an instrument that provides lowmagnification

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Condyloma acuminatum

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benign, cauliflower-like growth on the genitalia caused by humanpapillomavirus.

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Cone biopsy

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A cone of cervical tissue excised for histologic examination for cervical dysplasia

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Contraception

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Prevention of conception

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Cordocentesis

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A fetal assessment and therapeutictechnique in which a needle is passed into an umbilical vessel and blood is sampled or treatment is given.

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Corpus luteum

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A temporary endocrine structure produced in the ovary at the site of ovulation. It producesprogesterone, which supports the endometrium of the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. Involution ofthe corpus luteum precedes menstruation.

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Cul-de-sac

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pouch-like cavity, (also called the Pouch of Douglas) between the rectum and the uterus,formed by a fold of peritoneum

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Culdocentesis

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Needle aspiration of intraperitoneal fluid or blood through a puncture of the posteriorvaginal fornix into the cul-de- sac.

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Curettage

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Scraping of the interior of a cavity or other surface with a curette.

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Fractional curettage

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Separate curettage of the endometrium and the endocervix for diagnostic evaluation. Specimens are submitted separately for pathologic examination.

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Suction curettage

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endometrial curettage using a suction catheter

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Cushing syndrome

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A symptom complex caused by hypersecretion of glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids and sex hormones of the adrenal cortex.

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Cystocele

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Protrusion of the urinary bladder that creates a downward bulging of the anterior vaginal wall asa result of weakening of the pubocervical fascia.

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Cystogram

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A radiogram of the urinary bladder after the injection of contrast medium.

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Cystometry

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Measurement of the function and capacity of the urinary bladder by pressure-volume studies.

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Cystoscopy

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Direct endoscopic inspection of the interior of the urinary bladder.