Chapter 19 - Reproductive System Disorders

Question 1

dyspareunia

Answer 1

difficult or painful sexual intercourse

Question 2

hirsutism

Answer 2

Hirsutism is a condition in women that results in excessive growth of dark or coarse hair in a male-like pattern — face, chest and back.

With hirsutism, extra hair growth often arises from excess male hormones (androgens), primarily testosterone.

Question 3

astute

Answer 3

having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one’s advantage

Question 4

epispadias

Answer 4

A rare birth defect located at the opening of the urethra. In this condition, the urethra does not develop into a full tube, and the urine exits the body from an abnormal location.

It is possible for the urethra to be open along the entire length of the penis. In girls, the opening is usually between the clitoris and the labia but may be in the belly area.

Question 5

hypospadias

Answer 5

A birth defect (congenital condition) in which the opening of the urethra is on the underside of the penis instead of at the tip.

Question 6

bladder exstrophy

Answer 6

Bladder exstrophy is a congenital abnormality that occurs when the skin over the lower abdominal wall (bottom part of the tummy) does not form properly. The bladder is open and exposed on the outside of the abdomen.

Exstrophy means ‘turned inside out’.

Question 7

hydrocele

Answer 7

A type of swelling in the scrotum that occurs when fluid collects in the thin sheath surrounding a testicle.

Hydrocele is common in newborns and usually disappears without treatment by age 1. Older boys and adult men can develop a hydrocele due to inflammation or injury within the scrotum

Question 8

cancer (and where some of them begin)

Answer 8

Also called: malignant tumor, malignant neoplasm, malignancy

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems.

There are several main types of cancer.

Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs.

Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue.

Leukemia is a cancer that begins in blood-forming tissue, such as the bone marrow, and causes too many abnormal blood cells to be made.

Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system.

Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

Question 9

adenocarcinoma

Answer 9

Cancer that forms in the glandular tissue that lines certain internal organs and makes and releases substances in the body, such as mucus, digestive juices, or other fluids. Most cancers of the breast, pancreas, lung, prostate, colon, esophagus, and stomach are adenocarcinomas.

Question 10

vert (root word)

Answer 10

The Latin root word vert means ‘turn.”

Question 11

anteversion vs anteflexion

general definitions and uterus-specific definition

Answer 11

GENERAL DEFINITIONS

1. anteversion: to displace (a body organ) so that the whole axis is directed farther forward than normal
2. anteflexion: a displacement forward of an organ (as the uterus) so that its axis is bent upon itself

UTERUS-SPECIFIC DEFINITIONS
An anteverted uterus is situated at a 90 degree angle to the vaginal canal. The uterus is entirely straight and the fundus is pointed towards the abdomen.

An anteflexed uterus seems to have its cervix at a 90 degree angle, but there is a bend at the body of the uterus. According to the image, its a 125 degree angle. The fundus is still pointed towards the abdomen.

The terms anteverted and anteflexed are used because the fundus is pointing towards the front of the body (abdomen).

Question 12

retroversion vs retroflexion

general definitions and uterus-specific definition

Answer 12

GENERAL DEFINITIONS
retroversion (def. 1): the bending backward of the uterus and cervix
retroversion (def. 2): the act or process of turning back or regressing

retroflexion (def 1): the state of being bent back
retroflexion (def 2): the bending back of an organ (such as a uterus) upon itself
retroflexion (def 3): the act or process of bending back

UTERUS-SPECIFIC DEFINITIONS
A retroverted uterus appears to form an almost straight line from the fundus to the exit of the vagina. It points towards the person’s back.

A retroflexed uterus appears to bend at an almost 90 degree angle at the body, and its fundus is pointed towards the back as well.

The terms retroverted and retroflexed are used because the fundus is pointing towards the back of the body (back).

Question 13

axis

Answer 13

1. the imaginary straight line that something (such as the Earth) turns around
2. a straight line that divides a shape evenly into two parts
3. a main line of direction, motion, growth, or extension (e.g. axis of a city)
4. partnership or alliance (Axis countries)
5. a point or continuum on which something centers (axis of social power)

Question 14

What are the three parts of the uterus?

Answer 14

Cervix at the opening, body in the middle, fundus in the back.

Question 15

menorrhagia

Answer 15

Menstrual bleeding that lasts more than 7 days. It can also be bleeding that is very heavy.

How do you know if you have heavy bleeding? If you need to change your tampon or pad after less than 2 hours or you pass clots the size of a quarter or larger, that is heavy bleeding.

Question 16

metrorrhagia

Answer 16

abnormal bleeding between regular menstrual periods

Question 17

polymenorrhea

Answer 17

Polymenorrhea describes when a person’s menstrual periods are normal in terms of volume of blood flow, but occur at intervals of less than 21 days. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a typical menstrual cycle lasts between 21–35 days.

Question 18

oligomenorrhea

Answer 18

It is menstrual periods occurring at intervals of greater than 35 days, with only four to nine periods in a year.

Question 19

amenorrhea

Answer 19

The absence of monthly menstrual periods.

Question 20

endometriosis

Answer 20

An often painful disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus — the endometrium — grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis most commonly involves the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis.

Question 21

pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Answer 21

also called pelvic infection

It is an infection of the female reproductive organs.
It usually occurs when sexually transmitted bacteria spread from the vagina to the womb (uterus), fallopian tubes, or ovaries.
Common symptoms include pelvic pain and fever. There may be vaginal discharge.

Question 22

womb

Answer 22

The womb is where a fetus (unborn baby) develops and grows. Also called uterus.

Question 23

uterine fibroids

Answer 23

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years. Also called leiomyomas (lie-o-my-O-muhs) or myomas, uterine fibroids aren’t associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and almost never develop into cancer.

There are three major types of uterine fibroids.

1. Intramural fibroids grow within the muscular uterine wall.
2. Submucosal fibroids bulge into the uterine cavity.
3. Subserosal fibroids project to the outside of the uterus.

Some submucosal or subserosal fibroids may be pedunculated — hanging from a stalk inside or outside the uterus.

Question 24

mural

Answer 24

1. a painting or other work of art executed directly on a wall
2. of, like, or relating to a wall

Question 25

mucosa (noun)

mucosal (adjective)

Answer 25

a membrane rich in mucous glands
specifically: one that lines body cavities and passages (as of the gastrointestinal or respiratory tract) which communicate directly or indirectly with the outside of the body: MUCOUS MEMBRANE

Question 26

serosa (noun)

serosal (adjective)

Answer 26

a usually enclosing serous membrane

Serous membranes are membranes lining closed internal body cavities.

Question 27

peduncle

pedunculated

Answer 27

peduncle

1. a stalk bearing a flower or flower cluster or a fructification
2. a narrow part by which some larger part or the whole body of an organism is attached
3. a narrow stalk by which a tumor or polyp is attached

pedunculated
1. having, growing on, or being attached by a peduncle

Question 28

fructification

Answer 28

the generative parts of the plant (flower and fruit) (as opposed to its vegetative parts: trunk, roots and leaves)

the process of fructifying

Question 29

fructify

Answer 29

to bear fruit or become productive
to make (something) fruitful or productive

Question 30

polyp

Answer 30

A small clump of cells that grows inside the body.

There are 2 common types.

The first hangs from a stalk. Doctors will call this pedunculated.

The second is flat and grows directly out of the tissue around it. You’ll hear it called sessile.

Some polyps are benign and can’t turn into cancer. Others can.

Question 31

sessile

Answer 31

1. attached directly by the base: not raised upon a stalk or peduncle
2. permanently attached or established: not free to move about

Question 32

polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Answer 32

A hormonal disorder causing enlarged ovaries with small cysts on the outer edges.

Symptoms include menstrual irregularity, excess hair growth, acne, and obesity.

Question 33

fibrocystic breast disease

Answer 33

Fibrocystic breast changes happen when women develop fluid-filled cysts along with areas of fibrosis in one or both breasts. (You may see this referred to as fibrocystic breast disease, but it’s not really a disease.)

Fibrosis is a thickening of the breast tissue that you and your doctor can feel through the skin. It can be somewhat firm, ropy, or rubbery. Fibrosis also can happen by itself without any cysts forming.

Fibrocystic breast changes are pretty routine, they don’t require treatment, and they don’t raise your risk of breast cancer. Fibrocystic breast changes are common; about one-half of all women will experience them at some point in their lives. These changes usually occur in premenopausal women and are affected by shifts in hormone levels. You may notice that your symptoms worsen just before your menstrual period. In addition to lumpiness and swelling throughout one or both breasts, you may have pain, tenderness, and/or nipple discharge.

Question 34

florescence

Answer 34

a state or period of flourishing

Question 35

flourish

Answer 35

1. to grow well: to be healthy
2. to be very successful: to do very well
3. to hold up and show (something) in an excited or proud way