Female Reproductive System Vocab

Question 1

Uterine adnexa

Answer 1

Fallopian tubes, ovaries, and supporting ligaments.

Question 2

Amnion

Answer 2

Innermost membrane surrounding the embryo and fetus.

Question 3

Areola

Answer 3

Dark-pigmented area surrounding the breast nipple.

Question 4

Bartholin glands

Answer 4

Small mucus-secreting exocrine glands at the vaginal orifice (opening to outside of the body).

Caspar Bartholin was a Danish anatomist who described the glands in 1637.

Question 5

Cervix

Answer 5

Lower, neck-like portion of the uterus.

Question 6

Chorion

Answer 6

Outermost membrane surrounding the embryo and fetus; it forms the fetal part of the placenta.

Question 7

What is the clitoris?

Answer 7

Organ of sensitive erectile tissue anterior to the opening of the female urethra.

Question 8

Coitus

Answer 8

Sexual intercourse; copulation.

Pronunciation is KO-ih-tus.

Question 9

Corpus luteum

Answer 9

Empty ovarian follicle that secretes progesterone after release of the egg cell; literally means yellow (luteum) body (corpus).

Question 10

Cul-de-sac

Answer 10

Region in the lower abdomen, midway between the rectum and the uterus.

Question 11

Embryo

Answer 11

Stage in prenatal development from 2 to 8 weeks.

Question 12

Endometrium

Answer 12

Inner, mucous membrane lining of the uterus.

Question 13

Estrogen

Answer 13

Hormone produced by the ovaries and by the placenta during pregnancy; promotes female secondary sex characteristics.

Question 14

Fallopian tube

Answer 14

One of a pair of ducts through which the ovum travels to the uterus; also called an oviduct.

Question 15

Fertilization

Answer 15

Union of the sperm and ovum from which the embryo develops.

Question 16

Fetus

Answer 16

Stage in prenatal development from 8 weeks to birth.

Question 17

Fimbriae

Answer 17

Finger- or fringe-like projections at the end of the fallopian tubes.

Question 18

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

Answer 18

Secreted by the pituitary gland to stimulate maturation of the egg cell (ovum).

Question 19

Gamete

Answer 19

Male or female sexual reproductive cell; sperm cell or ovum.

Question 20

Genitalia

Answer 20

Reproductive organs; also called genitals.

Question 21

Gestation

Answer 21

Time period from fertilization of the ovum to birth; pregnancy.

Question 22

Gonad

Answer 22

Female or male reproductive organ that produces sex cells and hormones; ovary or testis.

Question 23

Gynecology

Answer 23

Study of the female reproductive organs, including the breasts.

Question 24

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)

Answer 24

Hormone produced by the placenta to sustain pregnancy by stimulating (-tropin) the ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone.

Question 25

Hymen

Answer 25

Mucous membrane partially or completely covering the opening to the vagina.

Question 26

Labia

Answer 26

Lips of the vagina; labia majora are the larger, outermost lips, and labia minora are the smaller, innermost lips.

Question 27

Lactiferous ducts

Answer 27

Tubes that carry milk from the mammary glands to the nipple.

Question 28

Luteinizing hormone (LH)

Answer 28

Secreted by the pituitary gland to promote ovulation.

Question 29

Mammary papilla

Answer 29

Nipple of the breast. A papilla is any small nipple-shaped projection.

Question 30

What is menarche?

Answer 30

Beginning of the first menstrual period and ability to reproduce.

Question 31

What is menopause?

Answer 31

Gradual ending of menstruation.

Question 32

What is menstruation?

Answer 32

Monthly shedding of the uterine lining. The flow of blood and tissue normally discharged during menstruation is called the menses (Latin mensis means month).

Question 33

What is the myometrium?

Answer 33

Muscle layer of the uterus.

Question 34

What is neonatology?

Answer 34

Study of the medical care of the newborn (neonate).

Question 35

What is obstetrics?

Answer 35

Branch of medicine and surgery concerned with pregnancy and childbirth.

Question 36

What is an orifice?

Answer 36

An opening.

Question 37

What is an ovarian follicle?

Answer 37

Developing sac enclosing each ovum within the ovary. Only about 400 of these sacs mature in a woman's lifetime.

Question 38

What is an ovary?

Answer 38

One of a pair of female organs (gonads) on each side of the pelvis. Ovaries are almond-shaped, about the size of large walnuts, and produce egg cells (ova) and hormones.

Question 39

What is ovulation?

Answer 39

Release of the ovum from the ovary.

Question 40

What is an ovum?

Answer 40

Mature egg cell (female gamete). Ova develop from immature egg cells called oocytes.

Question 41

What is parturition?

Answer 41

Act of giving birth.

Question 42

What is the perimetrium?

Answer 42

Outermost layer of the uterus; uterine serosa.

Question 43

What is the perineum?

Answer 43

In females, the area between the anus and the vagina.

Question 44

What is the pituitary gland?

Answer 44

Endocrine gland at the base of the brain. It produces hormones that stimulate the ovaries.

Question 45

What is the placenta?

Answer 45

Vascular organ attached to the uterine wall during pregnancy. It permits the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and fetal waste products between mother and fetus.

Question 46

What is pregnancy?

Answer 46

Gestation.

Question 47

What is progesterone?

Answer 47

Hormone produced by the corpus luteum in the ovary and the placenta of pregnant women.

Question 48

What is puberty?

Answer 48

Period of adolescent development at which secondary sex characteristics appear and gametes are produced.

Question 49

What is the uterus?

Answer 49

Hollow, pear-shaped muscular female organ in which the embryo and fetus develop, and from which menstruation occurs.

Question 50

What is the vagina?

Answer 50

Muscular, mucosa-lined canal extending from the uterus to the exterior of the body.

Question 51

What is the vulva?

Answer 51

External female genitalia; includes the labia, hymen, clitoris, and vaginal orifice.

Question 52

What is a zygote?

Answer 52

Stage in prenatal development from fertilization and implantation up to 2 weeks.

Question 53

Graafian follicle

Answer 53

Small sac containing ova

Question 54

Adnexae uteri

Answer 54

Fallopian tubes, ovaries and supporting ligaments

Question 55

Oocyte

Answer 55

Immature ovum

Question 56

LEEP

Answer 56

Loop electrosurgical excision procedure