Vocabulary & Check Your Knowledge

Female Reproductive System Vocabulary

Acanthosis Nigricans

A disorder that causes darkening and thickening of the skin on the neck, groin, underarms or skin folds.

Acrochordons

Skin tags, teardrop-sized pieces of skin that can be as large as raisins and are typically found in the armpits or neck area.

Amenorrhea

Absence of periods.

Androgens

Male hormones.

Antiandrogens

A group of medications that counteract the effects of male hormones.

Antibiotics

Medications that stop bacterial infections.

Antiretrovirals

Treatment that works against the virus replication.

Anti-virals

Treatments that work effectively against a virus.

Asymptomatic

Pertaining to without symptoms.

Autoinoculation

Self inoculation.

Axilla

The armpit.

Bartholin’s glands

Also known as greater vestibular glands they are responsible to secrete mucus to keep the vestibular area moist.

Bilateral

Pertaining to both sides.

Douching

Washing the vagina with fluid.

Dysmenorrhea

Painful periods.

Dyspareunia

Painful intercourse.

Dysuria

Painful urination.

Endocrinology

The study of the endocrine glands and hormones.

Endometrium

The innermost layer containing a connective tissue lining covered by epithelial tissue that lines the lumen. Provides the site of implantation for a fertilized egg. Sheds during menstruation if no egg is fertilized.

Endoscopy

Process of viewing internally.

Fornix

Superior portion of the vagina.

Gametes

Haploid reproductive cells that contribute genetic material to form an offspring.

Gynecologist

Specialist in the study and treatment of the female reproductive system.

Gynecology

The study of the female reproductive system.

Hirsutism

Excessive hair growth in a pattern typically seen in males.

Homeostasis

Biological process that results in stable equilibrium.

Hysterectomy

Surgical removal of the uterus.

Inferior

Pertaining to below.

Intramuscular

Pertaining to within the muscle.

Laparoscopy

Process of viewing internal organs.

Lumbago

Lower back pain.

Mammoplasty

Surgical repair of the breast particularly after a mastectomy.

Mastectomy

Excision of breast(s) and or breast tissue.

Oligomenorrhea

Infrequent or irregular periods.

Oocyte

Female gamete.

Oophorectomy

Surgical removal of one or both ovaries.

Polymenorrhea

Excessive bleeding during one’s period.

Polyuria

Frequent urination.

Proliferate

Reproduce rapidly.

Puerperium

Time directly after childbirth.

Superior

Pertaining to above.

Unilateral

Pertaining to one side.

Urethritis

Inflammation of the urethra.

Test Yourself

Female Reproductive System Glossary Reinforcement Activity (Text Version)
  1. The site of implantation for a fertilized egg or the layer that sheds during menstruation if no egg is fertilized is called ____[Blank 1].
    1. Endometrium
    2. Oocyte
    3. Puerperium
  2. Hysterectomy is the _____[Blank 2].
    1. Surgical removal of the breast(s)
    2. Surgical removal of the uterus
    3. Surgical removal of the fallopian/uterine tubes
  3. Pain periods is called _____[Blank 3].
    1. Dysmenorrhea
    2. Amenorrhea
    3. Oligomenorrhea
  4. Painful Intercourse is called _____[Blank 4].
    1. Dysuria
    2. Dyspareunia
    3. Dysmenorrhea
  5. The superior portion of the vagina is called _______[Blank 5].
    1. Axilla
    2. Bartholin’s glands
    3. Fornix

Check your answers: [1]

Activity source: Female Reproductive System Glossary Reinforcement Activity by Kimberlee Carter, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Attribution

Except where otherwise noted, this chapter is adapted from “Female Reproductive System” in Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by Kimberlee Carter and Marie Rutherford, licensed under CC BY 4.0. / A derivative of Betts et al., which can be accessed for free from Anatomy and Physiology (OpenStax). Adaptations: dividing Female Reproductive System chapter content into sub-chapters.

  1. 1. Endometrium 2. Surgical removal of the uterus 3. Dysmenorrhea 4. Dyspareunia 5. Fornix ↵

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Building a Medical Terminology Foundation 2e Copyright © 2024 by Kimberlee Carter; Marie Rutherford; and Connie Stevens is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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