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