Female Reproductive System
Chapter Eight
Medical Terminology
HIT # 141
Anatomy
• Ovaries = pair of organs located in the pelvic
cavity.
• Ovum = female sex cell.
• Graafian follicles = thousands of microscopic
sacs that make up a large portion of the ovaries.
Each follicle contains an immature ovum.
• Fallopian or uterine tube = pair of tubes attached
to the uterus, passageway for the ovum.
• Fimbria = finger like ends of the fallopian tube.
• Uterus = muscular organ, in pelvic cavity
(womb).
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Anatomy
• Endometrium = lining of the uterus.
• Myometrium = muscular middle layer.
• Perimetrium = outer thin layer, covers the
surface of the uterus.
• Corpus = large central portion.
• Fundus = rounded upper portion of uterus.
• Cervix = narrow lower portion of the uterus.
• Vagina = tube that connects the uterus to the
outside of the body.
• Hymen = fold of membrane found near the
opening of the vagina.
Female glands
• Bartholin’s glands = pair, mucus producing
glands, aid in lubrication.
• Mammary glands = milk producing glands.
• Mammary papilla = breast nipple.
• Areola = dark area around the breast nipple.
• Vulva = two pairs of lips that surround the
vagina.
• Perineum = pelvic floor, in both male and
female, in women area between the vaginal
opening and the anus.
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Combining forms
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Arche/o = first beginning.
Cervic/o = cervix.
Colp/o vagin/o = vagina.
Culd/o = cul-de-sac.
Episi/o vulv/o = vulva.
Gynec/o gyn/o = woman.
Hyster/o uter/o = uterus.
Mamm/o = breast.
Men/o = menstruation
oophor/o = ovary. Salping/o = fallopian tube
Prefix & Suffixes
• Peri- surrounding, outer
• -atresia- absence of a normal body opening,
occlusion or closure.
• -ial = pertaining to
• -salpinx = fallopian tube
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Disease & Disorder
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Amenorrhea = absence of menstrual discharge.
Cervicitis = inflammation of the cervix.
Vaginitis = inflammation of the vagina.
Dysmenorrhea = painful menstrual discharge.
Endometritis = inflammation of the inner lining
of the uterus. Endometrium.
Hematosalpinx = blood in the fallopian tube.
Hydrosalpinx = water in the fallopian tube.
Mastitis = inflammation of the breast.
Metrorrhea = excessive discharge for the uterus.
Disease & Disorder
• Menometrorrhagia = rapid flow of blood from
the uterus at menstruation. (and between cycles).
• Oophoritis = inflammation of the ovary.
• Perimetritis = inflammation surrounding the
outer layer of the uterus.
• Pyosalpinx = pus in the fallopian tube.
• Salpingitis = inflammation of the fallopian tube.
• Salpingocele = hernia of the fallopian tube.
• Vulvovaginitis = inflammation of the vulva and
vagina.
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Disease & Disorder Terms
• Adenomyosis = growth of endometrium into the
muscular portion of the uterus.
• Fibrocystic breast disease = disorder
characterized by one or more benign tumors in
the breast.
• Fibroid tumor = benign fibroid tumor of the
uterine muscle.
• Prolapsed uterus = downward displacement of
the uterus in the vagina.
• Toxic shock syndrome = severe illness, high
fever, vomiting, myalgia, affects women using
tampons.
Surgical Terms
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Cervicectomy = excision of the cervix.
Colpoplasty = surgical repair of the vagina.
Colporrhaphy = suture of the vagina.
Episiorrhaphy = suture of a tear in the vulva.
Hysterectomy = excision of the uterus.
Hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy = excision of the
uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
• Mammoplasy = surgical repair of the breasts.
• Mastectomy = surgical removal of a breast.
• Oophorectomy = excision of an ovary.
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Surgical Terms
• Oophorosalpingectomy = excision of an
ovary and a fallopian tube.
• Perineorrhaphy = suture of a tear in the
perineum.
• Salpingectomy = excision of a fallopian tube.
• Salpingostomy = creation of an artificial
opening in a fallopian tube, to restore
patency.
• Dilatation & Curettage = D & C dilatation of
the cervix and scraping of the endometrium.
Surgical Terms
• Tubal ligation = closure of the fallopian tubes
for sterilization.
• Myomectomy = excision of a fibroid tumor
from the uterus.
• Hysterosalpingogram = x-ray film of the
uterus and fallopian tubes.
• Mammogram = x-ray film of the breast.
• Sonohysterography = process of recording the
uterus by use of ultrasound.
• Colposcope = instrument used for visual
examination of the vagina.
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Surgical Terms
• Culdoscopy = visual examination of the culde-sac.
• Hysteroscope = instrument used for visual
examination of the uterus.
• Hysteroscopy = visual examination of the
uterus.
• Culdocentesis = surgical puncture to remove
fluid from the cul-de-sac.
Complementary Terms
• Colpalgia = pain in the vagina.
• Gynecologist = physician who specializes in
gynecology.
• Gynopathic = pertaining to disease of women.
• Leukorrhea = white discharge from the vagina.
• Mastoptosis = sagging of the breast.
• Menarche = beginning of menstruation.
• Oligomenorrhea = scanty menstrual flow.
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Complementary Terms
• Dyspareunia = difficult of painful intercourse.
• Estrogen Replacement Therapy = ERT
replacement of hormones to treat menopause.
• Fistula = abnormal passageway between two
organs or between an internal organ and the
body surface.
• Menopause = cessation of menstruation.
• Premenstrual Syndrome = PMS physical and
emotional symptoms occurring 10 days before
menstruation, not fully understood.
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Abbreviations
A & P repair = anterior & posterior colporrhaphy.
Cx = cervix
D & C = dilation and curettage.
ERT = estrogen replacement therapy
FBD = fibrocystic breast disease
GYN = gynecology
HRT = hormone replacement therapy
PID = pelvic inflammatory disease
PMS = premenstrual syndrome
TAH = total abdominal hysterectomy
TSS = toxic shock syndrome
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End of Chapter # 8
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