Reproductive System
Combining Forms
Amni/o: amniotic sac
Andr/o: male
Balan/o: glans penis
Cervic/o: neck, cervix
Colp/o, vagin/o: vagina
Cry/o: cold
Crypt/o: hidden
Galact/o: milk
Spermat/o, sperm/i, sperm/o: sperm cells
Orch/o, orchi/o, orchid/o, test/o: testes
Combining Forms
Gonad/o: gonads, sex glands
Lapar/o: abdominal wall
Mamm/o: breast
Men/o: menses, menstruation
Nat/o: birth
Pen/o: penis
Perine/o: perineum
Phim/o: muzzle
Combining Forms
Prostat/o: prostate gland
Obstetr/o: midwife
Salping/o: fallopian tube
Semin/o: semen
Vulv/o, episi/o: vulva
Vesicul/o: seminal vesicle
Vas/o: vas deferens, duct
Vener/o: sexual contact
Oophor/o, ovari/o: ovary
Hyster/o, uter/o, metr/o: uterus, womb
Suffixes
-arch: beginning
-blast: early form
-cidal, -cide: killing
-cyesis: pregnancy
-genesis: beginning
-gravida: pregnant woman
-para: bearing offspring
-plasia: formation
-salpinx: fallopian tube
-tocia: childbirth, labor
-version: turning
Prefixes
Ecto-: outside
Neo-: new
Nulli-: none
Pseudo-: false
o/o: egg
Female Reproductive System
• Gynecologist: a medical doctor specializing in
female reproductive disorders
• Obstetrics: the branch of medicine concerned with
pregnancy and menopause
• Neonatology: the study of newborns
Overview
• Female reproductive organs:
• Internal: ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and
vagina
• External: labia, clitoris, mons pubis and Bartholin
glands
• Female Function: to produce and transport
ova(eggs)
• to Nourish and provide a place for the developing
fetus to grow
Diseases and Conditions: female
• Candidiasis: vaginal fungal infection caused by the
fungus Candida albicans “yeast infection”
• Symptoms: cheese-like discharge and extreme itching
• Cervicitis: inflammation of the cervix because of an
infection or STI (STD)
• Ectopic pregnancy: implantation of the fertilized
ovum (egg) anywhere outside of the uterine cavity
“tubal pregnancy”
• Endometriosis: the presence of endometrial tissue
outside of the uterus
Diseases and Conditions: female
• Fibroid: a benign tumor in the uterus composed of
fibrous tissue
• Fistula: an abnormal tunnel connecting 2 body cavities
• Vesicovaginal fistula: a tunnel between the bladder
and the vagina
• Gestational hypertension: high blood pressure during
pregnancy
• Symptoms: edema and proteuria
• Preeclampsia: a form of gestational hypertension that
may progress to eclampsia
• Eclampsia: a life-threatening form of gestational
hypertension to both mother and baby
Diagnostic Procedures: female
• Colposcopy: examination of the vagina and cervix
with a magnifying instrument
• Hysterosalpingography: radiography of the uterus
and oviducts after injection of a tracer
• Laparoscopy: visual examination of the abdominal
cavity with a laparoscope through an incision made
at the umbilicus
• Mammography: radiography of the breasts used to
diagnose tumors
Papanicolaou test: (Pap) a microscopic analysis of a
small tissue sample obtained from the cervix and
vagina using a swab to detect carcinoma
Medical and Surgical Procedures:
female
• Amniocentesis: a surgical puncture of the amniotic
sac to retrieve fetal cells
• Cerclage: an obstetric procedure in which a suture
is used to close the uterus in order to prevent
spontaneous abortions
• Dilation and curettage: dilation of the cervix so
that the endometrium can be scraped to stop
heavy uterine bleeding or to obtain a biopsy
specimen
• Hysterosalpingooophorectomy: surgical removal of
the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries
Medical and Surgical Procedures:
female
• Lumpectomy: excision of a small breast tumor and
some of the tissue around it
• Mastectomy: complete or partial excision of one or
both breasts
• Modified radical: mastectomy of the entire breast
and lymph nodes under the arm
• Radical: mastectomy of the entire breast, lymph
nodes and chest muscles
• Total: mastectomy of the entire breast, nipple,
areola and the overlying skin
Medical and Surgical Procedures:
female
• Reconstructive breast surgery: reconstruction of the
breast that has been removed because of a tumor
• Usually done immediately following the mastectomy
• Tissue expansion: uses a balloon expander just
beneath the skin and saline solution is injected to
create a natural looking breast
• Transverse rectus abdominis muscle flap: surgical
creation of a skin flap shaped into a natural-looking
breast
• Tubal ligation: a sterilization procedure that involves
blocking of both fallopian tubes by cutting them and
burning the ends
Pharmacology: Female
• Antifungals: treat vaginal fungal infections
• Estrogens: treat symptoms of menopause through
hormone replacement
• Hormone replacement therapy: used to correct a
deficiency of estrogen, progesterone, or
testosterone to relieve symptoms of menopause
and prevent osteoporosis
• Oral contraceptives: prevent ovulation to avoid
pregnancy “birth control pills”
Male Reproductive System
• Urology: the study of the urinary tract of men and
women and the male reproductive tract
• Male reproductive organs: gonads (testicles),
scrotum, penis, sperm, semen and transporting
ducts
• Male Functions: producing and delivering sperm to
the woman’s reproductive tract
Diseases and Conditions: Male
• Anorchism: congenital absence of one or both
testes “anorchia”
• Balanitis: inflammation of the prepuce (the skin
covering the glans penis) caused by irritation or
infection
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia: enlargement of the
prostate gland that normally occurs in men over
age 60
• Cryptorchidism: failure of one or both testicles to
descend into the scrotum “hidden testicles”
Diseases and Conditions: Male
• Epispadias: a congenital defect in which the urethra
opens on the upper side of the penis
• Hypospadias: a congenital defect in which the male
urethra opens on the under surface of the penis
• Impotence: the inability to achieve or maintain an
erection “erectile dysfunction”
• Phimosis: stenosis of the prepuce so that it cannot
be pushed over the glans penis
Diagnostic Procedures: Male
• Digital rectal examination: examination of the
prostate gland by finger though the anal canal
• Prostate-specific antigen test: a blood test used to
screen for prostate cancer
• Transrectal ultrasound and biopsy of prostate: an
ultrasound probe is inserted into the rectum to
obtain an image of the prostate gland and to collect
multiple biopsy specimens
Medical and Surgical Procedures:
male
• Circumcision: surgical removal of the prepuce
(foreskin)
• Transurethral resection of the prostate: relieves
obstructions caused by benign hyperplasia by
insertion of a scope into the penis to chip away at
and flush out excess tissue
• Vasectomy: a sterilization procedure involving
removal of part of the vas deferens to prevent
sperm being mixed into semen
Pharmacology: Male
• Gonadotropins: hormonal treatment used to
increase sperm count
• Spermicides: method of birth control that destroys
sperm
Diseases and Conditions: Both
• Sexually transmitted infections: any disease
acquired through sexual intercourse “venereal
disease”
• Chlamydia: one of the most damaging STIs caused
by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis
• Symptoms: Cervicitis and urethritis
• Genital warts: warts in the genital area caused by
human papilloma virus
• Gonorrhea: an extremely contagious STI caused by
the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae and affects
the genitourinary tract and the rectum or pharynx
Diseases and Conditions: Both
• Herpes genitalis: an infection caused by the herpes
simplex virus type 2 affecting the anorectal skin and
genitalia
• Can be passed through the placenta
• Syphilis: an infectious STI characterized by skin
lesions on the genitals, rectum or mouth
• Can cause death if untreated
• Trichomoniasis: an infection of the vagina, urethra
or prostate caused by a protozoan
• Most common STI in both men and women
Abbreviations
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CS, C-section: cesarean section
D&C: dilation and curettage
HRT: hormone replacement therapy
IVF: in vitro fertilization
LMP: last menstrual period
OB-GYN: obstetrics and gynecology
Pap: Papanicolaou test
Para 1,2,3: number of viable births
PID: pelvic inflammatory disease
TAH total abdominal hysterectomy
TRAM: transverse rectus abdominis muscle
Abbreviation
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TSS: toxic shock syndrome
TVH: total vaginal hysterectomy
BPH: benign prostatic hyperplasia
DRE: digital rectal examination
PSA: prostate-specific antigen
TURP: transurethral resection of the prostate
GC: gonorrhea
HPV: human papillomavirus
STD: sexually transmitted disease
STI: sexually transmitted infection
VD: venereal disease