Chapter 14: Before Conception
Acrosome: A cap on the head of the sperm that aids with the penetration of the ovum
Amenorrhea: The lack of menses
Ampulla: The lack of menses
Arthralgia: joint pain
Autosomes: a chromosome that is not a sex chromosome
Biochemical pregnancy: a pregnancy that ends shortly after implantation
Capacitation: a biochemical change in the sperm that allows penetration into the egg and increase sperm
mobility
Chadwick’s sign: a bluish discoloration of the female genitalia that is an early sign of pregnancy
Cohabitating-parent family: a family in which the parents are partners who live together but are not married
Conception: the process of becoming pregnant
Corona radiata: the outermost portion of the ovum
Corpus luteum: a hormone-so creating structure that forms the follicle from which an egg has been released
from the ovary
Cortical reaction: a process by which the ovum prevents penetration from more than one sperm
Diploid: having two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent
Endometrial: pertaining to the innermost layer or lining of the uterus, which is shed in part during menstruation
Extended family: a family beyond the nuclear family
Fertilization: the fusion of egg and sperm
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that, in women, regulates the
menstrual cycle and recruitment of follicles by the ovaries
Gametogenesis: the biologic process whereby cells undergo division to create gametes
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH): a hormone produced by the hypothalamus that, winds accreted,
triggers the pituitary gland to secrete the gonadotropin hormones, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating
hormone, which are involved in regulating the ovarian cycle
Goodell’s sign: a softening of the cervix that occurs during pregnancy
Graafian follicle: a mature ovarian follicle from which the secondary oocyte will issue
Haploid: having one set of chromosomes
Hegar’s sign: a softening of the isthmus of the uterus that occurs during pregnancy
Hook effect: a phenomenon by which the human chorionic gonadotropin level is so high that it causes a false
negative pregnancy test result
Hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian (HPO) axis: and in decrease in feedback loop between the hypothalamus,
anterior pituitary gland, and ovaries that regulates the ovarian cycle
Infundibulum: the distal end of the fallopian tube, near the fibria
Luteinizing hormone (LH): a hormone originating in the anterior pituitary gland that triggers ovulation
Menstrual cycle: changes of the endometrium during the course of a woman's hormonal cycle
Microcephaly: a congenital defect resulting from abnormal brain development in which the neonates head is
smaller than normal
Nuclear family: a family consisting of a married heterosexual couple and their children
Oocyte: an immature ovum cell
Oogenesis: the biologic process whereby cells undergo division to create ova
Organogenesis: the biologic process whereby organs are created
Ovarian cycle: the phases of a woman's hormonal cycle specific to the ovaries, including the follicular phase,
ovulation, and the luteal phase
Periodontal disease: a condition caused by bacterial infection of the structures around the teeth, including the
gums, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone
Postnatally: occurring after birth
, Spermatogenesis: the biologic process whereby cells undergo division to create sperm
Teratogen: a substance with the potential to harm a pregnancy
Zona pellucida: the layer of the ovum immediately below the corona radiata
External Genitalia: Female
Vulva – includes all of the following Structures
o Bartholin’s Glands: glands on either side of the vaginal vestibule that secrete mucus for vaginal
lubrication
o Clitoris glans: the visible portion of the clitoris and the most sensitive erogenous zone of the female
body
o Fourchette: the skin at the posterior of the vulva
o Hymen: a membrane partially covering the opening of the vagina
o labia majora Coleman the external skinfolds, which are hair-bearing in mature females and extended
from the Mons pubis to the perineum
o labia minora: the inner mucosal skin folds, which extend from the pons pubis to the perineum
o Mons pubis: a rounded area, padded with fat, that is anterior to the pubic symphysis; hair-bearing
immature females
o urethra meatus: the opening of the urethra
o perineum: the area between the vulva and the anus
o Skene’s glands: Lands at the interior of the vulva that drain into the urethra
o Vaginal vestibule: the opening into the vagina. When referred to as the vulvar vestibule, the term
includes the urethral meatus
o Introitus: the vaginal orifice
Internal Genitalia: Female
ovaries: paired reproductive organs that produce ovum, estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone and are
approximately the size and shape of walnuts
uterus: also call the “womb”; the site of implantation of fetal growth and development. The innermost layer of
the uterus, and Dmitry AM, sheds with menstruation. When a pregnancy implants in the endometrium, the
intimate room is referred to as the decidua. The middle layer, the myometrium, is primarily smooth muscle. The
outer layer is called the serosa or perimetrium. A nonpregnant uterus is approximately the size and shape of an
upside-down pear.
Fundus: The uppermost, rounded part of the uterus, which contains the greatest volume of smooth muscle
Corpus: the main body of the uterus, located between the isthmus and the fallopian tubes
Isthmus: The area of the uterus between the cervix and the corpus, which has thinner, more narrow musculature
Vagina: A muscular tube that extends from the vestibule to the cervix and that accommodates penetrative sex
and childbirth
Cervix: the lowest portion of the uterus, which extends into the vagina. It is approximately an inch in diameter
and has a small opening at its center called the os.
o Internal os: The opening between the cervix and the body of the uterus
o Cervical canal: the canal between the internal os and outer os
o Outer os: The opening between the cervix and the vagina
Fallopian tubes: a pair of cilia-lined tubes between the uterus and the ovaries, also referred to as uterine tubes
o Interstitial: the portion of the tube that travels through the musculature of the uterus
o Isthmus: the portion of the two between the interstitial and the ampulla
o Ampulla: the distal portion of the tube, located between the isthmus and the infundibulum, where
fertilization most often occurs
o Infundibulum: the funnel-shaped part of the tube, located between the fimbriae and the ampulla
Acrosome: A cap on the head of the sperm that aids with the penetration of the ovum
Amenorrhea: The lack of menses
Ampulla: The lack of menses
Arthralgia: joint pain
Autosomes: a chromosome that is not a sex chromosome
Biochemical pregnancy: a pregnancy that ends shortly after implantation
Capacitation: a biochemical change in the sperm that allows penetration into the egg and increase sperm
mobility
Chadwick’s sign: a bluish discoloration of the female genitalia that is an early sign of pregnancy
Cohabitating-parent family: a family in which the parents are partners who live together but are not married
Conception: the process of becoming pregnant
Corona radiata: the outermost portion of the ovum
Corpus luteum: a hormone-so creating structure that forms the follicle from which an egg has been released
from the ovary
Cortical reaction: a process by which the ovum prevents penetration from more than one sperm
Diploid: having two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent
Endometrial: pertaining to the innermost layer or lining of the uterus, which is shed in part during menstruation
Extended family: a family beyond the nuclear family
Fertilization: the fusion of egg and sperm
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that, in women, regulates the
menstrual cycle and recruitment of follicles by the ovaries
Gametogenesis: the biologic process whereby cells undergo division to create gametes
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH): a hormone produced by the hypothalamus that, winds accreted,
triggers the pituitary gland to secrete the gonadotropin hormones, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating
hormone, which are involved in regulating the ovarian cycle
Goodell’s sign: a softening of the cervix that occurs during pregnancy
Graafian follicle: a mature ovarian follicle from which the secondary oocyte will issue
Haploid: having one set of chromosomes
Hegar’s sign: a softening of the isthmus of the uterus that occurs during pregnancy
Hook effect: a phenomenon by which the human chorionic gonadotropin level is so high that it causes a false
negative pregnancy test result
Hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian (HPO) axis: and in decrease in feedback loop between the hypothalamus,
anterior pituitary gland, and ovaries that regulates the ovarian cycle
Infundibulum: the distal end of the fallopian tube, near the fibria
Luteinizing hormone (LH): a hormone originating in the anterior pituitary gland that triggers ovulation
Menstrual cycle: changes of the endometrium during the course of a woman's hormonal cycle
Microcephaly: a congenital defect resulting from abnormal brain development in which the neonates head is
smaller than normal
Nuclear family: a family consisting of a married heterosexual couple and their children
Oocyte: an immature ovum cell
Oogenesis: the biologic process whereby cells undergo division to create ova
Organogenesis: the biologic process whereby organs are created
Ovarian cycle: the phases of a woman's hormonal cycle specific to the ovaries, including the follicular phase,
ovulation, and the luteal phase
Periodontal disease: a condition caused by bacterial infection of the structures around the teeth, including the
gums, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone
Postnatally: occurring after birth
, Spermatogenesis: the biologic process whereby cells undergo division to create sperm
Teratogen: a substance with the potential to harm a pregnancy
Zona pellucida: the layer of the ovum immediately below the corona radiata
External Genitalia: Female
Vulva – includes all of the following Structures
o Bartholin’s Glands: glands on either side of the vaginal vestibule that secrete mucus for vaginal
lubrication
o Clitoris glans: the visible portion of the clitoris and the most sensitive erogenous zone of the female
body
o Fourchette: the skin at the posterior of the vulva
o Hymen: a membrane partially covering the opening of the vagina
o labia majora Coleman the external skinfolds, which are hair-bearing in mature females and extended
from the Mons pubis to the perineum
o labia minora: the inner mucosal skin folds, which extend from the pons pubis to the perineum
o Mons pubis: a rounded area, padded with fat, that is anterior to the pubic symphysis; hair-bearing
immature females
o urethra meatus: the opening of the urethra
o perineum: the area between the vulva and the anus
o Skene’s glands: Lands at the interior of the vulva that drain into the urethra
o Vaginal vestibule: the opening into the vagina. When referred to as the vulvar vestibule, the term
includes the urethral meatus
o Introitus: the vaginal orifice
Internal Genitalia: Female
ovaries: paired reproductive organs that produce ovum, estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone and are
approximately the size and shape of walnuts
uterus: also call the “womb”; the site of implantation of fetal growth and development. The innermost layer of
the uterus, and Dmitry AM, sheds with menstruation. When a pregnancy implants in the endometrium, the
intimate room is referred to as the decidua. The middle layer, the myometrium, is primarily smooth muscle. The
outer layer is called the serosa or perimetrium. A nonpregnant uterus is approximately the size and shape of an
upside-down pear.
Fundus: The uppermost, rounded part of the uterus, which contains the greatest volume of smooth muscle
Corpus: the main body of the uterus, located between the isthmus and the fallopian tubes
Isthmus: The area of the uterus between the cervix and the corpus, which has thinner, more narrow musculature
Vagina: A muscular tube that extends from the vestibule to the cervix and that accommodates penetrative sex
and childbirth
Cervix: the lowest portion of the uterus, which extends into the vagina. It is approximately an inch in diameter
and has a small opening at its center called the os.
o Internal os: The opening between the cervix and the body of the uterus
o Cervical canal: the canal between the internal os and outer os
o Outer os: The opening between the cervix and the vagina
Fallopian tubes: a pair of cilia-lined tubes between the uterus and the ovaries, also referred to as uterine tubes
o Interstitial: the portion of the tube that travels through the musculature of the uterus
o Isthmus: the portion of the two between the interstitial and the ampulla
o Ampulla: the distal portion of the tube, located between the isthmus and the infundibulum, where
fertilization most often occurs
o Infundibulum: the funnel-shaped part of the tube, located between the fimbriae and the ampulla
