| A | B |
|---|
| amenorrhea | absence of menstruation |
| anemia | reduced number of red blood cells; this can cause a very light menstruation |
| cervix | a small part of the uterus that opens into the vagina |
| clitoris | the small cylindrical body between the labia minora; it's richly supplied with nerve fibers & blood vessels; it's analogous to the male penis. |
| corpus | the large muscular part of the uterus |
| corpus luteum | also called "yellow body"; derived from Graafian follicle; produces estrogen/progesterone |
| dysmenorrhea | painful menstruation that is not relieved by mild painkillers |
| ectopic pregnancy | the implantation of an embryo someplace other than in the lining of the corpus of the uterus |
| endometrium | soft tissue, richly supplied with blood vessels; the inner lining of the uterus |
| estrogen | primary female sex hormone; controls primary & secondary sex characteristics |
| Fallopian tube | also called the oviduct; it carries an egg from the ovary to the uterus |
| fertilization | the union of a sperm and an egg; usually occurs in the oviduct |
| follicle stimulating hormone | FSH; it stimulates the primary follicle to begin growing an egg. |
| genitalia | external reproductive structures: vulva in females. |
| Graafian follicle | matured primary follicle prior to ovulation; produces estrogen |
| hymen | the membrane that stretches across the opening of the vagina |
| isthmus | the narrow segment of the uterus (between the corpus & cervix) |
| labia majora | large heavy folds of skin surrounding the external opening of the vagina |
| labia minora | smalled folds of skin between the labia majora; covers the clitoris |
| Lutenizing hormone | LH; the hormone produced by the pituitary gland; it causes ovulation. |
| menarche | the first menstrual cycle |
| menopause | the last menstrual cycle |
| menorrhagia | abnormally large menstrual flow; it may indicate disease or hormonal disorder |
| menstruation | the flow of blood from the uterus; it indicates the end of the menstrual cycle. |
| Mittelschmerz | a slight discomfort accompanying ovulation and experienced by only a few women |
| mons veneris | the fatty cushion resting over the public bone, covered by pubic hair; it protects the reproductive organs |
| myometrium | muscular walls of the uterus |
| ovary | organs that produce eggs & secrete estrogen |
| ovulation | the release of an egg from Graafian follicle; it occurs about the 14th day of the menstrual cycle. |
| pelvis | refers to the hips or hip girdle |
| pituitary gland | the gland that secretes leutenizing hormone (LH) and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) |
| placenta | the organ the "connects" a fetus to its mother's uterus; it allows the exchange of nutrients & wastes. |
| primary follicle | a special group of cells in the ovary that mature to produce an egg & later form the corpus luteum. |
| progesterone | the hormone secreted by the corpus luteum; it maintains the endometrium for pregnancy. |
| proliferation | refers to the growth of the endometrium prior to ovulation. |
| puberty | the onset of increased hormone secretion resulting in sexual maturation; it usually occurs between 10-14 years (but can be earlier or later). |
| stigma | small protrusion on Graafian follicle; it stimulates LH production by the pituitary gland. |
| tampon | a device inserted into the vagina to absorb the menstrual flow |
| uterus | the large muscular pouch that "houses" the developing embryo |
| vagina | the female organ of intercourse; it's also the birth canal and passageway for menstrual flow. |
| vestibule | term referring to the space between the labia minora into which open the urethra and vagina |
| vulva | refers to the external female genetalia |
