Body Parts

Gamete

Mature sex cell; sperm or ovum.

Ovulation

Expulsion of an ovum from the ovary.

Conception, Fertilization

Beginning of pregnancy, when the sperm enters the ovum (usually in the fallopian tube).

Zygote

Cell formed by the union of the sperm and the ovum.

Gestation, Pregnancy

Development of new individual from conception to birth.

Gestation Period

Duration of pregnancy.

Implantation, Nidation

Embedding of the zygote in the uterine lining (about 7 days after fertilization).

Embryo

Unborn offspring in the stage of development from implantation of the zygote to the second month of pregnancy.

Fetus

Unborn offspring from the second month of pregnancy to birth.

Placenta, Afterbirth

Structure that grows on the wall of the uterus during pregnancy and allows for nourishment of the unborn child.

Amniotic Sac

Membranous bag that surrounds the fetus.

Chorion

Outermost layer of the fetal membrane.

Amnion

Innermost layer of the fetal membrane.

Amniotic Fluid

Fluid within the amniotic sac, which surrounds the fetus.

Prefixes

ante-, pre-

before

micro-

small

multi-

many

nulli-

none

post-

after

Combining Forms

amni/o, amnion/o

amnion, amniotic fluid

chori/o

chorion

embry/o

embryo, to be full

fet/o, fet/i

fetus, unborn child

gravid/o

pregnancy

lact/o

milk

nat/o

birth

omphal/o

umbilicus, navel

par/o, part/o

bear, give birth to, labour, childbirth

puerper/o

childbirth

cephal/o

head

esophag/o

esophagus

pelv/i, pelv/o

pelvic bone, pelvis

prim/i

first

pseud/o

false

pylor/o

pylorus (pyloric sphincter)

Suffixes

-amnios

amnion, amniotic fluid

-cyesis

pregnancy

-e, -is, -um, -us

noun suffix, no meaning

-partum

childbirth, labour

-rrhexis

rupture

-tocia

birth, labour

Medical Terms – not built from word parts

Abortion

Termination of pregnancy by the expulsion from the uterus of an embryo before fetal viability, usually before 20 weeks gestation.

Abruptio placentae

Premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall.

Breech presentation

Parturition (act of giving birth) in which the buttocks, feet, or knees emerge first.

Cesarean section

The birth of a baby through an incision in the mother's abdomen and uterus (may also be spelled caesarean).

Cleft lip and palate

Congenital split of the lip and roof of the mouth (cleft indicates a fissure).

Congenital anomaly

Abnormality present at birth.

Down syndrome

Congenital condition characterized by varying degrees of mental retardation and multiple defects (formerly called mongolism).

Eclampsia

Severe complication and profression of preeclampsia characterised by convulsion and coma.  Eclampsia is a potentially life-threatening disorder.

Ectopic pregnancy

Pregnancy occurring outside the uterus, commonly in the fallopian tubes (salpingocyesis).

Erythroblastosis fetalis

Condition of the newborn characterized by hemolysis of the erythrocytes.  The condition is usually caused by incompatibility of the infant's and mother's blood (occurring when the mother's blood is Rh negative and the infant's blood is Rh positive).

Esophageal atresia

Congenital absence of part of the esophagus.  Food cannot pass from the baby's mouth to the stomach.

Gastroschisis

A congenital fissure of the abdominal wall not at the umbilicus.  Enterocele, protrusion of the intestine, is usually present.

Lochia

Vaginal discharge after childbirth.

Meconium

First stool of the newborn (greenish black).

Obstetrician

Physician who specializes in obstetrics.

Obstetrics

Medical specialty dealing with pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium.

Parturition

Act of giving birth.

Placenta previa

Abnormally low implantation of the placenta on the uterine wall.  (Dilatation of the cervix can cause separation of the placenta from the uterine wall, resulting in bleeding.  With severe hemorrhage, a cesarean section may be necessary to save the mother's life).

Preeclampsia

Abnormal condition encountered during pregnancy or shortly after delivery characterized by high blood pressure, edema, and proteinuria, but with no convulsions or coma.  The cause is unknown; if not successfully treated the condition will progress to eclampsia.  Eclampsia is the third most common cause of maternal death in the US after hemorrhage and infection.

Premature infant

Infant born before completing 37 weeks of gestation.

Puerperium

Period from delivery until the reproductive organs return to normal (approximately 6 weeks).

Respiratory distress syndrome

A respiratory complication in the newborn, especially in premature infants.  In premature infants RDS is caused by normal immaturity of the respiratory system resulting in compromised respiration (formerly called hyaline membrane disease).

Spina bifida (divided spine)

Congenital defect in the vertebral column caused by failure of the vertebral arch to close.  If the meninges protrude through the opening, the condition is called meningocele.  Protrusion of both the meninges and spinal cord is called meningomyelocele.

Abbreviations

C/S, C-section

cesarean section

DOB

date of birth

EDD

expected (estimated) date of delivery

LMP

last menstrual period

LNMP

last normal menstrual period

multip

multipara

NB

newborn

OB

obstetrics

RDS

respiratory distress syndrome