Female Reproductive.

The uterus (plural uteri), also called the womb, is where implantation, gestation, pregnancy, and menstruation take place. The ovary houses and releases the egg (ovum). The cervix connects the uterus to the vagina. The vagina is the passageway for menstrual blood and the baby during delivery.

The corpus luteum develops from the Graafian follicle. The Graafian follicle houses the developing ovum. Once the dominant follicle ruptures and releases the ovum, the remaining follicle tissue forms the corpus luteum. The fallopian tubes are passageways for the ovum and fertilized gamete. The uterus houses the developing embryo. Accessory glands produce lubricating secretions.

Menorrhea refers to menstrual flow, and the prefix dys- means painful. Dysmenorrhea means painful menstruation. The prefix a- means without, so amenorrhea is absence of menstrual flow. The prefix oligo- means scanty or few, so oligomenorrhea is infrequent menstrual flow. The suffix -rhagia means excessive flow, so menorrhagia is excessive menstrual flow.

Estrogen and progesterone are produced by the ovaries. FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) are produced by the pituitary gland, not the ovaries.

During the proliferative phase, estrogen stimulates the endometrium to thicken and prepare for possible implantation of a fertilized egg. Progesterone dominates the secretory phase. FSH and LH are pituitary hormones that regulate the cycle but do not directly stimulate endometrial thickening during the proliferative phase.

The vagina serves as a passageway for menstrual blood and for childbirth during delivery. The vagina lies between the bladder and the rectum. It does not produce hormones, mature eggs, or filter blood.

The mons pubis is the fat pad over the pubic bones in females. Labia minora are the small inner folds of skin around the vaginal opening. Labia majora are the larger outer folds protecting the vulva (labia = lips, majora = larger, minora = smaller). The clitoris is a sensitive erectile organ for sexual arousal.

The vulva is the external female reproductive organ. It consists of the vestibule (vaginal opening), vestibular glands, clitoris, labia minora, labia majora, and mons pubis. The ovary, fallopian tube, and cervix are internal female reproductive organs.

Gyne refers to female and mastia refers to breast. Gynecomastia refers to enlargement of male breast tissue. Gynecomastia is specific to males. It does not refer to breast cancer, absence of tissue, or infection.

Gravida refers to pregnancies. Multigravida describes a woman with multiple pregnancies, as documented in medical records. Hyster- refers to the uterus, so hysterectomy is surgical removal of the uterus. Salping- refers to the fallopian tube, so salpingectomy is removal of the fallopian tube. -ectomy means surgical removal. Genesis means origin. Organogenesis is the formation of organs in a developing embryo.