Male reproductive system

Female reproductive system

The breast

Pregnancy

afterbirth   

the placenta.

amniotic cavity   

(am-nee-ot'ik)
the membraneous sac in which the foetus develops.

areola   

(a-ree'oh-lah)
pigmented area surrounding the nipple .

breast   

milk-producing glands, fully developed in females, but also present in rudimentary form in males.

cervical os   

(ser�vik-ul os)
opening in the cervix (lower end) of the uterus.

cervix   

(ser'viks)
the neck of the womb or uterus.

childbirth   

the process by which the foetus and products of conception are passed from the mother's body.

clitoris   

(klit�or-iss)
erectile organ of sexual stimulation in the female.

deferent duct   

part of the spermatic cord running from the testis to the seminal vesicle; also called the vas deferens.

ejaculatory duct   

(ee-jak-yoo-lay�tor-ee)
passage from which semen is discharged into the male urethra.

embryo   

(em'bree-oh)
developing foetus during the first two months of pregnancy.

endometrium   

(en-doh-mee�tree-um)
lining of the uterus.

epididymis   

(ep-i-did�i-mis)
(pl: -mides)
small but lengthy convoluted tube which begins at its attachment to the testis and ends in the vas deferens.

fallopian tube   

(fal-oh�pee-un)
tubal passageway in which the egg travels from the ovary to the uterus.

fertilization   

(fer-ti-ly-zay�shun)
union of ovum and spermatozoon.

foetus   

(fee'tus)
unborn offspring after the eighth week of development when all major structures have been outlined.

foreskin   

prepuce; the fold of skin covering the end of the penis .

genitals; genitalia   

(jen�i-tuls, jen-i-tay�lee-ur)
organs of reproduction.

hormone   

(hor�mohnz)
chemical substance produced and secreted by an endocrine gland.

hymen   

(hy�men)
membranous tissue fold which partially covers the external opening of the vagina.

labia majora   

(lay�bee-a ma-jo�ra)
two outer borders of raised, fleshy tissue extending from the mons pubis down past the vaginal opening.

labia minora   

(lay�bee-a mi-no�ra)
two inner borders of tissue between the labia majora and the vaginal opening.

lactiferous ducts   

(lak-tif'er-uss)
passages which convey milk from the breast .

mammary glands   

(mam�er-ee)
breasts.

menstrual cycle   

(men�stroo-al)
rhythmic hormonal activity which prepares the female reproductive organs for fertilization of the ovum; if fertilization does not occur, hormones are withdrawn causing the endometrium to be shed.

menstruation   

(men-stroo-ay�shun)
normal uterine bleeding which usually occurs monthly as the endometrium is shed by the non-pregnant female.

mons pubis   

(monz pu�bis)
rounded mound of tissue covering the pubic bone.

nipple   

small prominence at the tip of each breast containing small openings in women through which milk can pass.

ovary   

(oh�var-ee)
one of the two female glands which produce the ovum for reproduction.

ovulation   

(ov-yoo-lay�shun)
discharge of the egg from the ovary.

ovum   

(oh'vum)
female egg cell of reproduction.

penis   

(pee�nis)
male sexual organ.

perineum   

(per-i-nee�um)
space between the vagina and rectum or between scrotum and rectum.

peritoneum   

(per-i-ton-ee'um)
the serous membrane which lines the wall of the abdominal and pelvic cavities.

placenta   

(pla-sent'er)
the mass of tissue connected to the foetus by the umbilical cord which transfers oxygen and nutrients from the mother's bloodstream.

pregnancy   

(preg�nan-see)
condition in which the fertilized egg normally is implanted in the uterine lining, grows and develops for about nine months until the infant is capable of living in the outside environment.

prepuce   

(pree'pews)
the foreskin.

procreation   

(pro-kree-ay�shun)
entire process of creating new life.

prostate gland   

(pros'tayt)
gland in the male which surrounds the bladder neck and contributes secretions to seminal fluid.

puberty   

(pew�ber-tee)
time of appearance of adult secondary sex characteristics (breast and body development, ovulation and menstruation in the female; voice change, hair distribution, and functional spermatozoa in the male).

pubic   

(pew�bik)
area anterior to the front of the pelvis where the pelvic bones join.

puerperium   

(pew-er-peer'-ee-um)
the period of forty-two days following childbirth.

reproduction   

(ree-pro-duk�shun)
process of generating offspring.

scrotum   

(skroh�tum)
two-compartment pouch of tissue located externally on the male body; contains the testes.

semen   

(see�men)
thick white fluid which contains sperm and other secretions.

seminal duct   

(sem�i-nul)
one of two channels which convey semen .

seminal vesicle   

(sem�i-nul ves�i-kl)
one of two small pouches attached to the bladder which join with the seminal ducts to form the ejaculatory ducts.

sperm motility   

ability of male germ cells to move about.

sperm; spermatozoon   

(spur-ma-toh-zoh�on)
male germ cell; plural: spermatazoa.

spermatic cord   

(spur-ma�tik)
tubal passageway by which the testis is suspended in the scrotum.

testes   

(tes�teez)
the two glands situated in the male scrotum which produce sperm ; singular: testis.

trimester   

(try-mest'er)
period of three months; pregnancy is divided into three trimesters.

umbilical cord   

(um-bil'ik-ul)
connects the foetus to the placenta and provides passage to the two umbilical arteries and umbilical vein which circulates the bloodstream between the foetus and placenta.

uterus   

(yoo�ter-uss)
hollow muscular organ in the female in which the foetus develops; synonym is the womb.

vagina   

(va-jy�ner)
passageway for infant birth and reception of the male penis during the sexual act.

vas deferens   

(vas def�er-ens)
part of the spermatic cord running from the testis to the seminal vesicle; also called the deferent duct.

vestibule   

(ves�ti-byool)
a body cavity leading to another body cavity.

viable   

(vy'ah-bul)
capable of living in the environment outside the mother�s body.

vulva   

(vul�ver)
external genitalia of the female; includes the clitoris and labia.