McGill University Student Projects - Glossary of Terms

Reprinted with permission from Molson Medical Informatics Project at McGill University

Note: All laparoscopic pictures on this page reproduced with permission from "Atlas of Laparoscopic and Hysterectomy Techniques" (Ed. T.Tulandi), W.B.Saunders, London, 1999.
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Abortion:
Interruption of pregnancy; characteristic symptoms are vaginal bleeding and expulsive uterine contractions.

Adhesions:
A fibrous band that abnormally connects two parts.

 

 

Adnexal mass:
A mass in the area of the Fallopian tube or ovary.

Adnexal torsion:
A twisting of the Fallopian tube.

ß-human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG):
A polypeptide hormone produced by the placenta; its secretion begins soon after implantation of the fertilized ovum.

Coagulate:
To cause the conversion of a fluid into a jelly-like solid.

Conception:
The fertilization of an ovum or the act of becoming pregnant.

Contraceptives:
Any agent or device used for the prevention of conception (getting pregnant).  For further information on this topic, a search of the internet will prove fruitful.

Corpus Luteum:
An endocrine body (hormone secreting) that develops from the ruptured ovarian follicle after ovulation and produces the hormone progesterone; it is composed of a large mass of cells and a yellow pigment (lutein) and develops in the ovary; if pregnancy doe not occur, the corpus luteum retrogresses to a mass of scar tissue (corpus albicans) which eventually disappears; if pregnancy occurs, it continues to grow until the13th week.

Dilation and Currettage:
Surgical dilation of the cervix followed by surgical scraping of the interior of the uterine cavity with a currette (spoon-shaped surgical instrument) to remove growths (e.g. pregnancy, tumour) or diseased tissue, or to obtain tissue for examination (biopsy).

Doppler flow ultrasonography:
Measures and visually record changes in the frequency of a ultrasonic wave, indicative of the change in velocity of the blood flow in underlying vessels.

Dysfunctional:
Abnormal.

Ectopic pregnancy:
A pregnancy resulting from implantation of the fertilized ovum in a site other than the normal site in the uterine cavity, e.g. Fallopian tube, cervix, ovary, abdominal cavity, interstitial portion of the Fallopian tube.

Embryo:
An organism in the earliest stage of development; in man from the time of conception to the end of the second month in pregnancy.

Electrocautery:
An instrument for cauterizing (burning with heat or chemical in order to close a wound) tissue in which a platinum wire is heated by a current of electricity.

Endometriosis:
An abnormal condition in which the uterine mucous membrane ( endometrium) invades other tissues within the pelvis; the uterus and ovaries are the most common sites.

Endometrium (uterine lining):
The mucosal (moist, slippery) layer lining the cavity of the uterus; its structure changes with the menstrual cycle.

Estrogen:
General term for the female sex hormone; responsible for stimulating the development and maintenance of female secondary sex characteristics; formed in the ovary, placenta, testis, adrenal cortex and some plants; therapeutic uses (with natural or synthetic preparations) include the relief of menopausal symptoms and of prostate cancer.

Expectant management:
This modality of treatment involves no active intervention; the patient is followed closely to determine if any future action is needed.

Fertility:
The capacity to initiate or support conception.

Fertilization:
The union of a sperm with and an ovum.

Fetus:
The developing offspring in the uterus, generally for the second month of pregnancy to birth; during the first two months of development, it is called an embryo.

Fimbriae
A fringe-like structure at the opening of the Fallopian tube. It sweeps the ovulated ovum into the tube.

Forceps:
An instrument resembling a pair of tongs, used for grasping, compressing, manipulating, or extracting tissue or specific structures.

Hemoperitoneum:
Escape of blood in the peritoneal cavity.

Hemostasis:
The arrest of bleeding.

Heterotopic pregnancy:
The simultaneous presence of a uterine and an ectopic pregnancy.

Hormone:
A chemical secreted from a part of the body (usually an endocrine gland) and carried in the bloodstream to another part to stimulate or retard its function.

Hydatiform mole ("molar pregnancy"):
A mass of cysts (air or fluid filled sac) occupying the uterine cavity resulting from the abnormal development of a fertilized ovum.

Hysterectomy:
Removal of the uterus.

Immune system:
The system within the body that secures against harmful substances; it enables the body to recognize materials as foreign to itself and to neutralize, eliminate or metabolize them with or without injure to its own tissues.

Interstitial pregnancy:
An ectopic pregnancy implanted in the portion of the Fallopian tube which pierces the wall of the uterus.

In-vitro fertilization:
Fertilization that occurs outside the body, such as in a test tube.

Laparoscopy:
Visualization of the contents of the abdominal or pelvic cavity by means of a laparoscope (a long and narrow instrument with a camera).

Laparotomy:
Surgical incision through the abdominal wall to open it.

Leiomyoma:
A benign tumour derived from smooth muscle and containing a relatively small amount of fibrous tissue; most frequently seen in the uterus. Also called fibroid.

Leukemia:
A disease characterized by the appearance of great numbers of immature and abnormal white blood cells (colorless cells of the blood who play important roles in the immune system) in the bone marrow and often in the spleen and liver; usually these cells appear in the bloodstream and may also invade other tissues.

Mesovarium:
The upper free portion of the broad ligament, above the proper ovarian ligament and investing the Fallopian tube.

Methotrexate:
A folic acid (a type of vitamin B essential for cell multiplication) antagonist used to treat various conditions of abnormal tissue growth (eg. leukemia, hydatiform mole, psoriasis).

Miscarriage:
A spontaneous abortion.

Oophorectomy:
Removal of one or both ovaries.

Ovarian follicle:
The ovum together with its surrounding cells, located within the ovary.

Ovulation:
The discharge of an ovum from the mature follicle of the ovary.

Ovum:
An egg.

Peritoneum:
A smooth membrane lining the walls of the abdominal and pelvic cavities and enclosing the organs.

Persistent ectopic pregnancy:
Continued growth of living trophoblastic tissue after conservative treatment (methotrexate or salpingostomy) of an unruptured ectopic pregnancy; manifestations include ß-hCG titers that do not decline and/or pelvic pain.

Placenta:
The organ surrounding the fetus through which it derives nourishment (develops from the fertilized ovum).

Progesterone:
A hormone produced in the ovary by the corpus luteum; it stimulates changes in the wall of the uterus (thickening of the endometrium) in preparation for implantation of the fertilized ovum.

Psoriasis:
A chronic skin disease characterized by reddish patches covered with silvery scales, occurring mostly on the knees, elbows, scalp, and trunk.

Ringer's lactate solution:
A physiologic salt solution for replacing body fluid loss in the absence of gross abnormalities of concentration and composition (this fluid has minimal effects on normal body fluid composition and pH); this solution contains 130 mEq of sodium, 4 mEq of potassium and 2.7mEq of calcium, balanced by 109 mEq of chloride and 28 mEq of lactate.

Ruptured ectopic pregnancy:
Ectopic pregnancy that has eroded or torn through the tissue in which it has implanted, producing hemorrhage (bleeding) from exposed vessels.

Salpingectomy:
Surgical removal of a Fallopian tube.

Salpingitis:
Inflammation (a tissue reaction to irritation, injury or infection, marked by localized warmth, swelling, redness and pain) of the Fallopian tube.

Salpingostomy:
The making of an artificial opening in a Fallopian tube.

Transvaginal ultrasonography ("ultrasound"):
Ultrasonography which sends into the pelvic cavity and receives ultrasonic waves through the vagina by using probe placed inside the vagina.

Trimester:
One-third of the length of a pregnancy (3 months).

Tubal abortion:
Tubal pregnancy (ectopic pregnancy in the Fallopian tube) that has extruded out of the fimbrial end of the oviduct.

Trophoblastic tissue:
The layer of cells outside the embryo that enters into the formation of the placenta.

Ultrasonography:
The delineation of deep bodily structures by sending ultrasonic waves (sound waves of frequency higher than the range audible to the human ear, i.e. above 20,000 cycles per second) toward an organ or mass, which in turn bounces back (echoes); the patterns produces are graphically displayed on a fluorescent screen for interpretation.