letdown reflex the release of milk from the alveoli of the breasts to the milk ducts, a reflex caused by the hormone oxytocin.
linea nigra a dark line or streak running from the belly button to the pubic area, seen on many pregnant women.
lochia vaginal discharge of blood, mucus, and tissue after birth.
luteal phase the ovulation phase of the menstrual cycle.
mastitis an infection of breast tissue.
meconium the greenish black, odorless stools passed by the fetus soon after birth.
menarche the onset of the first menstruation.
mesoderm the central layer of the embryolast cells from which muscles, bone, blood, and connective tissue develop.
miscarriage a spontaneous abortion.
midwife a person who delivers or assists in delivering babies.
molding the process by which the infant's head changes shape or "molds" to facilitate delivery through the birth canal.
monozygotic twins twins that develop from a single ovum. Also known as identical twins.
morning sickness nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, now referred to as pregnancy sickness.
neonatal of or pertaining to an infant from birth to 28 days.
neonatologist a physician specializing in newborns.
nurse midwife a registered nurse who has graduated from a midwifery program.
obstetrics the branch of medicine that deals with pregnancy and childbirth.
ovary the gland that produces estrogen and progesterone and that contains eggs in various stages of development.
ovulation the discharge of an egg for possible fertilization by sperm.
ovum an egg or reproductive cell.
oxytocin the pituitary hormone that stimulates uterine contractions and the letdown reflex during lactation.
parturition the process of giving birth; labor.
perineum the area between the anus and the vulva.
periodic breathing common to most preterm infants, episodes of apnea or cessations of breathing.
pica the craving or eating of bizarre substances, such as starch or clay, during pregnancy.
placenta the temporary organ through which the fetus receives nutrients and exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide from the mother.
polydactyly having an extra finger or toe.
posterior position presentation in which the head emerges face up.
postpartum after childbirth.
postpartum depression depression suffered by some mothers after childbirth, possibly related to hormone fluctuations.
premature labor any labor that begins before the 38th week of gestation.
presentation the part of the baby that emerges first from the vaginal opening; the position of the baby at birth.
preterm infant an infant with a gestational age less than 38 weeks.
progesterone the female hormone responsible for the thickening of the uterine lining before conception.
prostaglandins a group of compounds responsible for uterine contractions.
pseudocyesis the condition when a woman is convinced she is pregnant but is not; false pregnancy.
pudendal block a local anesthetic administered through injection into the vaginal area to numb the pelvic area.
puerperal psychosis severe postpartum depression requiring hospitalization.
quickening a mother's first perception of fetal movement.
recessive inheritance inheritance trait requiring genes from both parents.
sonogram an ultrasound picture of the uterus and fetus.
stillbirth birth of a dead fetus.
striae gravidarum stretch marks.
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) the mysterious death of an infant thought to be healthy; also known as crib death.
teratogen any substance or factor that harms the fetus.
transition the last phase of the first stage of labor, characterized by full dilation of the cervix and contractions arriving every one to three minutes and lasting 60 to 90 seconds each.
trimester any one of the three-month divisions in the nine months of pregnancy.
ultrasound high-frequency sound waves beamed into and reflected off the body to create pictures.
umbilical cord the cord connecting the placenta and the fetus.
umbilicus the navel.
vernix caseosa a white, fatty substance coating the skin of the fetus up until birth.
zygote the fertilized egg before it divides.
digestive system
alimentary canal collective term for the digestive parts extending from the mouth to the anus, including the mouth, the pharynx, the esophagus, the stomach, and the small and large intestines. Also known as the gastrointestinal tract.
amylase a digestive enzyme found in saliva and pancreatic juices.
anus the outlet for excrement at the end of the alimentary canal.
appendicitis inflammation of the appendix.
appendix a wormlike sac attached to the cecum of the colon and whose function is unknown.
bile a substance produced by the liver that aids digestion through emulsification of fats.
bolus a clump of chewed food ready to be swallowed.
carbohydrate sugars, starches, and cellulose.
cholesterol a waxy, fatty substance produced by the liver or ingested in the form of saturated fat.
chyme a soupy mixture of fragmented food particles and stomach chemicals resting in the stomach after a meal and waiting to be moved into the duodenum.
cirrhosis a chronic disease of the liver characterized by hardening of connective tissue and increased blockage of circulation, usually caused by chronic alcoholism.
colitis inflammation of the colon.
colon the principal portion of the large intestine.
Crohn's disease an inflammation of any part of the GI tract or alimentary canal (usually the ileum) that extends through all the layers of the intestinal wall.
diabetes sometimes called diabetes mellitus or sugar diabetes, a disease characterized by the body's inability to properly process carbohydrates (sugars and starches), resulting in an excess of sugar in the bloodstream; the main cause is the insufficient production of insulin by the pancreas, which reduces sugar in the blood.
diverticulitis inflammation of the sacs or pouches (diverticula) that have ballooned out through the walls of the colon (usually the sigmoid colon), sometimes causing fatal obstruction, infection, or hemorrhage.
duodenum approximately the first 10 inches of the small intestine.
dysphagia difficulty in swallowing.
emulsification the separation of fat in the form of tiny globules from surrounding fluid food mass.
endoscope an instrument used for examining the alimentary canal.
esophagus the food tube leading from the pharynx to the stomach.
fundus the large curvature of the stomach, bordering the esophagus.