Glossary
These medical terms
are listed throughout the Articles section.
A
Abdominal Wall Defects:
Birth defects in which the muscle and skin cover the wall of
the abdomen are missing and the bowel is either contained
within a clear walled sac (omphalocele) or sticks out
through a hole in the abdominal wall (gastroschisis).
Abruptio Placenta:
A condition in which the placenta has begun to separate
from the inner wall of the uterus before the baby is born.
Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP): A protein
produced by a growing fetus; it is present in amniotic fluid and, in
smaller amounts, in the mother's blood.
Amniocentesis: A test in which a
small amount of amniotic fluid is taken from the sac around each fetus.
Amniotic Fluid: Fluid in the sac
surrounding the fetus in the woman's uterus.
Amniotic Sac: A fluid-filled sac
in the mother's uterus where the fetus develops.
Analgesics: Drugs that
relieve pain without loss of muscle function.
Anencephaly: A type of neural tube
defect that occurs when the fetus's head and brain do not develop
normally.
Anesthesia: Relief of pain by loss
of sensation.
Anesthesiologist: A doctor who is
an expert in pain relief.
Anesthetics: Drugs that relieve
pain by loss of sensation.
Antibodies:
Proteins in the blood produced in reaction to foreign substances, an
antigen.
B
C
Canavan Disease: A rare
inherited disorder that causes the brain to degenerate, with death
usually occurring before age 4 years. it is more frequent in
people of eastern European Jewish descent (Ashkenazi Jews).
Carrier: A person who shows
no signs of a particular disorder but could pass the gene on to his or
her children.
Cervix: The lower, narrow
end of the uterus.
Cesarean Delivery- Delivery of
a baby through an incision made in the mother's abdomen and uterus.
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS):
A procedure in which a small sample of cells is taken from the
placenta and tested.
Chromosomes: Structures
that are located inside each cell in the body and contain the genes
that determine a person's physical makeup.
Cleft palate: A birth
defect in which a gap or space occurs in the roof of the mouth.
Clubfoot: A birth defect in
which the foot is misshaped and twisted out of position.
Corticosteroid: Hormones
given to mature fetal lungs, for arthritis, or other medical problems.
Cystic Fibrosis: An
inherited disorder that causes problems in digestion and breathing.
D
Dilation and Curettage
(D&C): A procedure in which the cervix is opened and tissue is
gently scraped or suctioned from the inside of the uterus.
Discordant: A large
difference in the size of fetuses in a multiple pregnancy.
Down Syndrome: A genetic
disorder caused by the presence of an extra chromosome and
characterized by mental retardation, abnormal facial features, and
medical problems such as heart defects.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy:
An inherited, sex-linked disease most often affecting males.
Symptoms are weakness and muscle wasting, first of the limbs
and trunk, but slowly affecting all voluntary muscles, with
death usually occurring around age 30 years.
E
Ectopic Pregnancy: A pregnancy in
which the fertilized egg begins to grow in a place other than inside the
the uterus (usually in the fallopian tubes).
Electronic Fetal Monitoring: A
method in which electronic instruments are used to record the heart beat
of the fetus and contractions of the mother's uterus.
Embryo: The developing fertilized
egg of early pregnancy.
Epidural Block: A form of
anesthesia where medication is administered through a catheter that
lessens labor pain (analgesics) or provides pain relief for a cesarean
delivery (anesthetic).
Episiotomy: A surgical incision
made into the perineum (the region between the vagina and the anus) to
widen the vaginal opening for delivery.
Estrogen: A female hormone
produced in the ovaries that stimulates the growth of the lining of the
uterus.
F
Fetal Fibronectin: A protein
produced during pregnancy.
Fetal Monitoring: A procedure
in which instruments are used to record the heartbeat of the fetus and
contractions of the mother's uterus during labor.
Fetus: A baby growing in the
woman's uterus.
Forceps:
Special instruments placed around the baby's head to help guide it out
of the birth canal during delivery.
Fragile X Syndrome:
A disorder of the X chromosome that is the most common
inherited cause of mental retardation.
Fraternal Twins: Twins that
have developed from more than one fertilized egg; they are not
genetically identical and each has its own placenta and amniotic sac.
G
Genes: DNA "blueprints"
that code for specific traits, such as hair and eye color.
Gestational Diabetes:
Diabetes that arises during pregnancy; it results from the
effects of hormones and usually subsides after delivery.
Glucose: A sugar
that is present in the blood and is the body's main source
of fuel.
H
Hemophilia: An
inherited sex-linked disorder in which the blood lacks a substance
that helps it clot.
Hormones: Substances
produced by the body to control the functions of various organs.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG):
A hormone produced during pregnancy. Its detection is the basis
for most pregnancy tests.
Huntington's Disease: An
inherited nerve disorder that causes loss of control of movements and
mental function, usually starting between 35-50 years of age.
Hyperglycemia: A condition that
results when levels of glucose are too high.
Hypoglycemia: A condition that
results when levels of glucose are too low.
I
Identical Twins: Twins
that have developed from a single fertilized egg; they are usually
genetically identical and may or may not share the same placenta
and amniotic sac.
Insulin:
A hormone that controls the levels of glucose (sugar) in the
blood.
Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR): Slow or limited growth
of a fetus during pregnancy,
J
K
L
M
Miscarriage:
The spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the fetus can survive outside
the uterus.
Molar Pregnancy: Growth of
abnormal placental tissue in the uterus.
Multiple Pregnancy: Pregnancy
in which there are more than one fetus.
N
Neural Tube Defect (NTD):
A birth defect that results from improper development of the
brain, spinal cord, or their coverings.
Nuchal Translucency
Screening: A special ultrasound test of the fetus to
screen for the risk of Down syndrome and other birth
defects.
O
Ovulate: To release an egg from
one of the ovaries.
P
Pelvic Exam:
A manual examination of a woman's reproductive organs.
Placenta: Tissue that connects
mother and fetus and provides nourishment to and takes waste away from
the fetus.
Placenta Previa:
A condition in which the placenta is low in the uterus, so that the
opening of the uterus is partially or completely covered.
Prenatal Care: A program of
care for a pregnant woman before the birth of her baby.
Premature Rupture of Membranes:
When the membranes of the amniotic sac rupture before labor.
Preterm: Born before 37 weeks
of pregnancy.
Preterm Labor:
Labor that starts before the end of 37 weeks.
Progesterone: A female hormone
that is produced in the ovaries and makes the lining of the uterus
grow. When the level of progesterone decreases, menstruation
occurs.
Q
R
Respiratory Distress Syndrome:
A condition of some babies in which the lungs are not completely
mature.
S
Sexually Transmitted Disease
(STD): A disease that is spread by sexual contact,
including Chlamydial infection, gonorrhea, genital warts, herpes,
syphilis, and infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV,
the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]).
Sickle Cell Disease:
An inherited disorder in which red blood cells have a
crescent shape, causing chronic anemia and episodes of pain.
It occurs most often in African Americans.
Spina Bifida: A
neural tube defect that results from incomplete closure of
the fetal spine.
Spinal Block: A form of
anesthesia where medication is administered into the spinal fluid
to lessen labor pain or provide anesthesia for a cesarean
delivery.
T
Tay-Sachs Disease: An
inherited birth defect that causes mental retardation, blindness,
seizures, and death, usually by age 5 years. it occurs
mostly in people of eastern European Jewish descent (Ashkenazi
Jews) and among French Canadians.
Tocolytics: Medication
used to stop or slow preterm labor.
Trisomy 18: A
genetic disorder that causes serious problems with
development. Most infants with trisomy 18 die within
the first year of life.
Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTS):
A condition of identical twin fetuses when the blood passes from one
twin to the other through a shared placenta.
U
Ultrasound: A test in which sound
waves are used to examine internal structures. During pregnancy, it
can be used to examine the fetus.
Urinary Tract Infections:
Infections of the bladder and urethra.
Uterus: A muscular organ located in the female pelvis that
contains and nourishes the developing fetus during pregnancy.
V
Vacuum Extraction: The
use of a special instrument applied to the baby's head to help
guide it out of the birth canal during delivery.
Vanishing Twin: Death of a
twin in the first 3 months of pregnancy.
W
X
Y
Z
Chicago Maternal-Fetal Medicine, S.C.
