ABDOMINAL CIRCUMFERENCE: A parameter used in the diagnosis of IUGR,

in which the size of the foetus is estimated based on the measurement of the abdomen
at the level of the liver and the left portal vein.

ABDOMINAL DELIVERY: Birth of a child through a surgical incision made into

the abdominal wall and uterus; cesarian birth.

ABDOMINAL PREGNANCY: Ectopic pregnancy occurring in the cavity of the

abdomen.

ABDOMINAL HYSTERECTOMY: Surgical removal of the uterus through an

abdominal wall incision.

ABORTIFACIENTS: Agent that includes abortion.

ABORTION: The termination of pregnancy by any means before the foetus hass
attained a stage of viability.

ABORTUS: An embryo/foetus that is removed or expelled from the uterus at 20

weeks gestation or less or weighing 500g or less, or measuring 25cm or less.

ABO INCOMPATIBILITY: Occurs when the mothers blood type is ‘o’ and the new
born is A, B or AB. A condition that may lead to neonatal haemolytic disease.

ABRUPTION PLACENTA: Premature separation of a normally implanted placenta.

The separation may be complete or partial and very often is considered a medical
emergency.

ABSTINENCE: Refraining from sexual intercourse periodically or permanently.

ACCELERATION: Refers to a periodic rise in the fetal heart rate from the base line
in response to stress of lowered oxygen availability or featl movement.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Being answerable to the responsibility entrusted, accounting

for one’s own actions.

ACCULTURATION: Process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of

another group.
ACIDOSIS: A decrease in the pH of the blood. The range of pH in a neonate is
between 7.30 and 7.40. A blood PH of 7.20 or lowest is considered severe acidosis. If
a baby is gasping, the PH is probably 7.0 or less.

ACINI CELLS: Milk producing cells in the breast.

ACID BASE BALANCE: Also known as acid base homeostasis, it maintains proper
balance between acid and base or in other terms the body PH. It is regulated by
maintaining the blood PH between 7.38 and 7.42.

ACME: Highest point [Eg: of a contraction]. The time of greatest intensity. In

obstetrics, the period when the intensity of a contraction is at its height.

ACOUSTIC WINDOW: The space through which an ultrasound beam is able to

penetrate, such as water.

ACQUIRED DISORDER: Disorder that result from environmental factors rather

than genetic or congenital circumstances.

ACQUIRED IMMUNO DEFICIENCY SYNDROME: It is an acquired defect of

cellular immunity associated with the infection of human immune deficiency virus.

ACROMION: Projection of the spine of the scapula [forming the point of the
shoulder] used to explain the presentation of the foetus.

ACROCYNAOSIS: Cyanosis of the extremities especially of the hands and feet, seen
in the newborn for the first few hours after birth.

ACUPRESSURE: An accident oriental technique of applying pressure to specific

points to promote relaxation, increase energy relieve pain and aid homeostasis.

ADAPTATION: Change in the behaviour of a person is response to new or modified

situation, eg: pregnancy.

ADOLESCENE: The period of life beginning at puberty, when the secondary sex
characteristics begin to develop and the capacity for reproduction is reached, and
ending with adulthood.
ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY: When the pregnancy occurs during teenage of a
female, usually before 19 years.

ADJUVANT THERAPY: Treatment given in addition to primary treatment.

ADNEXA: Adjacent or accessory parts of a structure.

ADULT LEARNING: A range of formal and informal learning activities that are
undertaken by adult at workplace or any other setting.

ADULT RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME [ARDS]: Set of symptoms

include decreased compliance of lung tissue. Pulmonary oedema and acute
hypoxemia. The condition is similar to respiratory distress syndrome of the new born.

AEROBIC BACTERIA: Bacteria that requires the presence of oxygen to live, grow,
and survive.

AFLATOXINS: Cancer causing toxins produced by a wide variety of food stuffs.

AFTER BIRTH: The structure cast off after the expulsion of the foetus, including the
membranes and the placenta with the attached umbilical cord.

AFTER PAINS: Uterine contractions, which are similar to menstrual cramps, that
result from the contractile efforts of the uterus to returns to its normal condition. After
pains often occurs 2 days after delivery.

AGA: Appropriate (weight) for gestational age.

Agalactia: Absence or failure of milk secretion after child birth.

Agenesis: Failure of an organ to develop.

Alae nasi: Nostrils.

Albumin: The major protein in blood. In 5% of concentration, it is used as an

emergency blood volume expander in the treatment of shock.

Albuminuria: Presence of readily detectable amounts of albumin in the urine :

proteinuria.
Alkalosis: abnormal condition of the body fluids characterised by a tendency towards
an increased pH, as from an excess of alkaline bicarbonate or a deficiency of acid.

Allele: one or two or more alternate genes that occur at a particular locus of a
chromosome, which decide alternate inherited characteristics.

Alpha fetoprotein test: a blood test performed during pregnancy to assess the foetal
condition. If it is found to be positive in mother’s blood, then that indicates that the
baby may have some type of birth defects.

Alternate birth centre: a hospital organised or free-standing labour and delivery area
that provides a home like family-centered atmosphere with liberal policies regarding
labour, delivery and postpartum care.

Alveoli, foetal: terminal pulmonary sacs that in the foetal life are filled with fluids.
this fluid is a transudate of foetal plasma.

Ambient: surrounding or around.

Ambiguous genitalia: external genitals that are not clearly masculine or feminine.

Amenorrhea: absence or suppression of menstruation.

Amnesia: loss of memory.

Amniocentesis: the perforation, by use of a needle, through the abdominal wall into
the uterus to obtain a sample of amniotic fluid for the purpose of foetal genetic or
foetal maturity diagnosis.

Amnioinfusion: injection of a solution into the uterus, usually to induce abortion or

increase in utero fluids levels.

Amnion: the most internal of the foetal membranes, containing the water the surround
the foetus in utero.

Amniotic fluid embolism: the blocking of a maternal artery with amniotic fluid
forced into it by strong uterine contractions.
Amniotic fluid index: the sum of the vertical diameters of the largest amniotic fluid
pocket in each of the four quadrants of the maternal abdomen. This index is used as an
amniotic assessment tool.

Amniotic fluid: the clear fluid that is 98% water contained in the amnion. This fluid
provides protection to the foetus, keeps the temperature constant, and provides some
nourishment to the foetus.

Amniotomy: the artificial rupture of the amniotic sac to induce labour.

Amnionitis: inflammation of the amnion occurring frequently before or after early

rupture of membranes.

Amniography: procedure used primarily to detect placenta previa by x-ray

examination, entailing infection of radiopaque dye amniotic fluid.

Amplitude: strength, extent, fullness, size.

Anaerobic bacteria: bacteria that can live, grow and survive without oxygen.

Analgesia: a mild to moderate lessening or dulling of central nervous system

function, thereby rendering the client conscious, but sedated and experiencing a
decreased level of pain.

Androgen: substance that produces masculinizing effects (Eg: testosterone)

Androgenesis: a phenomenon in which chromosomes are completely of paternal

origin.

Androgynous personality: having some characteristics of both sexes.

Android pelvis: male type of pelvis.

Anemia: a condition of the blood in which there is a deficiency in the red blood cells
per unit volume, in the quantity of haemoglobin or in the total volume.

Anencephaly: a co-genital deformity characterized by complete or partial absence of

the new-borns brain and the skull overlying the brain.

Anaesthesia: the loss of sensation or feeling especially the feeling of pain.

Aneuploidy: a condition of numeric chromosome errors, which result in major
developmental defects of the foetus.

Anomaly: organ or structure that is malformed or in some way abnormal with

refernce to form, structure or position.

Anovular menstrual period: cystic uterine bleeding not accompanied by the

production and discharge of an ovum.

Anovulation: failure of the ovaries to release or produce mature eggs.

Anoxia: absence of oxygen.

Antepartal: the period from conception to the onset of labour; prenatal.

Antenatal: occurring before or formed before birth.

Anterior fontanelle: the diamond shaped space between the frontal and two oarietal
bones in very young infants.

Anthropoid pelvic: one of the four main types of female pelvis, generally
characterized by long antero-posterior diameter of the inlet.

Antero posterior repair: operation in which the upper and lower walls of the vagina
are reconstructed to correct relaxed tissue.

Anthropometric measurement: various objective, non-invasive measurement of the

body size and composition.

Anthropometry: study of human body measurements.

Antibody: specific protein substance developed by the body that exerts restrictive or
destructive on specific antigens, such as bacteria, toxins r Rh factors.

Anticipatory grief: grief that predates the loss of a beloved person or object.

Antigen: protein foregin to the body that causes the body to develop antibodies ex:
bacteria, dust, Rh factor.
Antithrombin: a glycoprotein and major in vivo inhibitor of thrombin generation,
which is used as a laboratory-parameters for the diagnosis of disseminated
intravascular coagulation.

Apgar score: numeric expression of the condition of a new-born obtained by rapid

assessment at 1,5 and 15 minutes of age.

Apgar scoring system: a system for appraising the basis of heart rate, respiratory
effort, muscle tone, reflex, irritability and colour. The Maximum score is 10. The
evaluation is done at 60 seconds after birth, then again at 5 minutes and at 10 minutes
if the neonate is unstable.

Apnea: cessation of a respirations for more than 10 seconds associated with

generalised cyanosis or cessations for aspirations for more than 20 seconds.

Apt test: differentiation of maternal and foetal blood when there is vaginal bleeding. It
is performed as follows: add 0.5 ml blood to 4.5ml distilled water and shake. Add 1ml
to 0.25N sodium hydroxide. Foetal and cord blood remains pink for 1 or 2minutes
maternal blood becomes brown in 30 seconds.

Areola: the ring of the pigment surrounding the nipple.

Arthralgia: any pain that affects a joint.

Articulation: fastening together or connection of various bones of the skeleton; or a

joint.

Arrest of descent: failure of the foetal head to descent for more than 1 hour in
nullipara and more than 5 hours for a multipara.

Artificial insemination: the introduction of semen into the cervical os or uterus by

mechanical means.

Asherman’s syndrome: intra uterine adhesions following inflammation and infection;

one cause of impaired fertility.

Asphyxia: a condition where the new-born suffers from the lack of oxygen and
carbon-dioxide due to various reasons resulting in ability to initiate respiration.
Aspiration pneumonia: inflammatory conditions of the lungs and the bronchi caused
by the inhalation of vomitus containing acid gastric contents.

Asynclitism: oblique presentation of the foetal head at the superior strait of the pelvis;
the pelvis planes and those of the foetal head are not parallel.