Colposcopy Glossary of Terms

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Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of ...

Abdominal pain: Pain in the belly. Abdominal pain can be acute or chronic. It may reflect ...

Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.

Acetaminophen: A nonaspirin pain reliever or analgesic. Acetaminophen may be given alone t...

Acetic acid: The acid most commonly associated with vinegar. Acetic acid is a two-carbon c...

Ambulatory: Able to walk about, not bedridden or immobile.

Analysis: In psychology, a term for conversation-based therapeutic processes used to gain ...

Aspirin: Once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid, now the common name for this a...

Binocular: 1. With both eyes, as in binocular vision.
2. With two eyep...

Biopsy: The removal of a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope to check for ...

Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ...

Cervical: Having to do with any kind of neck, including the neck on which the head is perc...

Cervical cancer: Cancer of the entrance to the womb (uterus). The cervix is the lower, na...

Cervix: The cervix is the lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb). The uterus, a hollow, ...

Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

Chest pain: Pain in the chest that can be a result of many things, including angina, heart...

Colposcopy: A procedure in which a lighted magnifying instrument called a colposcope (or v...

Curettage: Removal of tissue with a curette from the wall of a cavity or another surface. ...

Discharge: 1.The flow of fluid from part of the body, such as from the nose or vag...

Dizziness: Painless head discomfort with many possible causes including disturbances of ...

Douching: Using water or a medicated solution to clean the vagina and cervix or any other ...

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

Endocervical curettage: The removal of tissue from the inside of the cervix, using a spoon...

Fever: Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degr...

Genital: Pertaining to the external and/or internal organs of reproduction.

Gynecology: The branch of medicine that is particularly concerned with the health of the f...

Ibuprofen: A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commonly used to treat pa...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Iodine: An element in the diet that is essential for the manufacture of hormones by the th...

Labor: Childbirth, the process of delivering a baby and the placenta, membranes, and umbil...

Laboratory: A place for doing tests and research procedures, and for preparing chemicals a...

Lens: The transparent structure inside the eye that focuses light rays onto the retina.

Microscope: An optical instrument that augments the power of the eye to see small objects....

Microscopic: So small it cannot be seen without the aid of microscope. As opposed to macro...

Obstetrics: The art and science of managing pregnancy, labor, and the puerperium (the time...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Pap Smear: A screening test for cervical cancer based on the examination of cells under th...

Pap test: A screening test for cervical cancer that involves the microscopic examination o...

Papilloma: A small solid benign tumor with a clear-cut border that projects above the surr...

Pathologist: A physician who identifies diseases and conditions by studying abnormal cells...

Pathology: The study of disease. Pathology has been defined as "that branch of medicine...

Pelvic: Having to do with the pelvis, the lower part of the abdomen, located between the h...

Pelvic exam: An examination of the organs of the female reproductive system.

Pelvic pain: : Pain perceived in the area of the pelvis, the lower part of the abdomen loc...

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

Pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Thi...

Saline: Relating to salt. As an adjective, "saline" means "salty, containing salt." As a n...

Sensation: In medicine and physiology, sensation refers to the registration of an incoming...

Speculum: An instrument that is used to widen the opening of the vagina so that the cervix...

Tylenol: See: Acetaminophen.

Vagina: The muscular canal that extends from the cervix to the outside of the body. It is ...

Vaginal discharge: Vaginal discharge is a fluid produced by glands in the vaginal wall and...

Vulva: The female external genital organs, including the labia, clitoris, and entrance to ...