A Terms

Browse the List of Terms
Sort by :   Default  |  Title  
Anencephaly
A Birth defect characterized by failure of the brain and skull to form properly. Parts of the brain and the skull may be missing. This is one of ... Read More
Anomaly
Something abnormal or out of the ordinary. This usually refers to a congenital anomaly or birth defect. Birth defects may be caused by genetic ... Read More
Anovulation
Complete absence of ovulation. Natural conception cannot occur without ovulation.
Anterior
In front of, usually with reference to the front part of the body. Often used in association with the term 'anterior presentation' or 'occiput ... Read More
Antibodies
Protective proteins produced by the body’s immune system in response to an antigen, to help protect against foreign objects, e.g. viruses. ... Read More
Antigen
Any substance capable of inducing the formation of antibodies.
Apgar Score
A numerical summary of a newborn's condition at birth based on the five signs noted in the table. The score is measured at 1 and 5 minutes. A ... Read More
Aphrodisiac
Any form of stimulation thought to arouse sexual excitement. Aphrodisiacs may be classified in two principal groups: (1) ... Read More
Apnea
Literally, this means cessation of breathing. It is common for premature newborn infants to stop breathing for a few seconds. They almost ... Read More
Areola
Any circular area of a different color than the surrounding skin. This often is used in reference to the dark ring of skin around the nipple of ... Read More
Artificial Insemination
A medical procedure to place sperm inside the reproductive tract to facilitate conception.
Asherman syndrome
Also called traumatic amenorrhea, Asherman syndrome is an absence of menses because the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is scarred or the ... Read More
Asphyxia
A condition in which there is a lack of oxygen to any bodily tissue, leading ultimately to the death of that tissue. The brain is exceedingly ... Read More
Assisted Hatching
A micro-manipulation procedure in which a small defect is created in the zona pellucida surrounding the egg to allow easier implantation. ... Read More
Asymptomatic
This simply means without symptoms: ie: to harbor an infection within the body without showing any outward symptoms.
Real-mom dispatches from the Baby Zone