Glossary of Terms

A

Adhesions: sheets or bits of tissue that occur when tissues or organs in the body stick to other internal surfaces.

Amenorrhea: the absence of a menstrual period during the reproductive years

Anterior: Nearer to the front of the body. Example: since the bladder lies closer to the front of the body, while the rectum lies closer to the back of the body, you could say the bladder lies anterior to the rectum.

B

Bladder: The organ within the pelvis that holds and stores urine

Bowel: Also called the large intestine. It functions to form stool and absorb remaining nutrients from food prior to elimination.

C

Cardiac Output: the amount of blood (liters) your heart pumps in one minute (normal cardiac output=5-6 Liters per minute at rest)

Cystocele: the pressing of the bladder into the vaginal wall (also called an anterior pelvic organ prolapse)

D

Defecate: to pass stool; to discharge feces from the body.

Desensitize: to make less sensitive

DEXA scan: Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry imaging that is used to measure bone mass.

Diastasis Rectus Abdominis (DRA)—occurs when the two rectus abdominis muscles move apart creating increased distance between them.

Dilator: a plastic rod with a rounded end used to stretch and open (dilate) the tissues of the vagina and pelvic floor (rectal and vaginal variations).

Doming/Coning: doming, also called “coning” is when the center of the abdomen bulges outwardly, creating a dome-like appearance. This occurs when the pressure inside the abdomen presses outward into the laxity of the linea alba when pressure is not managed well or the abdominal muscles are not creating enough tension.

Dorsal Lithotomy: a position in which one is lying on the back with the hips and knees bent to 90 degrees each. It is a common birthing position.

Dysmenorrhea: painful menstruation

Dyspareunia: painful intercourse

Dyssnergic Defecation: muscles and nerves of the pelvic floor fail to properly coordinate to have a bowel movement, potentially leading to constipation or other issues.

Dysuria: painful urination

E

Electromyographic Biofeedback: A technique used to measure muscle activity and provide the user with real-time information on this muscle activity.

Endometriosis: a condition in which uterine tissue occurs or grows outside of the uterus, causing pelvic pain or menstruation abnormality

Endometrium: Inner-most layer of the uterus; the uterine lining

Enterocele: the pressing of the small bowel into the posterior vaginal wall (a type of posterior pelvic organ prolapse)

F

Fecal Incontinence: The involuntary loss of stool

Female Athlete Triad (FAT): an interrelationship of menstrual dysfunction (often amenorrhea), low energy availability (with or without an eating disorder), and decreased bone mineral density (osteoporosis or osteopenia)

Female Reproductive Organs: The female reproductive organs include many structures including the vagina, uterus/cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, vulva, and other accessory glands and structures.

Fibroids (Uterine Fibroids): non-cancerous growths that form in and around the uterus

Functional Constipation: chronic constipation that is not due to secondary causes, such as medical conditions or medications

H

Hemodynamic: relating to blood flow

Hysterectomy: surgical removal of part or all of the uterus.

I

Inter-Rectus Distance (IRD): the distance between the two rectus abdominis muscles

Interstitial Cystitis (IC)/Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS): interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome is a chronic condition causing painful urinary symptoms

Intraabdominal: situated within or occurring within the abdomen

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): a group of symptoms that occur together, including repeated pain in your abdomen and changes in your bowel movements, which may be diarrhea, constipation, or both

L

Linea Alba: A thin band of connective tissue that runs down the front of the abdomen and connects the two sides of the rectus abdominis muscles

Lymphatics: referring to the lymphatic system

Lymphedema: swelling due to buildup of protein-rich lymph fluid in the body.

M

Mixed Urinary Incontinence (MUI): combination urinary incontinence made up of stress and urge urinary incontinence

Myofascial: relating to the layer of tissue that surrounds the muscles (myo=muscle, fascia=a type of connective tissue).

Myometrium: The middle layer of the uterus, comprised of muscle.

N

Neovascularization: the formation/growth of new blood vessels

Neuralgia: nerve pain

Nocturia: urination at night

Non-contractile structure: tissue that is unable to contract or relax. These tissues are inert.

Nulliparous: having never given birth to a child

O

Osteoclasts: bone cells that break down bone as a part of normal bone remodeling

Osteopenia: lower than expected bone mass

Osteoporosis: a disease of the bones in which bone density is low and can lead to more easily fractured bone.

P

Parous: Having produced offspring

Pelvic Floor Muscles: The muscle group located within the pelvic cavity and spanning between the pubic bone, tail bone, and the two pelvic (hip) bones. They function to support the contents of the pelvic cavity including the bladder, bowel, and uterus.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): the infection of the reproductive organs, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, or the ovaries.

Pelvis: The lower portion of the trunk, connecting the abdomen and the lower limbs. The bony frame of the pelvis is made up of two pelvic bones, the sacrum (very low back), and the coccyx (tailbone). 

Perimetrium: The outer-most, protective layer of the uterus.

Perineum: The area of skin between your genitals and your anus.

Peripheral Neuropathy: Weakness, numbness, or pain occurring in the nerves located outside the brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Vasodilation: Dilation of the distal (far from the center of the body) parts of the vascular system

Peristalsis: the involuntary contraction and relaxation of longitudinal and circular muscles throughout the digestive tract, allowing for the propulsion of contents

Pessary: a removable device that is inserted into the vagina to provide support in the area of a prolapse (kind of like a prosthetic for your pelvic floor)

Post-Void Residual (PVR): The amount of urine left in the bladder after urination.

Pregnancy-Associated Osteoporosis (PAO): The condition of low bone mass during or shortly after pregnancy (also called pregnancy-related osteoporosis)

Procidentia: a severe stage of pelvic organ prolapse, sometimes labeled 4th stage prolapse

Prolapse: The (usually downward) displacement of an organ from its typical position.

Purity culture: The ideas surrounding the evangelical biblical ideal of abstinence from sex prior to marriage.

R

Rectocele: the pressing of the rectum into the posterior vaginal wall (a type of posterior pelvic organ prolapse)

Rectum: the end of the colon and the last internal space before the anus

RED-S: Describes the symptoms of poor health occurring when the caloric intake of an athlete does not meet that individual’s energy expenditure.

Resection: the process of cutting out tissue or part of an organ

Retrograde Menstruation: the backwards flow of menstrual blood through the fallopian tubes and into the pelvic cavity

S

Stenosing/stenosis: narrowing

Stroke Volume: the amount of blood pumped from the ventricle per beat

Suprapubic: situated above the pubic bone

T

TENS Unit (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation unit): a small, often battery-powered device that can be connected to sticky electrode pads and placed on the skin to deliver an electrical current to the body.

Transversus Abdominis (TrA): one of the deepest abdominal muscles and part of the deep core

U

Urinary Frequency: Urinating more than the average (6-8) amount of times per day

Urinary Hesitancy: Difficulty urinating whether from initiating the stream of urine or keeping the stream flowing

Urinary Incontinence: Involuntary loss of urine.

Urinary Urgency: The urgent need to urinate despite not having a full bladder

V

Vaginismus: a type of sexual dysfunction in which penetrative vaginal intercourse cannot be experienced without pain and vaginal muscles involuntarily and persistently contract

Vaginoplasty: A surgery in which a vagina is created

Valsalva: Also called the Valsalva Maneuver; the forced expiration against a closed glottis. This means you are forcing an exhale while keeping your throat closed, causing increased intra-abdominal pressure.

Vestibulodynia: Chronic pain and discomfort occurring in the region of the vaginal opening (introitus) between the labia minora.

Void: to empty (as in the bladder)