UNSW Embryology Glossary U

Link to the Original UNSW Embryology Glossary U

UAC

An acronym for [#umbilical_arterial_catheter umbilical arterial catheter].

UCB

An acronym for [#umbilicalcordblood umbilical cord blood]

(More? Placenta).

UVC

An acronym for [#umbilical_venous_catheter umbilical venous catheter].

uhrf1

An acronym for ubiquitin-like protein containing PHD and ring finger domains-1 (Np95 in mouse, ICBP90 in human) a cell cycle regulator required for liver outgrowth in embryonic and adult zebrafish. Also a transcriptional activator of top2a expression.

(More? GIT Notes - Liver | Sadler KC, Krahn KN, Gaur NA, Ukomadu C. Liver growth in the embryo and during liver regeneration in zebrafish requires the cell cycle regulator, uhrf1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Jan 22)

ultrasound

A noninvasive technique for visualizing and prenatal diagnosis of several features of development including: follicles in the ovaries, the gestational sac, fetus in the [U.htm#uterus uterus], fetal parameters, and the placenta. Uses high-frequency sound waves that are reflected off internal structures. These reflections can be analysed and displayed by computer.

(More?Ultrasound Measurements | Ultrasound Movies | Abnormal Ultrasound Movies)

umami

An historical Japanese word describing the taste in seaweed, used to describe the taste sensation of "savoury". Stimulated by the amino acid glutamate and monosodium glutamate.

(More? Sensory Notes - Taste)

umbilical cord blood

(UCB) The blood from cord and placenta which can be collected at birth as a source of cord stem cells.

(More? Stem Cells- Cord Blood | Placenta Notes)

umbilical cord

The connecting stalk between fetus and placenta. Contains umbilical arteries, vein and allantois. (Placenta Notes)

umbilical arterial catheter

(UAC) A catheter sometimes used if newborn infant has significant respiratory disease or requiring repeated early blood sampling. Catheter from umbilical artery connects to internal iliac artery then the aorta.

(More? NZ National Women's Health Umbilical Artery Catheters)

umbilical venous catheter

(UVC) A catheter sometimes used if newborn is sick and requires central access. Catheter from umbilical vein connects to ductus venosus then to left branch of the portal vein.

(More? NZ National Women's Health Umbilical Venous Catheters)

umbilicus

Term used to describe the navel region.

unexplained cause of infertility

A type of infertility for which no cause has been determined despite a comprehensive evaluation.

unicornuate uterus

An abnormality of uterine development where the paramesonephric ducts (Mullerian ducts) fail to fuse. A single [P.htm#paramesonephric paramesonephric duct] can fuse with the vaginal plate and will opens into the vagina, while the other duct forms a diverticulum. There are a range of additional uterine abnormalities based upon the degree of initial duct fusion and regression. Uterus didelphys (double uterus) is a rare condition where the entire tract is separated.

(More? Genital System - Female Uterus)

unstimulated cycle

An artifical reproductive technology (ART) cycle in which the woman does not receive drugs to stimulate her ovaries to produce more follicles. Instead, follicles develop naturally.

ureter

The ureters are hollow tubes that link and carry urine from each kidney to the bladder. The tubes have a muscular wall lined with transitional epithelium.

(More? Urogenital Notes)

urethra

The single muscular tube that links and carries urine from the bladder to the exterior. In humans, the urethral length differs between the sexes (male longer, female shorter).

(More? Urogenital Notes)

urinary

Term used to describe all components of the kidney system including the bladder, ureters and urethra.

(More? Urogenital Notes)

urine

Term used to describe the liquid waste produced by the kidney, stored in the bladder and excreted from the body through the urethra.

(More? Urogenital Notes)

urorectal septum

(URS) The structure which develops to separate the cloaca (common urogenital sinus) into an anterior urinary part and a posterior rectal part.

(More? Urogenital Notes)

urorectal septum malformation

The abnormalities associated with the urorectal septum (URS) and urogenital organs due to developmental abnormality.

(More? Urogenital Abnormalities | Urogenital Notes)

URSMS

An acronym for urorectal septum malformation sequence, clinically describing abnormalities of the urorectal septum (URS) and urogenital organs.

(More? Urogenital Abnormalities | Urogenital Notes)

uterine activity

(UA) The contractile activity pattern of uterine muscular wall occuring mainly during during labor for birth (parturition). This contractility can also be electrically monitored externally.

(More? Birth Notes)

uterine factor

A disorder in the [U.htm#uterus uterus] that reduces fertility.

urinary bladder

muscular sac for the storage of urine.

(More? Urogenital Notes)

uterine evacuation

clinical surgical term associated with abortion treatment, often with first trimester miscarriage (early fetal loss).

uterine fibroids

non-cancerous tumor that can develop within the wall of the [#uterus uterus] composed of muscle cells or other tissues. Their location can be either submucosal, intramural or subserosal.

(More? Human Menstrual Cycle | Genital System - Female Uterus | Urogenital Notes | Medline Plus)

uterine glands

(endometrial glands) The simple tubular glands formed by invagination of the uterine endometrium (a columnar epithelium of ciliated cells and secretory cells). The glands extend into the underlying thick vascular stromal layer. The glands line the [#uterus uterus] body and change in appearance and secretion during the menstrual cycle. The glands secretions function to provide the initial nutritional support of the conceptus and may have a role in maintaining adhesion.

(More? Human Menstrual Cycle | Genital System - Female Uterus | Urogenital Notes)

uterine horn

(fallopian tube, oviduct, salpinx) see [#uterine_tube uterine tube].

uterine natural killer cells

(uNK) main lymphocytes present in the [#uterus uterus] during early pregnancy and in the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. These cells have low cytotoxicity, constitutively secrete cytokines, chemokines and angiogenic molecules. and differ from blood NK cells (CD56 high) in the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor repertoire and hormonal gene regulated expression. Thought to have a role in decidualization, association with spiral arteries and interaction with trophoblast cells.

(More? Human Menstrual Cycle | Genital System - Female Uterus | Urogenital Notes | Medline Plus)

uterine peristalsis

rhythmic muscular contraction of the [#uterus uterus] which occurs during the menstrual cycle, maximally just before ovulation, in the non-pregnant [#uterus uterus].

(More? Human Menstrual Cycle | Genital System - Female Uterus | Urogenital Notes)

uterine tube

(uterine horn, oviduct, fallopian tube, salpinx) A pair of tubular structures that transport the oocyte (egg) from the ovary to the [#uterus uterus] body. They are located laterally on the upper uterus and consist medial to lateral of three main parts: isthmus (medial constricted third), ampulla (intermediate dilated portion) and infundibulum (containing the abdominal opening/ostium, surrounded by finger-like fimbri√¶). The tube has structurally several layers: a lining mucosa (mix of ciliated and secretory epithelium), a middle muscularis layer (inner circular muscle layer and an outer longitudinal layer) and outer serous layer (peritoneal).

(More? Human Menstrual Cycle | Genital System - Female Uterus | Urogenital Notes)

uterus

The female internal genital (reproductive) tract forming a hollow muscular walled organ, embryonically derived from the [P.htm#paramesonephric paramesonephric ducts]. The human uterus has two uterine tubes (fallopian tubes, oviducts) where the first week of development occurs and a single hollow body where implantation of the blastocyst normally occurs. Following puberty, the non-pregnant uterus (epithelium and underlying stroma) undergoes cyclic changes under the influence of hormones, the menstrual cycle. This cycle of uterine changes ceases during pregnancy. In other species females of non-primate vertebrates (eg rats, mice, horses, pig) have a reproductive cycle called the estrous cycle (oestrous, British spelling). In pregnancy, the uterus contributes the maternal component of the placenta.

(More? Genital System - Female Uterus | Human Menstrual Cycle | Genital Notes)

uterus didelphys

(double uterus, uterus didelphis) A rare uterine developmental abnormality where the paramesonephric ducts (Mullerian ducts) completely fail to fuse generating two separate uterus parts each connected to the cervix and having an ovary each.

(More? Genital System - Female Uterus)

Comments

Use this page to access brief definitions of specific embryology terms. Additional information can be accessed from links listed at the end of each definition. Glossary from the UNSW Embryology program compiled and written by Dr Mark Hill. Reference Material used in preparing this glossary list includes: texts listed on page 1 Reading of each notes section, Department of Anatomy Publications, WWW resources from NCBI, NIH, OMIM, NHMRC (Australia), AMA (USA), Office of Rare Diseases (USA), PubMed Medline Dictionaries, MSDS, Merck Manual home edn.

These notes are for Educational Purposes Only Please email Dr Mark Hill if you wish to make a comment about this current project.

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