Medical Terminology Simplified

8–30 Dilation and curettage (D&C) is a surgical procedure to widen (dilate) the

cervic/al canal of the uterus and scrape (curet) the endo/metri/um of the uterus. The

uterine cavity is examined with a uterine sound to prevent perforation during dila-

tion and to measure depth of the uterus.

The instrument used to scrape the endo/metri/um is known as a

____________________. (See Fig. 8–5.)

8–31 Review Figure 8–5 to learn about the surgical procedure and instruments

used to perform D&C.

The instrument that is used to measure the uterus and prevent perforation during

dilation is called a____________________ ____________________.

Scraping the uterine lining requires the use of a____________________curet.

8–32 The vagina is a muscular tube that extends from the cervix (neck of the

uterus) to the exterior of the body. (See Fig. 8–3.) In addition to serving as the organ

of sexual intercourse and the receptor of semen, the vagina discharges menstrual flow

and acts as a passageway for the delivery of the fetus.

The CFs colp/oand vagin/orefer to the vagina. Colp/itis is an

____________________ of the ____________________.

Boldfaceindicates a word root or combining form. Blueindicates a suffix. Pinkindicates a prefix.

340 CHAPTER 8• Reproductive Systems

curet

kū-RĔT

uterine sound

serrated

inflammation, vagina

vă-JĪ-nă

Uterus Cervix Uterine soundSpeculum Cervical dilator

Serrated curet

Figure 8-5Dilation and curettage of the uterus. (A)Examination of the

uterine cavity with a uterine sound. (B)Dilation of the cervix using dilators of

increasing size to enable insertion of a curet. (C)Curettage of the uterine lining

with a serrated uterine curet.

AB

C