Fundamentals of Midwifery: A Textbook for Students (59 page)

Macrocytic
Larger than normal cells.
Microcytic
Smaller than normal cells.
Micturition
Act of passing urine.
Nuchal translucency scanning
Ultrasound screening test to measure the maximum thickness of the translucency between the skin and the soft tissue overlying the cervical (neck) region of the spine of the fetus.
Nulliparous (woman)
Having not yet given birth to any viable infants.
Oedema
Excessive accumulation of fluid in the body tissues. It can be local because of injury or inflammation, or more general, as in heart or kidney failure which can include pre-eclampsia in pregnancy.
Os
Cervical opening (internal: to the uterus/ external: to the vagina).
PAPP-A
Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A: a marker for Down syndrome.