NSG210 OB Terminology Reference

A word-root and mnemonic reference for OB/maternity vocabulary, plus the gravida/para (GTPAL) classification system. Useful for decoding unfamiliar terms on exams.

Sources:

raw/nsg210_Pregnancyandbirthterms.md
raw/nsg210_wk03_gravida_system.md (duplicated inside the file above)
raw/nsg210_GTPAL_Pregnancy_Classification_Quiz.md (practice questions, not reproduced here)

Core Word Roots

Root/word part	Meaning	Examples
gravida / gravid-	pregnant; pregnancy	multigravida, primigravida
gest-	carry; pregnancy	gestation, gestational diabetes
para / -parous	giving birth; pregnancies reaching viability	nullipara, multiparous
part- / partur-	labor or childbirth	antepartum, parturition
nat-	birth	prenatal, neonatal, postnatal
toc- / tok-	labor or childbirth	dystocia, tocolytic
puerper-	period following childbirth	puerperium, puerperal infection
fet-	fetus	fetal circulation, fetomaternal
embry-	embryo	embryology, embryonic period
concept-	conception or product of conception	preconception, retained products of conception

Anatomy, Structures, and Cycles

Root/word part	Meaning	Examples
uter- / hyster- / metr-	uterus	uterine, hysterectomy, endometrium
cervic-	cervix or neck	cervical dilation
colp- / vagin-	vagina	colposcopy, transvaginal ultrasound
vulv-	vulva	vulvovaginitis
salping-	fallopian/uterine tube	salpingectomy
oophor- / ovari- / ov-	ovary or egg	oophorectomy, ovarian cyst, ovulation
gyn- / gynec-	woman or female	gynecology
perine-	perineum	perineal tear
amni- / amnio-	amnion or amniotic fluid	amniocentesis, oligohydramnios
chori- / chorion-	chorion	chorionic villus sampling
placent-	placenta	placental abruption
umbilic- / omphal-	umbilicus	umbilical cord, omphalocele
decidu-	uterine lining during pregnancy	decidua, decidual reaction
men- / meno-	menstruation	amenorrhea, menarche
lute- / follicul-	corpus luteum; small sac	luteal phase, ovarian follicle
lact- / galact-	milk	lactation, galactorrhea
mast- / mamm-	breast	mastitis, mammography
colostr-	colostrum	colostral antibodies

High-Yield Prefixes and Suffixes

Prefix/suffix	Meaning	OB example
primi- / multi- / nulli-	first / many / none	primigravida, multigravida, nulligravida
ante- / pre- / post- / peri-	before / before / after / around	antepartum, prenatal, postpartum, perinatal
intra- / neo-	within / new	intrapartum, neonatal
ecto- / endo-	outside / inside	ectopic pregnancy, endometrium
oligo- / poly-	too little / excessive	oligohydramnios, polyhydramnios
macro- / micro-	large / small	macrosomia, microcephaly
brady- / tachy-	slow / fast	fetal bradycardia, fetal tachycardia
dys- / eu-	abnormal / normal	dystocia, eutocia
-cyesis / -tocia / -partum	pregnancy / labor / childbirth	pseudocyesis, dystocia, antepartum
-centesis / -otomy / -ectomy	puncture / incision / removal	amniocentesis, hysterotomy, salpingectomy
-rrhea / -rrhagia	discharge / excessive bleeding	galactorrhea, postpartum hemorrhage

Decoded examples: oligohydramnios = little + fluid + amnion (too little amniotic fluid); dystocia = abnormal + labor (difficult labor); tocolytic = labor + stopping (drug that suppresses contractions); salpingo-oophorectomy = removal of a uterine tube and ovary.

One important distinction: gravida counts pregnancies, while para counts pregnancies reaching the viability threshold, not the number of babies born - delivering twins increases para by one, not two.

Gravida and Para (G/P)

Gravida (G) is the total number of times a person has been pregnant, including the current pregnancy, regardless of outcome. Miscarriages, induced abortions, ectopic pregnancies, stillbirths, and live births all count.

Nulligravida: never pregnant.
Primigravida: pregnant for the first time.
Multigravida: pregnant two or more times.
Twins count as one pregnancy, so they increase gravida by one.

Parity (P) describes pregnancies that reached the institution’s viability threshold - commonly 20 weeks in US documentation - regardless of whether the infant was born alive or stillborn. A miscarriage increases gravida but not para.

Example: currently pregnant, with one previous term birth and one miscarriage at 10 weeks, is G3P1.

GTPAL

GTPAL expands gravida/para into five figures:

Letter	Meaning
G	Gravida: total pregnancies, including the current one
T	Term deliveries, usually 37 weeks or more
P	Preterm deliveries, from viability through 36 weeks 6 days
A	Abortions or pregnancy losses before viability
L	Currently living children

Key rules:

The current pregnancy counts in G, but not yet in T, P, A, or L.
Twins are one pregnancy and one delivery event, but count as two under L if both are living.
A miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy counts toward G and A.
A stillbirth after the viability threshold counts under T or P, but not L.
Cesarean versus vaginal delivery does not change the classification.
Exactly at the viability threshold (commonly 20 weeks) counts as P, not A - a common quiz distractor, since A requires a loss before viability.
Parity terminology can vary between institutions and countries; follow the definition used by the program or facility.

Worked example: currently pregnant, with one term singleton birth, one preterm twin delivery (both children living), and one miscarriage at 9 weeks, is G4 T1 P1 A1 L3, written compactly as G4P1113. Read the four digits after P as term-preterm-abortion-living, not as a single number.