GLOSSARY
Chromosome
Chromosomes are found in each cell in the body. Each human
cell normally contains 46 total chromosomes – organised in two sets of 23
chromosomes – that come in two types: sex chromosomes and autosomal
chromosomes. Each cell in the human body contains these chromosomes which
contain genetic material (genes) that make up an individual's DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid). Sex chromosomes determine gender. In the final of the
23 sets of chromosomes, females have two X chromosomes, while males have an X
and a Y chromosome; in some intersex people, there are variations in the
configuration of the 23rd chromosome set. Phenotypes are produced by
multiple chromosomes acting together.
Cryptorchidism
Cryptorchidism refers to the condition in which the testes
fail to descend into the scrotum and are retained within the abdomen or
inguinal canal.
Clitoroplasty,
clitoridectomy
Clitoridectomy is the surgical excision of the clitoris.
Until the 1960s clitoridectomy was the principal surgical procedure used to
manage enlargement of the clitoris in intersex. Clitoroplasty
is a surgical procedure to alter the physiology of the clitoris, and includes
procedures in which part of the erectile tissue of the clitoris is removed (clitoral
reduction) or relocated (clitoral recession) to reduce the apparent size of the
clitoris.
Cloacal
Extrophy
Cloacal Extrophy is a condition in which an infant has the
bladder and a portion of the intestines exposed outside the abdomen. In males
the penis is either flat and short or sometimes split. In females the clitoris
is split and there may be two vaginal openings. Frequently the intestine is also
short and the anus may not be open.
Dysgenesis
Dysgenesis
refers to abnormal organ development during embryonic growth and development of
a foetus. Gonadal and adrenal dysgenesis are two of the more common types of
dysgenesis. Gonadal dysgenesis may result in a streak gonad.
Endocrinology
Endocrinology is a medical specialisation dealing with the
body's production, use and response to hormones.
Genitoplasty
Genitoplasty is the surgical alteration of external
genitalia, and is a procedure sometimes performed on individuals with ambiguous
genitalia. The two essential elements of feminising genitoplasty are clitoral reduction/recession
(clitoroplasty, see above) and vaginoplasty (see below).
Genotype
A person's genotype describes all of the genetic
information that is encoded in his or her chromosomes (for example 46,XY or
46XX, among others). It also refers to the genetic information carried by a
pair of genes (one from each parent) which controls a particular
characteristic.
Germ
cell tumour
Germ cells are those embryonic cells that have the
potential to develop into gonads. Germ cell tumours are tumorous growths based
in those cells, and can be cancerous or non-cancerous.
Gonad
Gonads are reproductive glands; the term can refer to
either testicles or ovaries. Gonads in foetuses develop into either testes or
ovaries depending on the chromosomal constitution of the foetus. In some
intersex people, gonads do not differentiate fully into one type or the other.
Streak
gonad
Streak gonads consists of fibrous tissue without any germ
cells, and therefore are unable to function.
Gonadectomy
A gonadectomy is the removal of an ovary or testis. In
some intersex cases, gonadectomy is undertaken if the testes are inconsistent
with the sex of assignment. In some CAIS individuals the testes are
intra-abdominal or contained in inguinal herniae (a protrusion of the abdominal
cavity).
Histology
Histology is the science dealing with the microscopic
identification of specific cells and tissue.
Hypospadias
Hypospadias is a development disorder affecting the
urethra. In the male, it is a developmental anomaly in which the urethra opens
on the underside of the penis or on the perineum. In females hypospadias is a
developmental anomaly in which the urethra opens into the vagina.
Immunohistochemistry
Immunohistochemistry is a medical diagnostic tool. Histochemistry
is the study of the chemistry of organic tissue through observing chemical
reactions. Immunohistochemistry is a form of histochemistry which relies on the
principle of certain antibodies binding specifically to certain receptors
(antigens) in biological tissue; these reaction patterns can then be assessed.
Immunohistochemistry is widely used to detect specific structures in tissues
and in the diagnosis of abnormal cells such as those found in tumours.
Inguinal
Inguinal refers to the region of the groin. In the male
foetus the inguinal canals are a pair of openings that connect the abdominal
cavity with the scrotum. An inguinal hernia is a protrusion through the lower
abdominal wall.
Intra-abdominal
Intra-abdominal refers to the area of the body in which
the ovaries and uterus are found. In some intersex conditions, the position of
the testes is intra-abdominal rather than scrotal.
Karyotype
A karyotype refers to the number and structure of
chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell; that is, the complete set of chromosomes
in an individual. The karyotype is usually identical in all the cells of an
organism (but not in some rare types of intersex). The standard human karyotype
contains 22 pairs of autosomal chromosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes (46
chromosomes in total). The standard karyotype for females is denoted as 46,XX
whereas the standard male karyotype is expressed 46,XY.
Labiaplasty
Labiaplasty
is a surgical procedure to modify, usually by reducing the size of, the labia,
the folds of flesh and skin that surround the female genitals.
Neoplastic
Neoplasty is any abnormal growth of new tissue.
Prophylactic
A prophylactic is an agent or procedure that prevents the
development of a condition or a disease.
Phenotype
Phenotype refers to the complete observable
characteristics of an individual, including anatomical, physiological,
biochemical and behavioural traits, as determined by the interaction of both
genetic makeup and environmental factors.
Scarification
Scarification is the creation of scar tissue following
surgical procedures.
Scrotal
In relation to the position of the testes, scrotal testes
are in the scrotum. Testes can in some intersex variations be intra-abdominal
or inguinal.
Vaginoplasty
Vaginoplasty is a surgical procedure to create a vaginal
canal. Some intersex conditions such as Complete Androgen Insensitivity
Syndrome may cause individuals to develop a blind vaginal pouch that averages
2.5 to 3.0 cm in depth, compared to an average of 10-12 cm depth for non-CAIS
individuals. Some individuals in these circumstances will undergo vaginoplasty.
Key references
Peter Harris, Mosby's Dictionary of medicine, nursing
and health professions, 2nd ed., Chatswood, Elsevier Mosby,
2010.
Jennifer King, Australian Nurses' Dictionary, 4th
ed., Marickville, Elsevier Australia, 2007.
Gordon Macpherson, Black's medical dictionary, 40th
ed., London, A. & C. Black, 2002.
Oxford Reference Online Premium Collection
Concise Medical Dictionary, 8th ed.,
Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2012 (online).
Dictionary of Biology, 6th ed., Oxford,
Oxford University Press, 2012 (online).
A Dictionary of Nursing, 5th ed., Oxford,
Oxford University Press, 2012 (online).
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