| Term |
Synonyms |
Definition |
| Vaccination |
|
Injection of a vaccine to create immunity. |
| Vaccine |
|
Weakened or killed microorganisms or viruses of a specific disease that are introduced into the body in order to stimulate immunity. |
| Vaccines |
|
Vaccines are microbial preparations of killed or modified microorganisms which can stimulate an immune response in the body in order to prevent future infection with similar microorganism. The smallpox vaccine has totally eliminated
the smallpox disease from our planet. |
| Vaccuum aspiration |
|
The removal of the contents of the uterus using a suction device. |
| Vaccuum extraction |
|
Atechnique used to facilitate childbirth using a suction device to help move the baby through the birth canal. |
| Vaccuum extractor |
|
An instrument which aids in the delivery of a baby. A suction cup is placed on the baby's head and the vacuum is turned on drawing the baby's head into the cup. The baby is then gently pulled through the vagina during
contractions. |
| Vagal |
|
Pertaining to the vagus nerve, which supplies sensory connections to the ear, tongue, and pharynx. |
| Vagal stimulation |
|
Clinial maneouvres, particularly pressure on the eyeballs, back of the throat, testicles and carotid artery in the neck, which result in increased electrical activity in the main nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system supplying
the heart: in some circumstances, this may cause slowing of the heart and/or correction of an arrhythmia. |
| Vagina |
|
The passage (birth canal) connecting the female external genitalia with the uterus. |
| Vaginal birth |
|
Birth of a baby through the birth canal (vagina). |
| Vaginal delivery |
|
Birth of a baby through the vagina. |
| Vaginal discharge |
|
Flow of fluid from the vagina. |
| Vaginal spotting |
|
A slight bloody discharge from the vagina. |
| Vaginismus |
|
An involuntary muscle spasm at the opening of the vagina when sexual intercourse is attempted; can be quite painful and may make sexual intercourse nearly impossible. |
| Vaginitis |
|
Infection of the vagina. |
| Vagotomy |
|
An operation to cut the vagus nerve. This causes the stomach to make less acid. |
| Vagus nerve |
|
Nerve that serves the esophagus, larynx, stomach, intestines, lungs and heart. |
| Valve |
|
A structure that allows fluid flow in only one direction. |
| Valvotomy |
|
The surgical correction of a narrowed heart valve. |
| Valvular |
|
Relating to an anatomical valve, in this case a valve of the heart. |
| Valvular heart disease |
|
A heart valve defect. |
| Valvuloplasty |
|
Repairing a defective heart valve with surgical or balloon catheter techniques. |
| Vaporizer |
|
A machine that adds moisture to the air to prevent dryness in the mouth, nose, and throat. Vaporizers typically put out hot steam. |
| Variant angina |
|
Chest pain caused by spasm of the coronary arteries. |
| Varicella |
Chickenpox |
The medical term for chickenpox. |
| Varices |
|
Abnormally dilated (stretched) veins. |
| Varicocele |
|
The appearance of varicose veins around the testicles; commonly occurs and is harmless, but may cause discomfort. |
| Varicose veins |
|
Dilated and distended veins due to defective valves. |
| Variola |
Smallpox |
Another term for smallpox. |
| Varus |
|
Angulation of a bone towards the midline |
| Vas deferens |
|
Duct that transports sperm from the testes to the ejaculatory duct. |
| Vascular |
|
Pertaining to blood vessels. |
| Vascular invasion |
|
Encroachment into blood vessels by a pathological process. |
| Vasculitis |
|
Inflammation of blood vessels. |
| Vasectomy |
|
A sterilization procedure in the male that involves tying and cutting the vas deferens to prevent sperm from entering the semen. |
| Vasoconstriction |
|
The narrowing of blood vessels. |
| Vasoconstrictors |
|
Substances that narrow blood vessels. |
| Vasodilators |
|
Substances that widen or dilate blood vessels. |
| Vasopressors |
|
Substances that elevate blood pressure. |
| Vasovagal attack |
|
A sudden slowing of the heart, causing fainting. |
| Vasovagal syncope |
|
Simple faint. |
| VD |
|
See Venereal disease. |
| Vegans |
|
People who do not eat any food of animal origin. |
| Vegitarians |
|
|
| Vein |
|
A blood vessel that returns blood to the heart. |
| Venereal disease |
|
Any disease that is usually spread through sexual intercourse or genital contact. |
| Venipuncture |
|
The piercing of a vein with a hollow needle to inject fluid or withdraw blood . |
| Venogram |
|
Angiogram of veins. |
| Venography |
|
An X-ray procedure for viewing veins. |
| Venom |
|
|
| Venous |
|
Pertaining to veins. |
| Venous infiltration |
|
Spread of diseased tissue into veins. |
| Venous tributary |
|
A smaller branch draining waste-products in blood into a larger vein. |
| Ventilation |
|
Exchange of air in and out of the lungs. |
| Ventilator |
|
A machine that assists or controls breathing; a respirator. |
| Ventricle |
|
One of the two lower chambers of the heart; or, any small cavity. |
| Ventricles |
|
Chambers of an organ. For example, the four connected cavities (hollow spaces) in the central brain or the four chambers of the heart. |
| Ventricular fibrillation |
|
Disorganised, rapid contractions of the muscle of the two ventricles [largest chambers] of the heart, incompatible with life. |
| Ventricular septal defect |
|
See Septal defect. |
| Ventricular tachycardia |
|
Regular heart rate which originates electrically in the ventricles of the heart and which is so abnormally fast that pumping efficiency is severely compromised, causing breathlessness, intolerance of effort, and eventually heart
failure. |
| Venule |
|
Small vein. |
| Vermifuge |
|
Substances which expel intestinal worms. |
| Vermilion |
|
Red part of the lip. |
| Vernix caseosa |
|
A slippery, white, fatty substance covering the skin of a fetus. |
| Verruca |
|
A wart. |
| Version |
|
A shift in the position of the fetus inside of the uterus, either occurring naturally or as performed by a doctor to facilitate delivery. |
| Vertebra |
|
One of the 33 bones that make up the spine. |
| Vertebral artery |
|
One of a pair of arteries carrying oxygen-rich blood from the aorta, up the back of the neck, contributing to the Circle of Willis and supplying predominantly the back of the head and brain, including the cerebellum. |
| Vertebral body |
|
The cylindrical expansion of the front of each bony ring (vertebra) of the spinal column. |
| Vertebrobasilar insufficiency |
|
Episodes of dizziness and weakness caused by insufficient blood flow to the brain. |
| Vertex presentation |
|
The usual, head-first presentation of the fetus during delivery. |
| Vertigo |
|
Dizziness accompanied by the illusion of motion. |
| Very-low-density lipoprotein |
VLDL |
A fatty protein that carries cholesterol in the blood and is associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis. |
| Vesicant |
|
A counter-irritant which causes skin to blister. |
| Vesicle |
|
A small sac containing liquid. |
| Vestibular glands |
|
The two small glands located at the opening of the vagina that secrete a lubricating fluid during sexual stimulation. |
| Vestibular system |
|
The organ of the inner ear containing several three semicircular ducts at right angles to one another; helps keep the body balanced. |
| Villi |
|
The millions of fingerlike projections on the lining of the small intestine that aid in the absorption of food. |
| Vinca alkaloid |
|
A pharmacologically-active substance (e.g., vinblastine and vincristine) obtained from the genus Vinca , which includes the periwinkles. |
| Viraemia |
Viremia |
Generalised virus infection (literally virus in the blood). |
| Viral hepatitis |
Hepatitis |
Hepatitis caused by a virus. Five different viruses (A, B, C, D, and E) most commonly cause this form of hepatitis. Other rare viruses may also cause hepatitis. See Hepatitis. |
| Virectomy |
|
Removing the gel from the center of the eyeball because it has blood and scar tissue in it that blocks sight. An eye surgeon replaces the clouded gel with a clear fluid. |
| Virulence |
|
The relative ability of an organism to cause disease. |
| Virulent |
|
Highly poisonous or infectious. |
| Viral |
|
Pertaining to or caused by a virus. |
| Viral infection |
|
An infection involving viruses, the smallest known disease causing organism. Viruses can be harmless (e.g. warts) or devastating (e.g. the AIDS virus). |
| Viremia |
|
The presence of virus in the bloodstream. |
| Virion |
|
A mature infectious virus particle existing outside a cell. |
| Virulent |
|
Highly poisonous or infectious. |
| Virus |
|
Minute infectious agents that reproduce only in host cells. |
| Viscera |
|
The internal organs, especially those located within the abdominal cavity. |
| Visceral Neuropathy |
|
A disease of the nerves affecting mostly the internal organs such as the bladder muscles, the cardiovascular system, the digestive tract, and the genital organs. These nerves are not under a person's conscious control and function
automatically. Also called Autonomic Neuropathy. |
| Visual acuity |
|
The distance (denominator) at which an optimally-seeing eye can undertake critical discrimination of shapes identifiable by a test eye at a standard distance (numerator), conventionally 20 feet or 6 metres. |
| Visual field |
|
The area on both sides that can be seen while looking straight ahead. |
| Vital |
|
Necessary to maintain life. Breathing is a vital function. |
| Vital signs |
|
Respiration, heart rate and body temperature. |
| Vitamin A |
A |
A vitamin essential for normal growth and development of the body (most notably the bones and teeth), protection of mucous membranes from infection, normal vision, and healthy skin and hair. |
| Vitamin B complex |
|
A group of vitamins including thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, and folic acid; plays a variety of important roles in the body, including in hormone production, metabolism, and functioning of the
nerves, muscle, heart, and digestive system. |
| Vitamin B6 |
B6 |
A vitamin that plays an important role in the breakdown and use of energy sources, production of red blood cells and antibodies, and normal functioning of the nervous system. |
| Vitamin B12 |
B12 |
A vitamin that is essential to the production of DNA (the genetic material in cells) and red blood cells and in the functioning of the nervous system. |
| Vitamin C |
C |
A vitamin with many essential roles, including in maintaining healthy bones, teeth, gums, ligaments, and blood vessels and in the immune system's response to infection. |
| Vitamin D |
D |
A vitamin that plays a role in the absorption of calcium by the intestines and is essential for healthy bones and teeth. |
| Vitamin E |
E |
A vitamin that protects tissues from damage by oxygen free radicals, helps to form red blood cells, maintains the function of enzymes, and maintains cell structure. |
| Vitamin K |
K |
A vitamin active in the process of blood coagulation. |
| Vitamins |
|
Organic substances that are essential for most metabolic functions of the body. |
| Vitiligo |
|
A condition in which patches of skin on the body lose their color; thought to be caused by the immune system attacking the skin tissues, causing the absence of melanin. |
| Vitreous |
|
Jelly-like substance located behind the lens of the eye, and providing the majority of its bulk. |
| Vitreous humor |
|
Gelatinous substance found within the eye. |
| VLDL |
|
See Very low-density lipoprotein |
| Vocal cords |
|
Small folds inside the larynx (voice box) that are involved in the production of sound. |
| Void |
|
To empty the bladder in order to obtain a urine sample for testing. |
| Voiding cystogram |
|
Radiographic imaging of the mechanics of urination obtained after the instillation of a dye opaque to xrays into the bladder by way of a urinary catheter. |
| Volatile |
|
Substances that evaporate at room temperature. |
| Volvulus |
|
The twisting and obstruction of an area of intestine. |
| Vomit |
|
The ejection of contents of the stomach through the mouth; or, the material itself. |
| Vomiting, biliary |
|
The presence of bile in the vomit implies that there is bowel obstruction, either physical or due to temporary paralysis of the bowel muscle. |
| Von Willebrand's disease |
|
A genetic disorder characterized by excessive bleeding. |
| V/Q lung scans |
|
The images produced by radionuclide scanning of the lungs; used to help diagnose a pulmonary embolism. |
| Vulnerary |
|
A substance which helps heal wounds andsores by external application. |
| Vulva |
|
External genitalia of the female including the clitoris and labia. |
| Vulvitis |
|
An inflammation of the vulva. |
| Vulvovaginitis |
|
An inflammation of the vulva and vagina. |
