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Medical dictionary
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Vaccine: a substance that contains recombinantantigen or weakened or killed infectious
organisms. A vaccine provides long-term immunity against a pathogen by
producing an acquired immune response giving rise to memory cells without
causing disease.
Vaginitis: inflammation of the vagina.
Vagus nerve: the nerve supply to the stomach that controls the
production of acid.
Varicella: chicken pox.
Varicose veins: swollen veins on the surface of the leg.Further info.
Vascular: blood vessel-related.
Vasculitis: inflammation affecting the blood
vessels. Describes a heterogeneous group of uncommon diseases characterised by
inflammatory cell infiltration and necrosis of blood cell walls.Giant cell arteritis is one
form (which occurs with polymyalgia rheumatica),polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a rarer one.
Vasculitis can occur with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus
erythematosus.
Vasectomy: in males, the surgical removal of part of the sperm duct (vas
deferens) to induce infertility.
Vasoactive: affecting blood vessels.
Vasoconstriction: narrowing of the small arteries.
Vasodilatation: widening of the blood vessels.
Vasomotor: causing dilation or constriction of the blood vessels.
Vassopressin: a hormone released from the posterior part of the
pituitary gland, also called antidiuretic hormone (ADH), that acts on the
kidneys to increase their reabsorption of water into the blood.
Vector: a "carrier" used to transport genetic information into
cells. Viruses which have been modified, so that they can no longer multiply
and cause disease, are commonly used.
Vegetative: without consciousness.
Vein: a blood vessel which carries oxygen-depleted blood back to the
heart and lungs.
Venereal: sexually transmitted.
Venous: vein-related.
Ventilation: breathing.
Ventricular: heart chamber-related.
Verruca: wart on the foot.
Vertigo: fear of heights.
Vesicular: of small bladders\blisters.
Vestibular system: the organ of the inner ear containing three
semicircular ducts at right angles to one another; that controls balance.
Villi: the tiny, fingerlike projections on the surface of the small
intestine that help absorb nutrients.
Viraemia: the presence of virus in blood or blood plasma.
Viral arthritis: viral arthritis can be associated with certain types of
childhood illnesses such as rubella, mumps, chickenpox, smallpox, as well as
glandular fever and infectious hepatitis. (A distinction has to be drawn
between these and other viral infections such as influenza which cause limb
pain or arthralgia). Infections with unidentified viruses, can cause a syndrome
of rash, fever and transient joint disorders.
Virilization: masculinization.
Virion: a complete virus particle existing outside a cell.
Virology: the study of viruses and viral diseases.
Virulence: the power of a microorganism to cause grave disease.
Virus: a minute infective agent which depends on the
cell it infects for its replication and survival.
Visceral: relating to an organ.
Vital capacity: the capacity of the lungs.
Vitamin: organic molecules essential in small amounts for normal
metabolism, growth and development of the body.
Vitreous: glassy.
Volvulus: a twisting of the stomach or large intestine which can lead to
blockage, perforation, peritonitis, and poor blood flow.
Vulval: vagina-related.
Vulvovaginitis: vagina inflammation
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