Glossary

Health Terms beginning with "V"

Vaccine

A specific substance that elicits an immune response to prevent infection by a foreign agent.

Vagina

The muscular "birth canal" that connects a woman's outer genital area to the cervix.

Vaginal atrophy

Deterioration of the tissue between the vulva and the cervix.

Vaginal culture

A test that takes cells from the opening of the uterus or endocervix. The specimen is put on a slide or culture media and allowed to grow. Microscopic examination can identify what specific organisms are causing infection.

Vaginal discharge

A mucous substance produced by cervical glands that is normally clear and is present during stress and sexual excitement. Discharges may turn whitish, yellow or green and have a bad odor, a condition caused by several factors, including infection and medications.

Vaginal hysterectomy

A surgical procedure in which the uterus is removed through an incision in the vagina.

Vaginal vault prolapse

When the vagina prolapses (drops) through the vaginal opening.

Vaginismus

A sexual dysfunction in which the involuntary spasm of the muscles at the opening of the vagina make vaginal entry painful.

Vaginitis

An infection of the vagina with a variety of symptoms, the most common being abnormal discharge, odor, itching and burning.

Varicosity

When the valves in the veins stop working as well as they should, eventually allowing blood to pool and varicose veins to form.

Vascular headaches

A group of headaches that includes migraine. They are so named because they are thought to involve abnormal function of the brain's blood vessels or vascular system.

Vasculogenic

related to blood vessels or blood flow.

Vasodilators

Medications that increase blood flow to the brain by expanding or dilating blood vessels.

Vasospastic attacks

Raynaud's phenomenon (see separate entry) is characterized by vasospastic attacks, episodic attacks that cause the blood vessels in the fingers and toes to constrict (narrow).

Vegans

Vegetarians who eat only plant-based food. They may need to consider vitamin and mineral supplements; if you opt for a vegan diet, be sure to consume sufficient quantities of protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D and calcium.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry the blood from the body back to the heart.

Ventricle

A pumping chamber of the heart. You have a right and left ventricle.

Ventricles

Cavities in the brain that transport cerebrospinal fluid. Enlarged ventricles have been found in many patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Vertebrae

Bones of the spine. The vertebrae surround and protect the spinal cord.

Vertebroplasty

A procedure that involves injecting acrylic cement into a collapsed vertebra to stabilize and strengthen it. Similar to balloon kyphoplasty treatment for vertebral compression fractures.

Vertigo

A sensation of spinning or whirling resulting from a disturbance in balance (equilibrium). Vertigo may also mean feelings of lightheadedness, dizziness, faintness, or unsteadiness.

Vesicoureteral reflux

An abnormal condition in which urine travels back into the ureters and occasionally into the kidneys, raising the risk of infection.

Vessels

Tube-like structures in the circulatory system that are responsible for circulating blood within the body; the three kinds of vessels are arteries, veins and lymphatics.

Viral Hepatitis

Hepatitis literally means inflammation of the liver (hepa=liver; itis=inflammation). Viral hepatitis stems from infection with a virus that attacks the liver. There are five predominant types, hepatitis A, B, C, D and E, each of which has different characteristics. Hepatitis may be transitory or long-term, may cause permanent liver damage and in some cases may lead to death.

Viral load test

A test that measures the quantity of HIV RNA in the blood. Results are expressed as the number of copies per milliliter of blood plasma. Research indicates that viral load is a better predictor of the risk of HIV disease progression than the CD4 count.

Virilization

Implies significant characteristics associated with maleness.

Virus

One of a group of submicroscopic infectious agents.

Visual acuity

A test that measures your central vision's ability to distinguish details and shapes.

Visual acuity test

A diagnostic test that measures the ability of the central retina or macula to distinguish details and shapes.

Visualization

Formulation of mental visual images.

Vitamin B12

A substance used in the body in processing protein, fats and carbohydrates, in normal blood making and in nerve function.

Vitamin E

This vitamin can be ingested through a normal diet or by taking supplements. Because vitamin E is a known antioxidant, it may help break down substances in the brain (called free radicals) that interfere with and damage brain cells in people with Alzheimer's disease.

Vitiligo

A condition causing loss of pigmentation that leaves irregular white patches on regularly pigmented skin because melanocytes are absent in certain areas of the skin.

Void

To urinate; empty the bladder.

Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG)

An x-ray image of the bladder and urethra made during voiding. The bladder and urethra are filled with a special fluid to make the urethra clearly visible.

Von Hippel-Lindau disease

A rare, genetic multisystem disorder characterized by the abnormal growth of tumors in certain parts of the body (angiomatosis).

Von Willebrand's disease

An inherited bleeding disorder that affects women and men. This disorder is the most common bleeding disorder in women and girls and is caused by a deficiency in a blood-clotting protein called von Willebrand factor. This deficiency causes bleeding into the skin from the mucous membranes of the mouth, gum, gastrointestinal tract and genital-urinary tract. Symptoms include frequent nosebleeds, bleeding from the gums, skin that's easily bruised and heavy menstrual periods. Treatment is available, but there is no cure.

Vulva

The outer parts of the female sexual organs.

Vulvar atrophy

Deterioration of the external female genitalia (labia, clitoris and vaginal vestibule) due to estrogen deficiency.

Vulvodynia

a term used to describe pain in the vulva, often severe, of unknown cause. Vulvar vestibulitis is a related term.