Medical dictionary

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Vaccine: a substance that contains recombinant antigen 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.
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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