Health, diseases terms glossary - Starting with V

Vaccination: Vaccination- a form of immunization in which killed or weakened microorganisms are placed into the body, where antibodies against them are developed; if the same types of microorganisms enter the body again, they will be destroyed by the antibodies
Vaccine: Vaccine- a preparation of weakened microorganisms given to create resistance to a certain disease
Varicose veins: Varicose veins- enlarged, twisted veins just below the surface of the skin, caused by defective valves in the veins
Vas deferens: Vas deferens- a thin tube that stores and transports sperm
Vasculitis: Vasculitis- inflammation of blood vessels
Vasectomy: Vasectomy- a usually permanent method of sterilization in which the tubes carrying sperm from the testicles (the vas deferens) are cut and tied off; as a result, the semen will no longer contain sperm
Vasoconstriction: Vasoconstriction- narrowing of blood vessels
Vasodilation: Vasodilation- widening of blood vessels
Vasovagal attack: Vasovagal attack- a sudden slowing of the heart, causing fainting
Vein: Vein- a blood vessel that carries blood toward the heart
Venereal disease: Venereal disease- any disease that is usually spread through sexual intercourse or genital contact
Ventricular fibrillation: Ventricular fibrillation- rapid, irregular contractions of the heart
Vertebra: Vertebra- any one of the 33 bones that make up the spine
Vertebral arteries: Vertebral arteries- a pair of arteries running up the neck to supply the brain with blood
Vertigo: Vertigo- the feeling that one or one's surroundings are spinning
Very low: Very low-density lipoprotein- a class of blood proteins, a high level of which is associated with coronary heart disease
Virilization: Virilization- the process by which a woman develops male characteristics; caused by overproduction of male sex hormones
Visible Fat: Visible Fat- Added fat during cooking.
Visual acuity: Visual acuity- a measure of the sharpness of a person's vision
Visual field: Visual field- the area on both sides that can be seen while looking straight ahead

Glossary