V

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Vaccination: the process or act of inoculating a person

Vaccine: a special preparation of antigenic material that can be used to stimulate the development of antibodies and thus confer active immunity against a specific disease or number of diseases

Vagina: the female genital canal

Vaginitis: inflammation of the vagina

Vagus nerve: the 10th of the cranial nerves which supplies the heart, lungs and viscera

Valgus: turned away from the midline of the body

Valgus deformity: bow-legged

Valve: a structure found in some tubular organs or parts that restricts the flow of fluid within them to one direction only

Valvotomy: the surgical severing of a valve

Vancomycin: an antibiotic

Varicose veins: veins that are distended, lengthened and tortous

Varus: turned inwards towards the midline of the body

Vascular: concerned with vessels that circulate fluids

Vasectomy: the surgical operation of severing the duct connecting the testis to the seminal vesicle and urethra

Vasovagal attack: excessive activity of the vagus nerve, causing slowing of the heart and a fall in blood pressure, which leads to fainting

Vein: a vessel carrying oxygen depleted blood to the heart

Venereal disease: sexually transmitted disease

Venesection: a surgical incision into a vein

Venography: visualisation of veins by x-ray after injecting a radio-opaque contrast medium

Venous: relating to the blood circulating in the veins

Ventilation: the passage of air into and out of the respiratory tract

Ventouse: vacuum extractor

Ventral: relating to the front part of the body

Ventricle: a small cavity, chamber, or compartment

Vertebra: a bony segment of the spinal column

Vessel: tube conveying a blood fluid.

Viscera: intestines

Viral pneumonia: an acute infection of the lung caused by any one of a number of viruses

Virology: the science of viruses

Virus: an organism smaller than a bacteria which is surrounded by a protein coat which causes disease

Visceral: concerned with the internal organs, including the heart, lungs, liver and stomach

Visual acuity: sharpness of vision

Volar: the palm of the hand

Volkmann’s contracture: fixed deformity of the hand due to fibrosis of muscle following injury to blood supply

Vomen: the thin bony part of the septum of the nose

Vomiting: a reflex action of ejecting the contents of the stomach through the mouth

Vulva: the external genitals of human females

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