Word Part | Definition |
V | volt |
V/Q | ventilation/perfusion |
VA | visual acuity |
vacc | vaccination |
vaccination | Administration of vaccines to stimulate the host's immune response. |
vaccine | A suspension of killed or attenuated microorganisms administered for the prevention or treatment of infection. |
VAD | venous assist device |
vag/o | vagus nerve |
vagin/o | vagina |
vagina | An muscular tube connecting the cervix of the uterus to the vulva and exterior of the body. |
vaginal | Pertaining to the vagina. |
vaginitis | Inflammation of the vagina marked by pain and a purulent discharge. |
vagus nerve | The tenth cranial nerve. |
valsalva maneuver | Forced expiratory effort against a closed windpipe, impeding the return of venous blood to the heart. |
valv/o | valve |
varic/o | varices (swollen veins) |
varicella | Primary infection causes chickenpox; reactivation causes herpes zoster. |
varicocele | Abnormal enlargement of the veins of the spermatic cord. |
varicose veins | Enlarged, twisted veins. |
vas/o | vessel |
vascul/o | blood vessel |
vascular | Pertaining to blood vessels. |
vasculitis | Inflammation of a blood vessel. |
vasectomy | Surgical removal of the ductus deferens usually as a means of sterilization. |
vasoconstriction | Narrowing of blood vessels. |
vasoconstrictor | Drugs used to cause constriction of the blood vessels. |
vasodilation | Widening of blood vessels. |
vasodilator | Drugs used to cause dilation of the blood vessels. |
vasovasostomy | A surgical procedure in which the effects of a vasectomy (male sterilization) are reversed. |
VC | vital capacity |
VCT | venous clotting time= |
VD | venereal disease |
vector | An organism, such as a mosquito or tick, that spreads disease from one host to another. |
veins | The vessels carrying blood away from the capillary beds. |
ven/o | vein |
venae cavae | The two venous trunks which returns blood to the heart. Inferior venae cavae receives blood from the lower body while superior venae cavae returns blood from the upper body.. |
venere/o | sexual intercourse |
venoms | Poisonous animal secretions forming fluid mixtures of many different enzymes, toxins, and other substances. |
venous insufficiency | Impaired venous blood flow or venous return (venous stasis), usually caused by inadequate venous valves. Venous insufficiency often occurs in the legs. |
venous thrombosis | The formation or presence of a blood clot within a vein. |
ventilators | Mechanical devices used to assist respiration. |
ventr/o | front, belly side |
ventral | Pertaining to the belly or front of the body. |
ventricles | The two large heart chambers that receive blood from the atria and pump it out to the systemic and pulmonary circulatory systems. |
ventricul/o | ventricle |
ventricular fibrillation | The uncoordinated, rapid firing of electrical impulses (400-600/min) in the ventricles. This ventricular quivering prevents cardiac output. Can results in unconsciousness and death if not immediately treated. |
ventricular flutter | Rapid, unstable ventricular tachycardia (150-300 beats/min) with a large sine-wave appearance. If untreated, ventricular flutter typically progresses to ventricular fibrillation. |
ventricular tachycardia | Fast but regular heart rhythm originating in the ventricles. Often caused by heart disease, but may also occur in young people. Some medications and nonprescription decongestants can trigger ventricular tachycardia. |
venul/o | venule (small vein in lungs) |
verm/i | worm, wormlike |
verrucae | Plantar warts that commonly occur on the soles of the feet or around the toe area. |
vertebrae | The bones or segments composing the spinal column, |
vertebrate | An animal with a spinal cord surrounded by cartilage or bone |
vertigo | A feeling of dizziness and disorientation. |
vesic/o | bladder, blister |
vesicul/o | vesicle |
vestibul/o | vestibule |
vestiges | A trace of something, usually a nonfunctioning structure or a behavior, that is a remnant of our evolutionary history. |
vestigial | Pertaining to vestiges. |
VF | ventricular fibrillation |
Vf (2) | field of vision |
Vfib | ventricular fibrillation |
vipoma | An endocrine tumor that secretes vasoactive intestinal peptide, that causes vasodilation, relaxation of smooth muscles, watery diarrhea, hypokalemia and hypochlorhydria. |
vir/o | virus |
viral | Pertaining to or caused by a virus. |
viremia | The presence of viruses in the blood. |
virion | The compete viral particle. |
virology | The study of the structure, growth, function, genetics, and reproduction of viruses and virus diseases. |
virus | A small infectious agent which lacks independent metabolism and is able to replicate only within a living host cell. The individual particle (virion) consists of either DNA or RNA and a protein capsid. |
viscer/o | body organs |
viscera | the large interior organs in any one of the three great cavities of the body, especially in the abdomen. |
viscosity | Resistance to flow. |
vit/o | life |
vital capacity | The volume of air that is exhaled by a maximal expiration following a maximal inspiration. |
vital signs | The signs of life that may be monitored or measured, namely pulse rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and blood pressure. |
vitamins | Organic substances that are required in small amounts for maintenance and growth. |
vitelline | Pertaining to the vitellus. |
vitellus | Yolk of an egg. |
vitiligo | A chronic disease that causes white patches develop on the skin. |
vitre/o | vitreous body |
vitrectomy | Surgery to remove vitreous gel from the eye. |
vitreous body | The transparent, semi gelatinous substance that fills the cavity behind the crystalline lens of the eye and in front of the retina. |
vitrification | To convert into a glassy substance. |
vivi- | live, alive |
vivisection | Experiments performed on living animals involving surgery. |
VLDL | very low density lipoprotein |
VNA | Visiting Nurse Association |
vocal cords | A pair of cone-shaped elastic mucous membrane projecting from the laryngeal wall and forming a narrow slit between them. Each contains a vocal ligament that shortens or relaxes the vocal cord to control sound production. |
vol | volume |
volar | Pertaining to the palm or sole. |
-volemia | blood volume |
volition | Voluntary activity without external compulsion. |
vomiting | The forcible expulsion of the contents of the stomach through the mouth. |
VS | vital signs |
VSD | ventricular septal defect |
VT | ventricular tachycardia |
vulv/o | vulva |
vulva | The external genitalia of the female. It includes the clitoris, the labia, the vestibule and its glands. |
vulvitis | Inflammation of the vulva. |
vv | veins |
VW | vessel wall |