Dictionary of Medical Terms 4th Ed

COMMENT: Depending on the source of the bite, venom can have a wide range of effects, from a sore spot after a bee sting, to death from a scorpion. Antivenene will counteract the effects of venom, but is only effective if the animal which gave the bite can be correctly identified.

venomous / venəməs/ adjective referring to an animal which has poison in its bite The cobra is a venomous snake. He was bitten by a venomous spider.

venosus /v nəυsəs/ ductus venosus venous / vi nəs/ adjective referring to the veins

‘…venous air embolism is a potentially fatal complication of percutaneous venous catheterization’ [Southern Medical Journal]

‘…a pad was placed under the Achilles tendon to raise the legs, thus aiding venous return and preventing deep vein thrombosis’ [NATNews]

venous bleeding / vi nəs bli d ŋ/ noun

bleeding from a vein

venous blood / vi nəs bl"d/ noun same as deoxygenated blood

venous haemorrhage / vi nəs hem(ə)r d / noun the escape of blood from a

vein

venous system / vi nəs s stəm/ noun a system of veins which brings blood back to the heart from the tissues

venous thrombosis / vi nəs θrɒm bəυs s/

noun the blocking of a vein by a blood clot venous ulcer / vi nəs "lsə/ noun an ulcer in

the leg, caused by varicose veins or by a blood clot

ventilation / vent le ʃ(ə)n/ noun the act of breathing air in or out of the lungs, so removing waste products from the blood in exchange for oxygen. dead space

ventilator / vent le tə/ noun a machine which pumps air into and out of the lungs of someone who has difficulty in breathing The newborn baby was put on a ventilator. Also

called respirator

ventilatory failure / vent le tri fe ljə/ noun a failure of the lungs to oxygenate the

blood correctly

Ventimask / ventimɑ sk/ a trademark for a

type of oxygen mask

Ventolin / ventəl n/ a trade name for salbutamol

ventouse / ventu s/ noun a cup-like vacuum device attached to the top of an unborn baby’s head in the process of delivery, used to enable a distressed baby to be born quickly

ventral / ventr(ə)l/ adjective 1. referring to the abdomen 2. referring to the front of the body. Opposite dorsal

ventricle / ventr k(ə)l/ noun a cavity in an organ, especially in the heart or brain. See illustration at HEART in Supplement

COMMENT: There are two ventricles in the heart: the left ventricle takes oxygenated

blood from the pulmonary vein through the left atrium, and pumps it into the aorta to circulate round the body; the right ventricle takes blood from the veins through the right atrium, and pumps it into the pulmonary artery to be passed to the lungs to be oxygenated. There are four ventricles in the brain, each containing cerebrospinal fluid. The two lateral ventricles in the cerebral hemispheres contain the choroid processes which produce cerebrospinal fluid. The third ventricle lies in the midline between the two thalami. The fourth ventricle is part of the central canal of the hindbrain.

ventricul- /ventr kjυl/ prefix referring to a ventricle in the brain or heart

ventricular /ven tr kjυlə/ adjective referring

to the ventricles

ventricular fibrillation /ven tr kjυlə fa * br le ʃ(ə)n/ noun a serious heart condition where the ventricular muscles flutter and the heart no longer beats. Abbr VF

ventricular folds /ven tr kjυlə fəυldz/ plural noun same as vocal cords

ventricular septal defect /ven tr kjυlə sept(ə)l d fekt/ noun a condition in which

blood can flow between the two ventricles of the heart, because the intraventricular septum has not developed properly. Abbr VSD. Com-

pare atrial septal defect

ventriculitis / ventr kjυ la t s/ noun inflammation of the brain ventricles

ventriculoatriostomy /ven tr kjυləυ e tri ɒstəmi/ noun an operation to relieve pressure

caused by excessive quantities of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain ventricles ventriculogram /ven tr kjυlə&r m/ noun an X-ray picture of the ventricles of the brain ventriculography / ventr kjυ lɒ&rəfi/ noun a method of taking X-ray pictures of the ventricles of the brain after air has been introduced to replace the cerebrospinal fluid

ventriculo-peritoneal shunt /ventr kjυləυ per tə ni əl ʃ"nt/ noun an artifi-

cial drain used in hydrocephalus to drain cerebrospinal fluid from the ventricles ventriculoscopy /ven tr kjυ lɒskəpi/ noun an examination of the brain using an endoscope

ventriculostomy /ven tr kjυ lɒstəmi/ noun a surgical operation to pass a hollow needle into a ventricle of the brain so as to reduce pressure, take a sample of fluid or enlarge the ventricular opening to prevent the need for a shunt

ventro- /ventrəυ/ prefix 1. ventral 2. referring to the abdomen

ventrofixation / ventrəυf k se ʃ(ə)n/ noun a surgical operation to treat retroversion of the uterus by attaching the uterus to the wall of the abdomen

ventrosuspension / ventrəυsə spenʃən/ noun a surgical operation to treat retroversion of the uterus

Venturi mask /ven tjυəri mɑ sk/ noun a type of disposable mask which gives the person a controlled mixture of oxygen and air

Venturi nebuliser /ven tjυəri nebjυla zə/ noun a type of nebuliser which is used in aerosol therapy

venule / venju l/ noun a small vein or vessel leading from tissue to a larger vein

verapamil /və r pəm l/ noun a synthetic compound which helps to prevent the movement of calcium ions across membranes. It is used in the treatment of angina pectoris, hypertension and irregular heartbeat.

verbigeration / v! b d ə re ʃ(ə)n/ noun a condition seen in people with mental disorders, in which they keep saying the same words over and over again

vermicide / v! m sa d/ noun a substance which kills worms in the intestine

vermiform / v! m fɔ m/ adjective shaped like a worm

vermiform appendix / v! m fɔ m ə pend ks/ noun same as appendix 1

vermifuge / v! m fju d / noun a substance which removes worms from the intestine

vermillion border /və m liən bɔ də/ noun the external red parts of the lips

vermis / v! m s/ noun the central part of the cerebellum, which forms the top of the fourth ventricle

vermix / v! m ks/ noun a vermiform appendix

vernix caseosa / v! n ks ke si əυsə/ noun an oily substance which covers a baby’s skin at birth

verruca /və ru kə/ noun a small hard harmless growth on the sole of the foot, caused by a virus (NOTE: Verrucas are a type of wart. The plural is verrucas or verrucae.)

version / v! ʃ(ə)n/ noun the procedure of turning a fetus in a uterus so as to put it in a better position for birth

vertebra / v! t brə/ noun one of twenty-four ring-shaped bones which link together to form the backbone. See illustration at

NOUS JOINT in Supplement (NOTE: The plural is vertebrae.)

COMMENT: The top vertebra (the atlas) supports the skull; the first seven vertebrae in the neck are the cervical vertebrae; then follow the twelve thoracic or dorsal vertebrae which are behind the chest and five lumbar vertebrae in the lower part of the back. The sacrum and coccyx are formed of five sacral vertebrae and four coccygeal vertebrae which have fused together.

vertebral / v! t brəl/ adjective referring to the vertebrae

vertebral artery / v! t brəl ɑ təri/ noun one of two arteries which go up the back of the neck into the brain

vertebral canal / v! t brəl kə n l/ noun

same as spinal canal

vertebral column / v! t brəl kɒləm/ noun the series of bones and discs linked together to form a flexible column running from the base of the skull to the pelvis. Also called backbone, spinal column. See illustration at PELVIS in Supplement

vertebral disc / v! t brəl d sk/ noun same

as intervertebral disc

vertebral foramen / v! t brəl fə re mən/ noun a hole in the centre of a vertebra which links with others to form the vertebral canal

through which the spinal cord passes vertebral ganglion / v! təbrəl & ŋ&liən/

noun a ganglion in front of the origin of the vertebral artery

vertebro-basilar insufficiency / v! t brəυb z lə nsə f ʃənsi/ noun a brainstem ischae-

mia due to temporary occlusion of the arteries vertex / v! teks/ noun the top of the skull vertex delivery / v! teks d l v(ə)ri/ noun a

normal birth, where the baby’s head appears first

vertigo / v! t &əυ/ noun 1. feelings of dizziness or giddiness caused by a malfunction of the sense of balance 2. a fear of heights, as a result of a sensation of dizziness which is felt when high up, especially on a tall building

She won’t sit near the window – she suffers from vertigo.

very low density lipoprotein / veri ləυdensəti l pəυ prəυti n/ noun a fat produced

by the liver after food has been absorbed and before it becomes low density lipoprotein. Abbr VLDL

vesical / ves k(ə)l/ adjective referring to the bladder

vesicant / ves kənt/ noun a substance which

makes the skin blister. Also called epispastic vesicle / ves k(ə)l/ noun 1. a small blister on

the skin, e.g. caused by eczema 2. a sac which contains liquid

vesico- /ves kəυ/ prefix referring to the urinary bladder

vesicofixation / ves kəυf k se ʃ(ə)n/ noun

same as cystopexy

vesicostomy / ves kɒstəmi/, vesicotomy /

ves kɒtəmi/ noun same as cystostomy

vesicoureteric reflux / ves kəυjυərter k ri fl"ks/ noun the flowing of urine

back from the bladder up the ureters during urination, which may carry infection from the bladder to the kidneys. Also called vesicouret-

ic reflux

vesicouretic / ves kəυjυ ret k/ adjective relating to the urinary bladder and the ureters vesicouretic reflux / ves kəυjυ ret k

ri fl"ks/ noun same as vesicoureteric reflux vesicovaginal / ves kəυvə d a n(ə)l/ ad-

jective referring to the bladder and the vagina

vesicovaginal fistula / ves kəυvə d a n(ə)l f stjυlə/ noun an unusual opening between

the bladder and the vagina

vesicular /və s kjυlə/ adjective referring to a

vesicle

vesicular breathing /və s kjυlə bri ð ŋ/,

vesicular breath sound /və s kjυlə breθ saυnd/ plural noun the sound made during the

normal breathing process

vesiculation /və s kjυ le ʃ(ə)n/ noun the

formation of blisters on the skin vesiculectomy / ves kjυ lektəmi/ noun a

surgical operation to remove a seminal vesicle vesiculitis /və s kjυ la t s/ noun inflamma-

tion of the seminal vesicles vesiculography /və s kjυ lɒ&rəfi/ noun an

X-ray examination of the seminal vesicles vesiculopapular /və s kjυləυ p pjυlə/

adjective referring to a skin disorder which has

both blisters and papules

vesiculopustular /və s kjυləυ p"stjυlə/ adjective referring to a skin disorder which has both blisters and pustules

vessel / ves(ə)l/ noun 1. a tube in the body along which liquid flows, especially a blood vessel 2. a container for fluids

vestibular /ve st bjυlə/ adjective referring to a vestibule, especially the vestibule of the in-

ner ear

vestibular folds /ve st bjυlə fəυldz/ plural noun folds in the larynx above the vocal folds, which are not used for speech. Also called

false vocal cords

vestibular glands /ve st bjυlə &l ndz/ plural noun the glands at the point where the vagina and vulva join, which secrete a lubri-

cating substance

vestibular nerve /ve st bjυlə n! v/ noun the part of the auditory nerve which carries in-

formation about balance to the brain vestibule / vest bju l/ noun a cavity in the

body at the entrance to an organ, especially the first cavity in the inner ear or the space in the larynx above the vocal cords or a nostril. See

illustration at EAR in Supplement

vestibulocochlear nerve /ves t bjυləυ kɒkliə n! v/ noun the eighth cranial nerve

which governs hearing and balance. Also

called acoustic nerve, auditory nerve vestigial /ves t d iəl/ adjective existing in a

rudimentary form The coccyx is a vestigial tail.

VF abbr ventricular fibrillation in VF referring to someone whose heart is no longer able to beat

viability / va ə b l ti/ noun the fact of being viable The viability of the fetus before the 22nd week is doubtful.

viable / va əb(ə)l/ adjective referring to a fetus which can survive if born A fetus is viable by about the 28th week of pregnancy.

Viagra /va &rə/ a trade name for sildenafil citrate

vial / va əl/ noun same as phial

Vibramycin / va brə ma s n/ a trade name for doxycycline

vibrate /va bre t/ verb to move rapidly and continuously

vibration /va bre ʃ(ə)n/ noun rapid and continuous movement Speech is formed by the vibrations of the vocal cords.

vibration white finger /va bre ʃ(ə)n wa t f ŋ&ə/ noun a condition caused by longterm use of a chain saw or pneumatic drill, which affects the circulation in the fingers vibrator /va bre tə/ noun a device to produce vibrations, which may be used for mas-

sages

Vibrio / v briəυ/ noun a genus of Gram-nega- tive bacteria which are found in water and cause cholera

vibrissae /va br si / plural noun hairs in the

nostrils or ears

vicarious /v keəriəs/ adjective done by one

organ or agent in place of another

vicarious menstruation /v keəriəs men stru e ʃ(ə)n/ noun the discharge of blood oth-

er than by the vagina during menstrual periods victim / v kt m/ noun a person who is injured in an accident or who has caught a disease

The victims of the rail crash were taken to the local hospital. to fall victim to something to become a victim of or to experience bad effects from something Half the people eating at the restaurant fell victim to salmonella poisoning.

vigour / v &ə/ noun a combination of positive attributes expressed in rapid growth, large size, high fertility and long life in an organism

(NOTE: The US spelling is vigor.)

villous / v ləs/ adjective shaped like a villus, or formed of villi

villus / v ləs/ noun a tiny projection like a finger on the surface of a mucous membrane

(NOTE: The plural is villi.)

vinblastine /v n bl sti n/ noun an alkaloid drug used in the treatment of cancer vincristine /v n kr sti n/ noun an alkaloid drug similar to vinblastine, also used in the treatment of cancer. It works by blocking cell

division and is highly toxic.

vinculum / v ŋkjυləm/ noun a thin connect-

ing band of tissue (NOTE: The plural is vincula.) violent / va ələnt/ adjective very strong, very

severe He had a violent headache. Her re-

action to the injection was violent.

violently / va ələntli/ adverb in a strong way

He reacted violently to the antihistamine. violet / va ələt/ noun a dark, purplish blue colour at the end of the visible spectrum viraemia /va ri miə/ noun a virus in the blood (NOTE: The US spelling is viremia.)

viral / va rəl/ adjective caused by a virus, or referring to a virus

viral hepatitis noun same as serum hepatitis viral infection / va rəl n fekʃən/ noun an infection caused by a virus

viral pneumonia / va rəl nju məυniə/ noun a type of inflammation of the lungs caused by a virus. Also called virus pneumonia

virgin / v! d n/ noun a female who has not experienced sexual intercourse

virginity /və d n ti/ noun the condition of a female who has not experienced sexual intercourse

virile / v ra l/ adjective like a man, with strong male characteristics

virilisation / v r la ze ʃ(ə)n/, virilization noun the development of male characteristics in a woman, caused by a hormone imbalance or therapy

virilism / v r l z(ə)m/ noun male characteristics such as body hair and a deep voice in a woman

virology /va rɒləd i/ noun the scientific study of viruses

virulence / v rυləns/ noun 1. the ability of a microorganism to cause a disease 2. the degree of effect of a disease

virulent / v rυlənt/ adjective 1. referring to the ability of a microorganism to cause a disease an unusually virulent strain of the virus

2. referring to a disease which develops rapidly and has strong effects

virus / va rəs/ noun a parasite consisting of a nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat that can only develop in other cells. Viruses cause many diseases including the common cold, AIDS, herpes and polio. (NOTE: Antibiotics have no effect on viruses, but effective vaccines have been developed for some viral diseases.) virus pneumonia noun same as viral pneumonia

viscera / v sərə/ plural noun the internal organs, e.g. the heart, lungs, stomach and intestines

visceral / v sərəl/ adjective referring to the internal organs

visceral larva migrans / v sərəl lɑ və

ma &r nz/ noun same as toxocariasis visceral muscle / v sərəl m"s(ə)l/ noun a smooth muscle in the wall of the intestine which makes the intestine contract

visceral pericardium / v sərəl peri kɑ diəm/ noun the inner layer of serous pericardium, attached to the wall of the heart visceral peritoneum / v sərəl per təυ ni əm/ noun part of the peritoneum which covers the organs in the abdominal cavity visceral pleura / v sərəl plυərə/ noun a membrane attached to the surface of a lung. See illustration at LUNGS in Supplement

visceral pouch / v sərəl paυtʃ/ noun same as pharyngeal pouch

viscero- /v sərəυ/ prefix relating to the viscera

visceromotor / v sərə məυtə/ adjective controlling the movement of viscera

visceroptosis / v sərə təυs s/ noun a movement of an internal organ downwards from its usual position

visceroreceptor / v sərəυr septə/ noun a receptor cell which reacts to stimuli from organs such as the stomach, heart and lungs

viscid / v s d/ adjective referring to a liquid which is sticky and slow-moving

viscosity /v skɒs ti/ noun the state of a liquid which moves slowly

viscous / v skəs/ adjective referring to a liquid which is thick and slow-moving

viscus / v skəs/ viscera

visible / v z b(ə)l/ adjective able to be seen

There were no visible symptoms of the disease.

vision / v (ə)n/ noun the ability to see, eyesight After the age of 50, many people’s vision begins to fail.

vision centre / v (ə)n sentə/ noun the point in the brain where the nerves relating to the eye come together

visit / v z t/ noun 1. a short stay with someone, especially to comfort a patient The patient is too weak to have any visits. He is allowed visits of ten minutes only. 2. a short stay with a professional person They had a visit from the district nurse. She paid a visit to the chiropodist. On the patient’s last visit to the physiotherapy unit, nurses noticed a great improvement in her walking. verb to stay a short time with someone I am going to visit my brother in hospital. She was visited by the health visitor.

visiting times / v z t ŋ ta mz/ plural noun the times of day when friends are allowed into a hospital to visit patients

visitor / v z tə/ noun a person who visits

Visitors are allowed into the hospital on Sunday afternoons. How many visitors did you have this week?

visual / v υəl/ adjective referring to sight or vision

visual acuity / v υəl ə kju ti/ noun the ability to see objects clearly

visual area / v υəl eəriə/ noun the part of the cerebral cortex which is concerned with sight

visual axis / v υəl ks s/ noun the line between the object on which the eye focuses, and the fovea

visual cortex / v uəl kɔ teks/ noun the part of the cerebral cortex which receives information about sight

visual field / v υəl fi l-d/ noun the area which can be seen without moving the eye. Also called field of vision

visualisation / v uəla ze ʃ(ə)n/, visualization noun 1. a technique in which an image of an internal organ or other part of the body is produced by using X-rays or other means such as magnetic resonance imaging 2. a technique in which someone creates a strongly positive mental picture of something such as the way in which they would like to solve a problem, in order to help them cope with it

visually impaired / v υəli m peəd/ adjective having difficulty in seeing because of an eye condition

visually impaired person / v υəli mpeəd p! s(ə)n/ noun a person whose eye-

sight is not clear

visual purple / v υəl p! p(ə)l/ noun same as rhodopsin

vitae / va ti / arbor vitae

vital / va t(ə)l/ adjective very important or necessary for life If circulation is stopped, vital nerve cells begin to die in a few minutes.Oxygen is vital to the human system.

vital capacity / va t(ə)l kə p s ti/ noun the largest amount of air which a person can exhale at one time

vital centre / va t(ə)l sentə/ noun a group of nerve cells in the brain which govern a particular function of the body such as the five senses

vital organs / va t(ə)l ɔ &ənz/ plural noun the most important organs in the body, without which a human being cannot live, e.g. the heart, lungs and brain

vital signs / va t(ə)l sa nz/ plural noun measurements of pulse, breathing and temperature

vital statistics / va t(ə)l stə t st ks/ plural noun a set of official statistics relating to the population of a place, such as the percentage of live births per thousand, the incidence of particular diseases and the numbers of births and deaths

vitamin / v təm n/ noun an essential substance not synthesised in the body, but found in most foods, and needed for good health

Vitamin A / v təm n e / noun a vitamin which is soluble in fat and can be formed in the body from precursors but is mainly found in food such as liver, vegetables, eggs and cod liver oil. Also called retinol

COMMENT: Lack of Vitamin A affects the body’s growth and resistance to disease and can cause night blindness or xerophthalmia. Carotene (the yellow substance in carrots) is a precursor of Vitamin A, which accounts for the saying that eating carrots helps you to see in the dark.

Vitamin B1 / v təm n bi w"n/ noun a vitamin found in yeast, liver, cereals and pork.

Also called thiamine

Vitamin B2 / v təm n bi tu / noun a vitamin found in eggs, liver, green vegetables, milk and yeast. Also called riboflavine

Vitamin B6 / v təm n bi s ks/ noun a vitamin found in meat, cereals and molasses. Also called pyridoxine

Vitamin B12 / v təm n bi twelv/ noun a vitamin found in liver and kidney, but not

present in vegetables. Also called cyanoco-

balamin

Vitamin B complex / v təm n bi kɒm* pleks/ noun a group of vitamins such as folic

acid, riboflavine and thiamine

Vitamin C / v təm n si / noun a vitamin which is soluble in water and is found in fresh fruit, especially oranges and lemons, raw vegetables and liver. Also called ascorbic acid

Vitamin D / v təm n di / noun a vitamin which is soluble in fat and is found in butter, eggs and fish. It is also produced by the skin when exposed to sunlight. It helps in the formation of bones, and lack of it causes rickets

in children.

vitamin deficiency / v təm n d f ʃ(ə)nsi/ noun a lack of necessary vitamins He is suffering from Vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy.

Vitamin E / v təm n i / noun a vitamin found in vegetables, vegetable oils, eggs and

wholemeal bread

Vitamin K / v təm n ke / noun a vitamin found in green vegetables such as spinach and cabbage, and which helps the clotting of blood and is needed to activate prothrombin vitelline sac /v tela n s k/ noun a sac attached to an embryo, where the blood cells

first form

vitellus /v teləs/ noun the yolk of an egg (ovum)

vitiligo / v ti la &əυ/ noun a condition in which white patches appear on the skin. Also called leucoderma

vitrectomy /v trektəmi/ noun a surgical operation to remove some or all of the vitreous humour of the eye

vitreous / v triəs/ adjective 1. having the characteristics of glass 2. relating to the vitreous humour of the eye

vitreous body / v triəs bɒdi/ noun same as vitreous humour

vitreous detachment / v triəs d t tʃmənt/ noun the separation of the vitreous

humour from the retina, often due to natural ageing when the vitreous humour thins, but also occurring in other conditions such as diabetes

vitreous humour / v triəs hju mə/ noun a transparent jelly which fills the main cavity

behind the lens in the eye. See illustration at EYE in Supplement

vitritis /v tra t s/ noun same as hyalitis vitro / vi triəυ/ in vitro

Vitus / va təs/ St Vitus’s dance viviparous /v v pərəs/ adjective referring to animals which bear live young, such as humans, as opposed to birds and reptiles which

lay eggs

vivisection / v v sekʃən/ noun the act of dissecting a living animal as an experiment vocal / vəυk(ə)l/ adjective referring to the

voice

vocal cords / vəυk(ə)l kɔ dz/ plural noun a pair of fibrous sheets of tissue which span the cavity of the voice box (larynx) and produce sounds by vibrating. Also called ventricular

folds

vocal folds / vəυk(ə)l fəυldz/ plural noun

same as vocal cords

vocal folds abducted / vəυk(ə)l fəυldz əb d"kt d/ noun the usual condition of the vocal

cords in quiet breathing

vocal folds adducted / vəυk(ə)l fəυldz ə d"kt d/ noun the position of the vocal cords

for speaking

vocal fremitus / vəυk(ə)l frem təs/ noun a vibration of the chest when a person speaks or

coughs

vocal ligament / vəυk(ə)l l &əmənt/ noun

a ligament in the centre of the vocal cords vocal resonance / vəυk(ə)l rezənəns/

noun a sound heard by a doctor when he or she listens through a stethoscope to the chest while a person is speaking

voice /vɔ s/ noun the sound made when a person speaks or sings to lose one’s voice not to be able to speak because of a throat infection

his voice has broken his voice has become

deeper and adult, with the onset of puberty voice box / vɔ s bɒks/ noun the larynx, a

hollow organ containing the vocal cords at the back of the throat, which produces sounds volar / vəυlə/ adjective referring to the palm

of the hand or sole of the foot

volatile / vɒləta l/ adjective referring to a liq-

uid which turns into gas at room temperature volatile oils / vɒləta l ɔ lz/ plural noun con-

centrated oils from plants used in cosmetics and as antiseptics

volitantes /vɒl t nti z/ muscae volitantes

volition /və l ʃ(ə)n/ noun the ability to use

the will

Volkmann’s canal / fɒlkmɑ nz kə n l/ noun a canal running horizontally through compact bone, carrying blood to the Haversian systems [After Richard von Volkmann (1830–

89), German surgeon]

Volkmann’s contracture / fɒlkmɑ nz kəntr ktʃə/ noun a fibrosis and tightening of the

muscles of the forearm because blood supply has been restricted, leading to contraction of the fingers

volsella /vɒl selə/ noun a type of surgical forceps with claw-like hooks at the end of each arm. Also called vulsella

volume / vɒlju m/ noun an amount of a substance

voluntary / vɒlənt(ə)ri/ adjective done because one wishes to do it

voluntary admission / vɒlənt(ə)ri əd m ʃ(ə)n/ noun the process of taking someone into a psychiatric hospital with the person’s consent

voluntary movement / vɒlənt(ə)ri mu vmənt/ noun a movement directed by the

person’s willpower, using voluntary muscles, e.g. walking or speaking

voluntary muscle / vɒlənt(ə)ri m"s(ə)l/ noun a muscle which is consciously controlled. It is usually made up of striated fibres.

COMMENT: Voluntary muscles work in pairs, where one contracts and pulls, while the other relaxes to allow the bone to move.

volunteer / vɒlən t ə/ noun a person who offers to do something for free, without being paid The hospital relies on volunteers to help with sports for disabled children. They are asking for volunteers to test the new cold cure. verb to offer to do something for free

The research team volunteered to test the new drug on themselves.

volvulus / vɒlvjυləs/ noun a condition in which a loop of intestine is twisted and blocked, so cutting off its blood supply vomer / vəυmə/ noun a thin flat vertical bone in the septum of the nose

vomica / vɒm kə/ noun 1. a cavity in the lungs containing pus 2. the act of vomiting pus from the throat or lungs

vomit / vɒm t/ noun partly digested food which has been brought up from the stomach into the mouth His bed was covered with vomit. She died after choking on her own vomit. Also called vomitus verb to bring up partly digested food from the stomach into the mouth He had a fever, and then started to vomit. She vomited her breakfast.

vomiting / vɒm t ŋ/ noun the act of bringing up vomit into the mouth. Also called emesis

vomitus / vɒm təs/ noun same as vomit

von Hippel-Lindau syndrome /vɒnh p(ə)l l ndaυ s ndrəυm/ noun a disease in

which angiomas of the brain are related to angiomas and cysts in other parts of the body

von Recklinghausen’s disease / vɒn rekl ŋhaυz(ə)nz d zi z/ noun 1. same as

neurofibromatosis 2. same as osteitis fibrosis cystica [Described 1882. After Friedrich Daniel von Recklinghausen (1833–1910), Professor of Pathology at Strasbourg, France.]

von Willebrand’s disease / vɒn v l br ndz d zi z/ noun a hereditary blood disease, occurring in both sexes, in which the mucous membrane starts to bleed without any apparent reason. It is caused by a deficiency of a clotting factor in the blood, called von Willebrand’s factor. [Described 1926. After E. A. von Willebrand (1870–1949), Finnish physician.] von Willebrand’s factor / vɒn v l br ndz f ktə/ noun a protein substance in

plasma involved in platelet aggregation voyeurism / vwa ! r z(ə)m/ noun a condi-

tion in which a person experiences sexual pleasure by watching others having intercourse

VSD abbr ventricular septal defect vu /vu / déjà vu

vulgaris /v"l &eər s/ lupus vulgaris vulnerable / v"ln(ə)rəb(ə)l/ adjective likely to catch a disease because of being in a weak-

ened state Premature babies are especially vulnerable to infection.

vulsella /v"l selə/, vulsellum /v"l seləm/ noun same as volsella

vulv- /v"lv/ prefix referring to the vulva (used

before vowels)

vulva / v"lvə/ noun a woman’s external sexual organs, at the opening leading to the vagina.

kraurosis vulvae (NOTE: For other terms referring to the vulva, see words beginning with epi- si-.)

COMMENT: The vulva is formed of folds (the labia), surrounding the clitoris and the entrance to the vagina.

vulvectomy /v"l vektəmi/ noun a surgical operation to remove the vulva

vulvitis /v"l va t s/ noun inflammation of the vulva, causing intense irritation vulvovaginitis / v"lvəυv d na t s/ noun inflammation of the vulva and vagina

wad /wɒd/ noun a pad of material used to put on a wound The nurse put a wad of absorbent cotton over the sore.

wadding / wɒd ŋ/ noun material used to make a wad Put a layer of cotton wadding over the eye.

waist /we st/ noun the narrow part of the body below the chest and above the buttocks

wait /we t/ verb to stay somewhere until something happens or someone arrives He has been waiting for his operation for six months. There are ten patients waiting to see Dr Smith.

waiting list / we t ŋ l st/ noun a list of people waiting for admission to hospital usually for treatment of non-urgent disorders The length of waiting lists for non-emergency surgery varies enormously from one region to another. It is hoped that hospital waiting lists will get shorter.

waiting room / we t ŋ ru m/ noun a room at a doctor’s or dentist’s surgery where people wait Please sit in the waiting room – the doctor will see you in ten minutes.

waiting time / we t ŋ ta m/ noun the period between the time when someone’s name has been put on the waiting list and his or her admission into hospital

wake /we k/ verb 1. to interrupt someone’s sleep The nurse woke the patient. or The patient was woken by the nurse. 2. to stop sleeping The patient had to be woken to have his injection. (NOTE: waking – woke – woken)

wakeful / we kf(ə)l/ adjective wide awake, not wanting to sleep

wakefulness / we kfυlnəs/ noun the condition of being wide awake

wake up / we k "p/ verb to stop sleeping, or stop someone sleeping The old man woke up in the middle of the night and started calling for the nurse.

Waldeyer’s ring / vɑ lda əz r ŋ/ noun a ring of lymphoid tissue made by the tonsils and adenoid [Described 1884. After Heinrich Wilhelm Gottfried Waldeyer-Hartz (1836–1921), German anatomist.]

walk /wɔ k/ verb to go on foot The baby is learning to walk. He walked when he was only eleven months old. She can walk a few

steps with a Zimmer frame.

walking distance / wɔ k ŋ d stəns/ noun the distance which someone can walk before they experience pain in their muscles, which shows the effectiveness of the blood supply to their legs

walking frame / wɔ k ŋ fre m/ noun a metal frame used by people who have difficulty in walking. Zimmer frame

wall /wɔ l/ noun the side part of an organ or a passage in the body An ulcer formed in the wall of the duodenum. The doctor made an incision in the abdominal wall. They removed a fibroma from the wall of the uterus or from the uterine wall.

wall eye / wɔ l a /, walleye noun an eye which is very pale or which is squinting so

strongly that only the white sclera is visible

Wangensteen tube / w ŋ&ənsti n tju b/ noun a tube which is passed into the stomach to remove the stomach’s contents by suction

[Described 1832. After Owen Harding Wangensteen (1898–1980), US surgeon.]

ward /wɔ d/ noun a room or set of rooms in a hospital, with beds for the patients He is in Ward 8B. The children’s ward is at the end

of the corridor.

ward manager / wɔ d m n d ə/ noun a nurse in charge of a ward

ward nurse / wɔ d n! s/ noun a nurse who

works in a hospital ward

ward sister / wɔ d s stə/ noun a senior nurse in charge of a ward

warfarin / wɔ f(ə)r n/ noun a colourless crystalline compound used to help prevent the blood clotting

warm /wɔ m/ adjective quite hot, pleasantly hot The patients need to be kept warm in cold weather.

warn /wɔ n/ verb to tell someone that a danger is possible The children were warned about the dangers of solvent abuse. The doctors warned her that her husband would not live more than a few weeks.

warning / wɔ n ŋ/ noun written or spoken information about a danger There’s a warning on the bottle of medicine, saying that it should be kept away from children. Each packet of cigarettes has a government health warning printed on it. The health department has given out warnings about the danger of hypothermia.

wart /wɔ t/ noun a small hard harmless growth on the skin, usually on the hands, feet or face, caused by a virus (NOTE: Warts on the feet are called verrucas.)

washbasin / wɒʃbe s(ə)n/ noun a bowl in a kitchen or bathroom where you can wash your hands

washout / wɒʃaυt/ noun a thorough cleaning with a liquid, especially water

Wassermann reaction / wɒsəm n rkʃ(ə)n/, Wassermann test / wɒsəm n

test/ noun a blood serum test to see if someone has syphilis. Abbr WR [Described 1906. After August Paul von Wassermann (1866–1925), German bacteriologist.]

waste /we st/ adjective referring to material or matter which is useless The veins take blood containing waste carbon dioxide back into the lungs. Waste matter is excreted in the faeces or urine. verb to use more of something than is needed The hospital kitchens try not to waste a lot of food.

waste away / we st ə we / verb to become thinner When he caught the disease he simply wasted away.

waste product / we st prɒd"kt/ noun a substance which is not needed in the body and is excreted in urine or faeces

wasting / we st ŋ/ noun a condition in which a person or a limb loses weight and becomes thin

wasting disease / we st ŋ d zi z/ noun a disease which causes severe loss of weight or reduction in size of an organ

water / wɔ tə/ noun 1. the liquid essential to life which makes up a large part of the body

Can I have a glass of water please? They suffered dehydration from lack of water. water on the knee fluid in the knee joint under the kneecap, caused by a blow on the knee 2. urine (informal) He passed a lot of water during the night. She noticed blood streaks in her water. The nurse asked him to give a sample of his water. plural noun waters the fluid in the amnion in which a fetus floats

(informal) Also called amniotic fluid verb (of the eyes) to fill with tears or saliva (NOTE: For other terms referring to water, see words beginning with hydr-, hydro-.)

COMMENT: Since the body is formed of about 50% water, the average adult needs to drink about 2.5 litres (5 pints) of fluid each day. Water taken into the body is passed out again as urine or sweat.

water balance / wɔ tə b ləns/ noun a state where the water lost by the body, e.g. in urine or sweat, is made up by water absorbed from food and drink

water bed / wɔ tə bed/ noun a mattress made of a large heavy plastic bag filled with water, used to prevent bedsores

waterbrash / wɔ təbr ʃ/ noun a condition caused by dyspepsia, in which there is a burning feeling in the stomach and the mouth sud-

denly fills with acid saliva

water-hammer pulse / wɔ tə h mə p"ls/ noun same as Corrigan’s pulse

Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome /

wɔ təhaυs fri dər ksən s ndrəυm/ noun a condition caused by blood poisoning with meningococci, in which the tissues of the adrenal glands die and haemorrhage [Described 1911 by Rupert Waterhouse (1873–1958), physician at Bath, UK; described 1918 by Carl Friderichsen (b. 1886), Danish physician] watering eye / wɔ tər ŋ a / noun an eye

which fills with tears because of an irritation waterproof / wɔ təpru f/ adjective not al-

lowing water through Put a waterproof sheet on the baby’s bed.

water sac / wɔ tə s k/ noun amnion

Waterston’s operation / wɔ təstənzɒpəre ʃ(ə)n/ noun a surgical operation to

treat Fallot’s tetralogy, in which the right pulmonary artery is joined to the ascending aorta

[After David James Waterston (1910–85), paediatric surgeon in London, UK]

waterworks / wɔ təw! ks/ plural noun same as urinary system (informal)

watery / wɔ t(ə)ri/ adjective liquid, like water

He passed some watery stools.

Watson-Crick helix / wɒts(ə)n kr khi l ks/ noun a molecular model for DNA in which the organic base pairs are linked by hydrogen bonds which form the rungs of a ladder spiralling in the form of a helix

Watson knife / wɒtsən na f/ noun a type of very sharp surgical knife for skin transplants

wax /w ks/ noun a soft yellow substance produced by bees or made from petroleum

WBC abbr white blood cell

weak /wi k/ adjective not strong After his illness he was very weak. She is too weak to dress herself. He is allowed to drink weak tea or coffee.

weaken / wi kən/ verb to make something or someone weak, or become weak He was weakened by the disease and could not resist further infection. The swelling is caused by a weakening of the wall of the artery. weakness / wi knəs/ noun the fact of lacking strength The doctor noticed the weakness of the patient’s pulse.

weak pulse / wi k p"ls/ noun a pulse which is not strong, which is not easy to feel

weal /wi l/ noun a small area of skin which swells because of a sharp blow or an insect bite wean /wi n/ verb to make a baby stop breastfeeding and take other liquid or solid food, or to make a baby start to eat solid food after having only had liquids to drink The baby was breastfed for two months and then was gradually weaned onto the bottle.

wear /weə/ verb to become damaged through being used The cartilage of the knee was worn from too much exercise. (NOTE: wearing –

wore – worn)

wear and tear / weər ən teə/ noun the normal use which affects an organ A heart has to stand a lot of wear and tear. The wear and tear of a strenuous job has begun to affect his heart.

wear off / weər ɒf/ verb to disappear gradually The effect of the painkiller will wear off after a few hours. He started to open his eyes, as the anaesthetic wore off.

webbing / web ŋ/ noun the condition of having an extra membrane of skin joining two structures in the body together

Weber-Christian disease / ve bə kr stʃən d zi z/ noun a type of panniculitis

where the liver and spleen become enlarged

[After Frederick Parkes Weber (1863–1962), British physician; Henry Asbury Christian

(1876–1951), US physician]

Weber’s test / ve bəz test/ noun a test to see if both ears hear correctly, where a tuning fork is struck and the end placed on the head [After Friedrich Eugen Weber-Liel (1832–91), German otologist]

web space / web spe s/ noun the soft tissue

between the bases of the fingers and toes

Wechsler scales / vekslə ske lz/ plural noun a set of standardised scales for measuring someone’s IQ. There are three separate versions developed for different age groups. wee /wi / verb same as urinate (informal) weep /wi p/ verb 1. to cry 2. (of a wound) to ooze fluid

Wegener’s granulomatosis / ve&ənəz&r njυləυmə təυs s/ noun a disease of con-

nective tissue, where the nasal passages, lungs and kidneys are inflamed and ulcerated, with formation of granulomas. It is usually fatal. weigh /we / verb 1. to measure how heavy something is The nurse weighed the baby on the scales. 2. to have a particular weight She weighed seven pounds (3.5 kilos) at birth. A woman weighs less than a man of similar height. The doctor asked him how much he weighed. I weigh 120 pounds or I weigh 54 kilos.

weight /we t/ noun 1. how heavy someone or something is What’s the patient’s weight? her weight is only 105 pounds she weighs only 105 pounds to lose weight to get thinner She’s trying to lose weight before she

goes on holiday. to put on weight to become fatter He’s put on a lot of weight in the last few months. to gain in weight to become fatter or heavier 2. something which is heavy

Don’t lift heavy weights, you may hurt your back.

weight gain / we t &e n/ noun the fact of becoming fatter or heavier

weight loss / we t lɒs/ noun the fact of losing weight or of becoming thinner Weight loss can be a symptom of certain types of can-

cer.

Weil-Felix reaction / va l fe l ks rkʃən/, Weil-Felix test / va l fe l ks test/

noun a test to see if someone has typhus, in which the person’s serum is tested for antibodies against Proteus vulgaris [Described 1916. After Edmund Weil (1880–1922) Austrian physician and bacteriologist; Arthur Felix (1887– 1956), British bacteriologist.]

Weil’s disease / va lz d zi z/ noun same as leptospirosis [Described 1886. After Adolf Weil (1848–1916), physician in Estonia who also

practised in Wiesbaden, Germany.]

welder’s flash / weldəz fl ʃ/ noun a condition in which the eye is badly damaged by very

bright light

welfare / welfeə/ noun 1. good health, good living conditions They look after the welfare of the old people in the town. 2. money paid by the government to people who need it He exists on welfare payments.

well /wel/ adjective healthy He’s not a well man. You’re looking very well after your holiday. He’s quite well again after his flu.She’s not very well, and has had to stay in

bed.

well-baby clinic / wel be bi kl n k/ noun a clinic where parents can ask a doctor or nurse any questions they have about their child’s growth and development. Their babies can be weighed and measured and their development monitored.

wellbeing / wel bi ŋ/ noun the state of being in good health and having good living conditions She is responsible for the wellbeing

of the patients under her care.

well-man clinic / wel m n kl n k/ noun a clinic just for men where they can get check-

ups, advice and health information well-woman clinic / wel wυmən kl n k/

noun a clinic which specialises in preventive medicine for women, e.g. breast screening and cervical smear tests, and gives advice on pregnancy, contraception and the menopause wen /wen/ noun a cyst which forms in a sebaceous gland

Werdnig-Hoffmann disease / v! dn & hɒfmən d zi z/ noun a disease in which the

spinal muscles atrophy, making the muscles of the shoulders, arms and legs weak. In its most severe form, infants are born floppy, have