Medical terms - Letter V (page 7) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Viral hepatitis

Viral hepatitis: Viral hepatitis is liver inflammation caused by viruses. Specific hepatitis viruses have been labeled A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. While other viruses can also cause hepatitis, their primary target is not…
Viral infection

Infection caused by the presence of a virus in the body. Depending on the virus and the person's state of health, various viruses can infect almost any type of body tissue, from the brain to the skin. Viral infections…
Viral myocarditis

See: Myocarditis, viral
Viral particle

See: Virion
Viremia

The presence of a virus in the blood. Viremia is analogous to bacteremia (the presence of bacteria in the blood) and parasitemia (the presence of a parasite in the blood). Viremia, bacteremia and parasitemia are all…
Virginal membrane

A thin membrane which completely or partially occludes the vaginal opening. This fold of mucous membrane is usually present at birth at the orifice of the vagina. In medicine, it is called the vaginal membrane or the…
Virilize

To cause a female to develop male characteristics such as a deepened voice, an increase in body and facial hair, a decrease in breast size, an enlargement of the clitoris, and 'male-pattern' baldness. Background Males…
Virion

A complete virus particle with its DNA or RNA core and protein coat as it exists outside the cell. Also called a viral particle
Virology

The study of viruses
Virtual colonoscopy

Virtual colonoscopy: A method for examining the colon by taking a series of x-rays and then using a computer to reconstruct three-dimensional pictures (a CT scan) of the interior surfaces of the colon from these x-rays…
Virulence

The ability of any agent of infection to produce disease. The virulence of a microorganism (such as a bacterium or virus) is a measure of the severity of the disease it is capable of causing. The adjective virulent…
Virulent

Extremely noxious, damaging, deleterious, disease-causing (pathogenic). Marked by a rapid, severe, and malignant course. Poisonous, venomous. The virulence of a microorganism is a measure of the severity of the disease…
Virus

A microorganism smaller than a bacteria, which cannot grow or reproduce apart from a living cell. A virus invades living cells and uses their chemical machinery to keep itself alive and to replicate itself. It may…
Virus, attenuated

To attenuate is to weaken or to make (or become) thin. The word derives from a combination of the Latin prefix 'ad-,' meaning 'to' or 'toward,' and 'tenuis,' meaning 'thin.' The use of 'attenuate' in medicine is not…
Virus, Coxsackie

See: Coxsackievirus
Virus, Ebola

A notoriously deadly virus that causes fearsome symptoms, the most prominent being high fever and massive internal bleeding. Ebola virus kills as many as 90% of the people it infects. It is one of the viruses that is…
Virus, human immunodeficiency (HIV)

The cause of AIDS. HIV has also been called the human lymphotropic virus type III, the lymphadenopathy- associated virus and the lymphadenopathy virus. No matter what name is applied, it is a retrovirus. (A retrovirus…
Virus, human lymphotropic, type III

Another name for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the cause of AIDS. Please see: Virus, human immunodeficiency.
Virus, human papilloma

JC virus.
Virus, JC

JC virus
Virus, lymphadenopathy

Another name for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the cause of AIDS. Please see: Virus, human immunodeficiency.
Virus, lymphadenopathy-associated

Another name for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the cause of AIDS. Please see: Virus, human immunodeficiency.
Virus, Marburg

See: Negative-strand RNA virus.
Virus, negative-strand RNA

See: Negative-strand RNA virus
Virus, Nipah

A virus that infects pigs and people in whom it causes a sometimes fatal form of viral encephalitis (brain inflammation). Nipah is the name of the first village the virus struck near Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The Nipah…
Virus, positive-strand RNA

See: Positive-strand RNA virus
Virus, pox

See: Orthopox
Virus, respiratory syncytial

A virus that can grow in the cells of a species foreign to the normal host species, a species different from that which normally hosts it. Xeno- means foreign while -tropic refers to growth. So xeno- + -tropic = capable…
Virus, xenotropic

A virus that can grow in the cells of a species foreign to the normal host species, a species different from that which normally hosts it. Xeno- means foreign while -tropic refers to growth. So xeno- + -tropic = capable…
Viruses

Small living particles that can infect cells and change how the cells function. Infection with a virus can cause a person to develop symptoms. The disease and symptoms that are caused depend on the type of virus and the…
Viscera

The internal organs of the body, specifically those within the chest (as the heart or lungs) or abdomen (as the liver, pancreas or intestines). The singular of 'viscera' is 'viscus' meaning in Latin 'an organ of the…
Visceral

Referring to the viscera, the internal organs of the body, specifically those within the chest (as the heart or lungs) or abdomen (as the liver, pancreas or intestines). In a figurative sense, something 'visceral' is…
Visceral leishmaniasis

A chronic and potentially fatal parasitic disease of the viscera (particularly the liver, spleen, bone marrow and lymph nodes) due to infection by Leishmania donovani. Also known as Kala-azar. Leishmania donovani is…
Visceral pericardium

The inner layer of the pericardium, a conical sac of fibrous tissue that surrounds the heart and the roots of the great blood vessels. The pericardium has outer and inner coats. The outer coat is tough and thickened…
Viscus

An internal organ of the body, specifically one within the chest (as the heart or lungs) or abdomen (as the liver, pancreas or intestines). 'Viscus' is the Latin word for 'an organ of the body.' The plural of 'viscus'…
Vision therapy

The use of special eye exercises to address eye defects, such as strabismus. Some vision therapists also claim that eye exercises can help people with neurological or learning disabilities. This approach is not proven…
Vision, binocular

See: Binocular vision
Vision, blurred

See: Blurred vision
Vision, central

See: Central vision
Vision, low

Visual loss that cannot be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses and that interferes with daily living activities
Vision, macular

The macula is a special area in the center of the retina, the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye. As we read, light is focused onto our macula. There, millions of cells change the light into nerve…
Vision, peripheral

See: Peripheral vision
Vision, tubular

See: Tubular vision; Tunnel vision
Vision, tunnel

See: Tunnel vision
Visual acuity

The clarity or clearness of the vision, a measure of how well a person sees. The ability to distinguish details and shapes of objects; also called central vision. The word 'acuity' comes from the Latin 'acuitas' =…
Visual acuity test

This test measures how well you see at various distances. It is the familiar eye chart test. The eye chart itself -- the usual one is called Snellen's chart -- is imprinted with block letters that line-by-line decrease…
Visual contrast sensitivity

The ability to perceive differences between an object and its background
Visual evoked response

VER. A type of electrophysiologic retinal testing done to measure the electrical potential resulting from a visual stimulus
Visual field

The entire area that can be seen when the eye is directed forward, including that which is seen with peripheral vision. The visual field can be tested to measure the extent and distribution of the field of vision. The…
Visual field test

Visual field test: A test which measures the extent and distribution of the field of vision. The visual field test may be done by a number of methods including what are termed confrontation, tangent screen exam and…