Category: V

A variety of examinations used to determine how well a person can see. Vision tests are often combined with a physical examination of the eye. Vision tests check for visual acuity (the sharpness of vision), refraction (which determines the correct prescription for glasses or contact lenses), blind spots, color perception, and visual field (the total…

Recurring inflammation of the external genitals in females. The most common symptoms are a burning sensation around the opening of the vagina and extreme pain during sexual intercourse. Some women find it painful to insert tampons. Vestibulitis often disappears suddenly and then reappears a few months later. It can become chronic and persistent. The most…

A greasy, white coating on the skin of newborns. The vernix protects the skin of the fetus inside the uterus. A greasy, white coating covering the skin of the newborn. The vernix protects the skin of the fetus while inside the uterus. The white, cheesy-like substance that covers the skin of a newborn infant. It…

A heart rhythm abnormality in which the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart) contract before the atria (the upper chambers of the heart); also known as premature ventricular contractions. Some people with the condition experience it as a wildly fast, galloping heartbeat (palpitations), which can be frightening and startling. Other people have no noticeable…

A condition in which a person has lost cognitive neurological function and awareness but retains noncognitive (automatic) functions and a sleep-wake cycle. A persistent vegetative state sometimes follows a COMA. The prognosis depends on the nature and cause of the neurological damage. Some people regain a certain amount of awareness after a vegetative state. Others…

Surgery performed on the blood vessels. Examples include carotid endarterectomy and thrombectomy. A specialized field of medicine focused on the surgical correction of blood vessel disorders or injuries.  

A condition in which the top of the vagina loses its support and drops, usually following a hysterectomy. The weakening of the tissues supporting the pelvic organs usually results from pressure on the organs during pregnancy and childbirth or from loss of estrogen after menopause. Symptoms include a feeling of heaviness in the vagina, aching…

An imaging method used to detect abnormalities of the female reproductive system. During this painless procedure, a long, thin wand called a transducer is inserted into the vagina; the transducer emits sound waves that bounce off the organ under study and produce an image of the organ on a video screen. Vaginal ultrasound is also…

A narrowing, stiffening, or obstruction, particularly of one or more heart valves. In the healthy heart, four valves act like gates that open to allow blood to flow from one area to another, then close to prevent backward movement. Valvular stenosis limits blood flow. Symptoms depend on which valve is affected.  

A detailed X-ray study of the bladder. The test may be performed when an infection, tumor, bladder stones, or reflux of urine into the kidneys is suspected. The patient first empties his or her bladder by normal urination. Then, a thin, flexible tube (catheter) coated with anesthetic jelly is inserted through the urinary tract. The…