Dictionary

ventricle, left The chamber of the heart that receives blood from the left atrium and pumps it out under high pressure to the body via the aorta. See also heart ventricle.

ventricle, right The chamber of the heart that receives blood from the right atrium and pumps it under low pressure into the lungs via the pulmonary artery. See also heart ventricle.

ventricular arrhythmia An abnormal, rapid heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that originates in the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles). Ventricular arrhythmias include ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Both are lifethreatening arrhythmias that are commonly associated with heart attacks and scarring of the heart muscle from previous heart attacks.

ventricular fibrillation See fibrillation, ventricular.

ventricular septal defect A hole in the wall (septum) between the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles). Abbreviated VSD. VSDs are the most common birth defect that involves malformation of the heart. At least 1 baby in every 500 is born with a VSD. A VSD shunts blood from the left ventricle, where it is…

ventricular septum The wall between the two lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart.

ventricular tachycardia An abnormal heart rhythm that is rapid and regular and that originates from an area of the lower chamber (ventricle) of the heart. Ventricular tachycardias can be lifethreatening arrhythmias that are commonly associated with damage to the heart muscle due to coronary artery disease.

venule A little vein that goes from a capillary to a vein.

vernix A white, cheesy substance that covers and protects the skin of a fetus. Vernix is still all over the skin of a baby at birth. Vernix is composed of sebum (skin oil) and cells that have sloughed off the skin of the fetus. More formally known as vernix caseosa.

vernix caseosa See vernix.

vasodepressor syncope See syncope, situational.

vasodilation Widening of blood vessels that results from relaxation of the muscular walls of the vessels. What widens in vasodilation is actually the diameter of the interior (lumen) of the vessel. The opposite of vasodilation is vasoconstriction.