Dictionary

vasectomy A surgical procedure designed to make a man sterile by cutting or blocking both the right and left vas deferens, the tubes through which sperm pass into the ejaculate.

vasoconstriction Narrowing of the blood vessels that results from contraction of the muscular walls of the vessels. The opposite of vasoconstriction is vasodilation.

uvulitis Inflammation of the uvula. Uvulitis has many causes, including infection with a virus, fungus, or bacteria or the result of a side effect of a medication.

vaccination See immunization.

vaccination, children’s See children’s immunizations.

vaccine A microbial preparation of killed or modified microorganisms that can stimulate an immune response in the body to prevent future infection with similar microorganisms. Vaccines are usually delivered by intramuscular injection.

VACTERL association A nonrandom association of birth defects. VACTERL is a mnemonic in which the letters each stand for one or more type of malformation: V = Vertebral anomalies; and A = Anal atresia (no hole at the bottom end of the intestine); C = Cardiac defect, most often ventricular septal defect; TE = TracheoEsophageal…

vagina The muscular canal that extends from the cervix to the outside of the body. It is usually 6 to 7 inches in length, and its walls are lined with mucous membrane. It includes two vaultlike structures: the anterior (front) vaginal fornix and the posterior (rear) vaginal fornix. The cervix protrudes slightly into the vagina,…

vagina, septate A rare condition in which the vagina is divided, usually longitudinally, to create a double vagina. This situation can be easily missed by the patient and even by the physician on exam. If the patient becomes sexually active prior to diagnosis, one of the vaginas stretches and becomes dominant. The other vagina slips…

vaginal birth after caesarean section See caesarean section, vaginal birth after.

vaginal introitus See vaginal opening.

vaginal opening The exterior opening to the vagina, the muscular canal that extends from the cervix to the outside of the female body. Also called vaginal introitus and vaginal vestibule.