Medical Glossary
- U.S. FOOD and DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA)
- Government agency that regulates all medical devices and drugs.
- ULNA
- The medial and the larger of the two bones of the forearm.
- ULTRASOUND
- The use of high-frequency sound to create images of internal body structures.
- VAGUS NERVE
- The tenth cranial nerve, which is a mixed nerve that has both motor and sensory function. The long nerve in the anterior neck traveling with the carotid artery; responsible for many organ functions in the chest and abdomen.
- VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION (VNS)
- Therapy for epilepsy which applies small electrical pulses to the vagus nerve in the neck which regulates internal organs. This therapy is used in patients suffering from partial epilepsy who have failed traditional drug therapy.
- VALVE
- Device placed in a shunt system to regulate the rate and direction of CSF flow.
- VASCULAR
- Relating to or containing blood vessels.
- VASOCONSTRICTION
- A decrease in the diameter of blood vessels.
- VASODILATATION
- An increase in the diameter of blood vessels.
- VASOPRESSIN
- A hormone secreted by the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior pituitary which raises blood pressure and increases reabsorption of water by the kidneys.
- VASOPRESSOR
- An agent which constricts the arteries and raises blood pressure.
- VASOSPASM
- Spasm of blood vessels, decreasing their diameter.
- VENTRICLE
- The cavities or chambers within the brain which contain the cerebrospinal fluid. There are two lateral ventricles and midline third and fourth ventricles.
- VENTRICULAR DRAINAGE
- Insertion of a small tube into the ventricles to drain cerebrospinal fluid, usually when pressure is increased.
- VENTRICULITIS
- Inflammation and/or infection of the ventricles.
- VENTRICULOGRAM
- An X-ray study of the ventricles.
- VENTRICULOSTOMY
- An opening into the ventricles of the brain, such as by inserting a small, thin, hollow catheter.
- VENTRICULOSTOMY
- The surgical opening in a ventricle of the brain to drain cerebrospinal fluid, especially in hydrocephalus.
- VERMIS
- Middle part of the cerebellum between the two hemispheres.
- VERMONT (KRAG)
- Posteriorly placed internal fixation device.
- VERTEBRA
- One of the 33 bones of the spinal column. A cervical, thoracic, or lumbar vertebra has a cylindrically-shaped bony anteriorly and a neural arch posteriorly (composed primarily of the laminae and pedicles as well as the other structures in the posterior aspect of the vertebra) that protects the spinal cord. The plural of vertebra is vertebrae.
- VERTEBRAL BODY
- From a lateral view, it is the main rectangular portion of the spine; from an overview, oval.
- VERTIGO
- An abnormal sensation of rotation or movement of one's self, or the environment.
- WEDGING
- Deformity of vertebral body, caused by trauma or gradual collapse, resulting in wedgeshaped vertebra; can also occur congenitally.
- WERTHEIM BOHLMAN
- For occipital cervical fusion; use of iliac crest graft and wire fixation from occiput to C-2.
- WHIPLASH
- Poplar term for hyperextension-hyperflexion.
- WHITECLIUD and LAROCCA
- Anterior technique for cervical spine fusion using fibular graft.
- WILTSE
- A bilateral lateral spine fusion for spondylolisthesis.
- WILTSE PLATE
- Screw plate device for posterior spinal stabilization.
- WINTER
- For hemivertebra deformity; anterior and posterior approach with stabilization. Also a procedure for correction of congenital kyphosis, by using an anterior approach and strut bone grafts.
- WIRE
- Metal thread available in various diameters and various degrees of stiffness and is generally used in surgery to transfix fractured bone.
- WISCONSIN (DRUMMOND) INTERSPINOUS SEGMENTAL SPINAL
- Series of wires, rods, and buttons for multisegmental spine stabilization.
- X-RAY
- The ionizing electromagnetic radiation emitted from a highly evacuated tube, resulting from the excitation of the inner orbital electrons by the bombardment of the target anode with a stream of electrons from a heated cathode. A radiograph.
- XENOGRAFT
- A graft derived from one species for use in another species.
- ZIELKE INSTRUMENTATION
- A method of fixation.
