Bma Illustrated Medical Dictionary

valgusThe medical term for outward

displacement of a part of the body.

valproateSee sodium valproate.

Valsalva’s manoeuvreA forcible at-

tempt to breathe out when the airway is

closed. The manoeuvre occurs naturally

when an attempt is made to breathe out

while holding the vocal cordstightly

together. This happens, for example, at

the beginning of a sneeze. When per-

formed deliberately by pinching the

nose and holding the mouth closed, the

manoeuvre can prevent pressure dam-

age to the eardrums (see barotrauma).

valveA structure that allows fluid or

semi-fluid material to flow in 1 direc-

tion through a tube or passageway but

closes to prevent reflux in the opposite

direction. The valves at the exits from

the heartchambers and in the veinsare

essential to the circulatory system. There

are also small valves in the vessels of

the lymphatic system.

valve replacementA surgical operation

to replace a defective or diseased heart

valve. (See also heart-valve surgery.)

valvotomyAn operation that is per-

formed to correct a narrowed heart

valve. Cuts are made, or pressure is

applied, to separate the flaps of the

valve where they have joined, thereby

reducing the degree of narrowing. Valvo-

tomy is performed either by opening the

heart up (see heart-valve surgery) or by

balloon valvuloplasty.

valvular heart diseaseA defect of 1

or more of the heart valves.

valvuloplastyReconstructive or repair

surgery on a defective heart valve (see

heart-valve surgery). Valvuloplasty may

VALVE

candidiasis or trichomoniasis, or may be
due to a foreign body, such as a forgot-
ten tampon, in the vagina.
vaginal itchingIrritation in the vagina,
often associated with vulval itching. In
many cases, it is a symptom of vaginitis,
which may be caused by infection or an
allergic reaction to hygiene or spermici-
dal products. Vaginal itching is common
after the menopause, when it is caused
by low oestrogen levels. Depending on
the cause, treatment may be with anti-
biotic drugsor hormones.
vaginal repairAn operation to correct
prolapse of the vaginal wall. This may
be accompanied by a vaginal hysterec-
tomyif the uterus is also prolapsed (see
uterus, prolapse of).
vaginismusPainful, involuntary spasm of
the muscles surrounding the entrance
to the vagina, interfering with sexual
intercourseand sometimes also medical
vaginal examinations. (See also inter-
course, painful; psychosexual dysfunction.)
vaginitisInflammation of the vagina
that may be caused by infection, com-
monly by the fungus CANDIDA ALBICANS
(see candidiasis), the parasite TRICHO-
MONAS VAGINALIS(see trichomoniasis), or
bacteria.After the menopausethe vagi-
nal lining becomes fragile and prone to
inflammation. This is called atrophic
vaginitis and is due to a reduction in
the production of oestrogen hormones.
Infections are treated with antibiotics
or antifungal drugs. In cases of allergy,
irritants should be avoided. Any foreign
body is removed. Atrophic vaginitis is
treated with oestrogen drugs. (See also
vulvitis; vulvovaginitis.)
vagotomyAn operation in which the
vagus nerve, which controls production
of digestive acid by the stomach wall, is
cut. Once widely used to treat some
cases of peptic ulcer, it has now largely
been replaced by drug treatment.
vagus nerveThe 10th cranial nerveand
principal component of the parasympa-
thetic division of the autonomic nervous
system. The vagus nerve passes from
the medulla oblongata (in the brainstem)
through the neck and chest to the abdo-
men, and has branches to most major
organs, including the larynx, pharynx, tra-
chea, lungs, heart, and digestive system.

VAGINAL ITCHING VALVULOPLASTY

V

Valve

cusp

(flap)

Blood

at high

pressure

opens

valve

Blood at low

pressure

Blood at high pressure

closes valve

Valve

cusp

Low-

pressure

blood

OPEN VALVE CLOSED VALVE