Category: V

The gradual weakening of pelvic muscles that permits prolapse of the uterus and allows other organs to bulge in the vagina. This weakening of the muscles is associated with childbirth, obesity, and loss of estrogen in women who have completed menopause. Symptoms include the bulging of the bladder (cystocele), urethra (urethrocele), rectum (rectocele), or the…

Techniques in which NMR signals are gathered from the whole object volume to be imaged at once. Many sequential plane imaging techniques can be generalized to volume imaging, at least in principle. Advantages include potential improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio by including signals from the whole volume at once; disadvantages include a bigger computational task…

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy are attributed to changing hormone levels. Typical of the first trimester of pregnancy, nausea and vomiting may last into the second trimester. Because these symptoms occur more often in the morning, they are often called “morning sickness.” However, the nausea of pregnancy can occur at any time of day. A…

A symptom of a disorder in the digestive tract. Also known as hematemesis, vomiting blood can result from excessive vomiting or from excessive consumption of alcohol. It can also be a sign of potentially life-threatening internal bleeding, so it should not be ignored. Blood in vomit can be red or, when digested by the stomach,…

The inability of one or both vocal cords to move because of damage to the nerves that control the muscles of the larynx or damage to the brain. Opening and closing of the vocal cords have a vital role in speech, swallowing, and breathing. Any impairment in their ability to move can affect these essential…

Noncancerous growths of the epithelium (mucous membrane covering) on the surface of the vocal cords. The vocal cords are folds of mucous membrane draped over a ligament and muscle that extend from the wall of the larynx (voice box). The nodules are usually located on both sides of the vocal cords. The most common symptom…

Bleeding into the clear, jellylike liquid (vitreous) inside the eye. Minor bleeding can cloud vision; heavier bleeding can produce a mass of red or black lines and very dark vision. If the blood is not absorbed on its own, vitreous hemorrhage is treated with a vitrectomy. After vitrectomy, laser surgery may be performed to cause…

A deficiency of vitamin B12 due to the absence of the vitamin or decreased ability of the body to absorb the vitamin. A deficiency can result from diets that exclude all animal products and is also associated with various autoimmune disorders, especially those involving the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands. This deficiency can also develop…

Use of the imagination to heal the body. Visualization uses imagery to help relieve pain, speed healing, and promote mental and physical health. Images can be visual, auditory, sensory (touch), olfactory (smell), and gustatory (taste). The act of viewing or sensing a picture of an object, especially the picture of a body structure as obtained…

A blind spot in the normal range of vision. Visual field defects caused by migraines are temporary; most others are persistent. Visual field defects have a number of possible causes. Overall narrowing of the range of vision can be caused by glaucoma (abnormal pressure within the eye). A blind spot in the center of vision…