BodyWiki · A–Z index
Entries starting with V
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Vagal toneVagal tone is a physiological term describing how calmly the vagus nerve regulates the heartbeat.Vagus nerveThe vagus nerve is the 10th cranial nerve.Valgus stress testThe valgus stress test applies a gentle force to open the inner side of a joint and manually assesses how well the inner ligaments resist it.Valsalva maneuverThe Valsalva maneuver is a breathing technique in which you inhale, then attempt to exhale while keeping your mouth, nose, and glottis (the opening betweenVariable practiceVariable practice means practicing the same movement while changing conditions such as distance, speed, angle, or weight.Varicose veinsVaricose veins are veins near the surface of the legs that become enlarged, twisted, and visibly prominent.Varicose veins during pregnancyVaricose veins during pregnancy occur when blood vessels in the legs become enlarged and appear as winding, raised veins beneath the skin.Varus stress testThe varus stress test applies gentle force to bend a joint inward (varus) to assess how firmly the ligaments supporting the outside of the joint resist thaVasculitisVasculitis is an umbrella term for conditions that cause inflammation in blood vessel walls.Vasoconstriction and vasodilationBlood vessels narrow and widen to direct blood to where the body needs it at any given moment.Vastus intermediusThe vastus intermedius is one of the four muscles that make up the quadriceps at the front of the thigh. It lies deep beneath the rectus femoris.Vastus lateralisThe vastus lateralis is the largest of the four parts of the quadriceps femoris, the muscle group at the front of the thigh, and lies along the outer thighVastus medialisThe vastus medialis is one of the four parts of the quadriceps femoris, the muscle group at the front of the thigh.Velocity-based trainingVelocity-based training is a weight-training method that uses a device to measure how fast a barbell rises, then uses those velocity readings to decide howVenous circulationVenous circulation is the route by which blood returns to the heart after traveling throughout the body.Venous poolingVenous pooling is the accumulation of blood in the leg veins when you stand or sit for a long time.Venous valvesVenous valves are thin flaps attached to the inside of veins.Ventilatory thresholdVentilatory threshold is a measure identified through respiratory gas analysis that marks where breathing begins to change noticeably as exercise intensityVertebral arteryThe vertebral arteries are a pair of arteries, one on each side, that travel upward through openings along the sides of the neck vertebrae to supply blood Vertebral bodyThe vertebral body is the thick, cylindrical part at the front of a vertebra. It supports most of the load from body weight and movement.Vertebral columnThe vertebral column is the central column of bones extending from the neck to the coccyx.Vertebral compression fractureA vertebral compression fracture occurs when the front of a vertebra is compressed and collapses, giving it a wedge shape when viewed from the side.Vertebral endplateThe endplate is a thin plate between a vertebra and the disc next to it.Vertebral osteomyelitisVertebral osteomyelitis is an infection that occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria enter the vertebral bones.Vertical oscillationVertical oscillation is a measurement in centimeters of how much your body moves up and down with each step while running.VertigoVertigo is the feeling that your body or surroundings are spinning, tilting, or swaying even when you are still.Vestibular agingVestibular aging refers to the gradual changes that occur with age in the inner ear’s vestibular apparatus and its nerve pathways, which help maintain balaVestibular apparatusThe vestibular apparatus is the sensory organ for balance in the inner ear, an internal sensor that tells your body when your head turns, tilts, and moves,Vestibular migraineVestibular migraine is a syndrome in which recurring attacks of dizziness are linked to migraine.VestibulopathyVestibulopathy is a broad term for altered function of the inner ear’s vestibular apparatus, which supports balance, or its nerve pathways.Visceral ManipulationVisceral manipulation is a manual technique that uses gentle, precise touch to release the abdominal organs and surrounding tissues so they can move smoothVisceral mobility and motilityVisceral mobility refers to the relatively large movements of organs together with surrounding tissues as you breathe or move your body, while motility refViscerosomatic and somatovisceral reflexesA viscerosomatic reflex is a connection in which signals from internal organs are experienced as sensations in the outer body (skin and muscles) connected ViscoelasticityViscoelasticity combines elasticity, which lets a material stretch and spring back like rubber, with viscosity, which makes it flow slowly like honey.Visual analog scaleThe visual analog scale (VAS) is a method of measuring pain in which you mark the intensity of your current pain on a 10cm line and convert it into a numbeVisual display terminal syndromeVDT syndrome is a term that encompasses eye strain, stiffness and aching in the neck, shoulders, and wrists, and even mental strain associated with prolongVitamin DVitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that your skin makes when exposed to sunlight.Vladimír JandaVladimír Janda was a Czech neurologist and rehabilitation physician who described “crossed syndromes,” patterns in which muscles act in pairs, with one sidVolleyball injuriesThe physical problems commonly experienced by volleyball players and recreational participants are concentrated in four main areas: the shoulders, knees, fVoodoo flossingVoodoo flossing is a self-care technique in which you tightly wrap a thick, elastic rubber band around a joint or muscle in an arm or leg, move briefly, an