upper tract: division of the urinary tract that includes the kidneys and ureters.
ureter: narrow tube that carries urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder.
urethra: tube through which urine passes from the urinary bladder to outside the body.
urethral pressure profile: technique used to evaluate smooth muscle activity along the urethra.
uretolithotomy: surgical removal of a stone blocking a ureter.
urge incontinence: urinary leakage due to irritation of the bladder wall or from urine components.
urgency: desire or sensation of needing to void immediately.
urinalysis: examination of urine. urinary catheter: tube inserted into the bladder through the urethra to remove urine.
urinary frequency: voiding more often than usual without an increase in total urine volume.
urinary incontinence: involuntary voiding or urine loss.
urinary retention: inability to empty the bladder of urine.
urinary suppression: stopping or inhibition of urination. Suppression of secretion—urine is not formed. Suppression of excretion—urine is not expelled.
urination: passing urine from the urinary bladder to outside; voiding; micturition.
urine: fluid output of waste projects from the kidneys.
urinometer: an instrument that determines urine’s specific gravity; also called urometer, hydrometer.
urodynamics: series of urination tests that best determines the actual level of functioning of the detrusor muscle, external sphincter muscle, and pubococcygeal muscles; also called urody-namic testing.
uroflowmetry: noninvasive assessment of the status of voiding.
urology: the study of urinary disorders in the female and genitourinary disorders in the male. A urologist is the physician who specializes in this area.
urticaria: an allergic skin reaction characterized by superficial wheals and often accompanied by severe itching; also called hives.
uterine inertia: insufficient, uncoordinated contractions that do not produce effective dilation for delivery.
uterine tubes: (see oviducts).
uterus: hollow, pear-shaped organ in the female pelvis where the fetus develops and grows; also called womb.
V
vaccine: an injection of a disease-causing agent into a person to induce immunity to the agent.
vacuum extraction: method of delivery in which a round soft plastic cup is gently suctioned to the fetal head and traction exerted to ease the fetus out of the birth canal. vagina: the female sex organ.
vaginismus: involuntary contraction of the vaginal outlet muscles, preventing penetration during sexual intercourse.
vaginitis: vaginal inflammation.
vagus nerve: cranial nerve X (ten)— affects many body functions beyond conscious control.
values: a person’s or group’s “rights” and “wrongs” or what is considered desirable or important.
values clarification: examining values, beliefs, and feelings about life and healthcare issues.
variance: an actual outcome that differs from an expected outcome.
varicella: viral infection in children, which is characterized by an outbreak of rash that progresses into papules, vesicles, then pustules; also called chickenpox.
varices: outpouching blood vessels.
varicocele: scrotal swelling caused by varicosities in the spermatic blood vessels (described as feeling like a “bag of worms”).
vasectomy: excision of the vas deferens that renders a male sterile.
vasoconstriction: lessening a blood vessel’s circumference. vasoconstrictor: medication that raises blood pressure by constricting or narrowing the blood vessels. vasodilator: medication that lowers blood pressure by causing dilation (enlargement of lumina) of blood vessels, used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). vector: carrier, especially of a disease organism.
vegan: a vegetarian who eats no animal-originated foods. (A lacto-vegetarian eats milk and dairy products; an ovo-vegetarian eats eggs.)
vegetarian: diet based mainly on plant foods. Some vegetarians exclude all animal products from their diet (vegans); others vary on what animal products they consume.
vein: blood vessel that returns blood from the body to the heart (in most cases, deoxygenated blood).
venipuncture: puncture of a vein, usually with a needle. May be used to obtain a blood specimen or to start an intravenous infusion (IV). venous access lock: catheter used to maintain an open route to a client’s venous system to give fluids and/or medications. venous stasis ulcer: wound or ulceration caused by venous insufficiency or pooling of blood in dependent veins (usually in the legs). ventilation: supplying oxygen to the body through the lungs; breathing. ventilator: a machine that supplies oxygen and forces breathing; also called a respirator.
ventilatory failure: state of being unable to breathe adequately alone. ventral: anterior or front. ventricles: a small cavity or chamber; two lower chambers of the heart (pump blood to the body and lungs); small cavities within the brain, most containing cerebrospinal fluid.
Venturi mask: mask with a hard plastic adapter, with large “windows” on the sides; this device provides the most reliable and consistent oxygen enrichment.
verbal communication: giving information, news, or messages by speaking or writing.
vernix: (Latin) varnish.
vernix caseosa: substance covering the fetus before and at birth.
version: turning, as of the fetus during normal delivery.
vertebral column: the spine. vertex: normal, head-first presentation.
vertical client: a client who has a noncrit-ical condition; ambulatory care client.
vertigo: sensation of rotation or movement of self (subjective vertigo) or surroundings (objective vertigo). (Not all dizziness is true vertigo.)
vesicle: small sac containing liquid;small blister.
viability: state in which a fetus is mature enough to survive outside the woman’s uterus (usually 24 weeks’ gestation).
vial: glass container equipped with a self-sealing rubber stopper that contains either a single or multiple dose of a medication.
villi: fingerlike projections in the small intestine that provide greater absorption area for nutrients to enter into the bloodstream (sing: villus).
viral load: amount and strength of the HIV virus in an individual; also called HIV-RNA.
virulence: ability of a microorganism to cause disease; strength, potency.
virus: protein-covered sac containing genetic or other organic materials, which enters a living organism and uses the host cell for viral reproduction to cause an illness or disease.
viscera: internal organs contained within a body cavity.
visceral pleura: layer of the pleura that covers the lungs.
visualization: guided imagery technique in which client visualizes or forms positive images, often used to manage pain.
vital signs: measurements of temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure.
vitamin: various organic substances essential to life (includes fat-soluble vitamins [A, D, E, and K] and water-soluble vitamins [B-complex, C, and others]).
vitiligo: skin condition characterized by white patches that often become larger.
vitreous humor: a transparent, gelatinlike material that fills the space behind the lens of the eye.
vocal cords: two triangular-shaped membranous folds that extend from the front to back of the larynx that vibrate and produce sound as air passes over them.
vocational nurse: term applied to the person practicing as a practical nurse in California and Texas.
void: to cast out wastes, as to urinate, micturate.
voiding study: use of sensors to measure detrusor pressure when voiding.
voluntary: controlled by the will, as a voluntary muscle.
volvulus: twisting of a loop of intestine; may or may not strangulate.
vomitus: stomach contents expelled by vomitus.
vulnerable adult: an adult who is intellectually impaired, mentally ill, or otherwise unable to protect himself or herself.
vulva: the external parts of the female genital organs.
vulvitis: inflammation of the vulva.
W
walking rounds: caregivers move from client to client, discussing pertinent information.
wart: a skin tumor caused by a virus; verruca.
wellness: state of physical and emotional well-being; optimum health.
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome: disorder caused by a chronic deficiency of thiamine, often related to malnutrition due to chemical dependence.
wet-to-dry dressing: saturated dressing that is wrapped around a wound and left to dry. Upon removal, the dressing pulls away tissue debris and drainage, making it a useful tool in debridement.
Wharton’s jelly: soft jelly-like substance that protects the umbilical cord.
wheal: a smooth, slightly elevated skin area, usually pale in the center with a reddened periphery, often accompanied by severe itching when caused by an allergic reaction; small elevation caused by injection of an intradermal medication, such as the PPD test for tuberculosis or other skin test.
wheeze: a whistling respiratory sound, typical of asthma.
wide-spectrum (antibiotic): an antibiotic that is effective against a large number of pathogens.
Wilms’ tumor: malignant adenosar-coma and common neoplasm of childhood, which usually affects only one kidney; also called nephroblastoma.
wind chill factor: mathematical calculation of temperature and wind speed.
withdrawal: discontinuance of use of a drug.
Wood’s light: special high-pressure mercury lamp that produces longwave UV rays used to diagnose abnormalities and infections of the skin.
worker’s compensation: program that provides financial compensation to a person who has been injured at work or who has contracted a disease that can be directly related to his or her job.
wound: injury to any body structure caused by physical means.
wound sinus: canal or passage leading to an abscess.
X
xenograft: graft of tissue between animals of different species, as in the grafting of pigskin onto a human in burn treatment; also called heterograft.
Y
yin-yang: belief system that emphasizes balance and its influence on illness and health.
Z
Z-track: “zig-zag” method of injecting caustic medications deep into muscle tissue.
zygote: cell that results from the fusion of two mature germ cells.
