Human health and medicine

Vertebral artery

The vertebral artery (arteria vertebralis) is one of a pair of arteries that arises from the subclavian artery, ascends the neck, and supplies the posterior brain.

Vertebral artery dissection (VAD), a tear in the vertebral artery wall causing intramural hematoma, stenosis, or aneurysm; a leading cause of stroke in young adults, treated with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs.

Vertebral bone quality score

The vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score is a dimensionless ratio from non-contrast T1-weighted lumbar MRI that assesses bone mineral density and fragility fracture risk without ionizing radiation.

Vertebral column resection

Vertebral column resection (VCR) is a spinal deformity operation that removes one or more vertebrae to correct severe rigid scoliosis and kyphosis, the highest-risk spinal osteotomy.

Vertebral compression fracture

Vertebral compression fracture (VCF): collapse of a vertebral body, usually from osteoporosis; 1.4 million cases yearly worldwide. Treated first conservatively, with vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty considered after 4–10 weeks if pain persists.

Vertebral osteomyelitis

Vertebral osteomyelitis (spondylodiscitis, native vertebral osteomyelitis) is a spinal infection, usually hematogenous and caused by Staphylococcus aureus, diagnosed by MRI and biopsy and treated with 6 weeks of antibiotics.

Vertebral venous plexuses

The vertebral venous plexuses, known as the Batson plexus after Oscar V. Batson, are valveless extradural veins around the spinal column that drain the spinal cord and vertebrae.

Vertebrectomy

Vertebrectomy is the surgical removal of a complete vertebra, usually because it contains a tumor, followed by reconstruction of the spinal column with implants and grafts.

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI), transient ischemia of the vertebrobasilar posterior brain circulation, coined by Milliken and Siekert in 1955; causes dizziness, vertigo, diplopia, ataxia; mainly atherosclerotic; diagnosed by angiography, MRA, CTA, Doppler.

Vertebroplasty

Vertebroplasty, also called percutaneous vertebroplasty, is a procedure injecting bone cement into a fractured vertebral body to stabilize the spine and relieve pain, used mainly for painful osteoporotic compression fractures.

Verteporfin

Verteporfin (Visudyne) is a benzoporphyrin derivative photosensitizer drug used with 689 nm laser light in ocular photodynamic therapy to close choroidal neovascularization in wet AMD, pathologic myopia, and ocular histoplasmosis; FDA approved 2000.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX), founded 1989 by Joshua Boger in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a biotech known for cystic fibrosis medicines (Kalydeco, Trikafta, Alyftrek), the CRISPR therapy Casgevy, and the non-opioid pain drug JOURNAVX; 2024 revenue $11.02 billion.

Vertical Dimension

Vertical dimension is the lower face height set by jaw separation, central to dentistry because dentures and crowns must be built at a height supporting chewing, speech, and appearance.

Vertical gaze palsy

Vertical gaze palsy (VGP), also called supranuclear vertical gaze palsy, is conjugate bilateral limitation of upgaze and/or downgaze from midbrain lesions involving the riMLF, INC, or posterior commissure; chronic cases are usually progressive supranuclear palsy, acute ones infarction.

Vertiginous syndromes

Vertiginous syndromes are grouped vestibular symptom sets (vertigo, dizziness, imbalance) classified by the Bárány Society ICVD as acute, episodic, or chronic, spanning peripheral disorders like BPPV, Ménière's disease, and vestibular neuritis and central causes like stroke, with ICD-10 code H82.

Vertigo

Vertigo: the false sensation of spinning or motion, a subcategory of dizziness causing up to 8% of medical consultations. Key causes include BPPV, Meniere's disease, vestibular migraine, and stroke; diagnosed with Dix-Hallpike and HINTS exams.

Vertigo of central origin

Vertigo of central origin (ICD-11 MB48.00) is spinning hallucination from brainstem, cerebellar, or vestibular nucleus lesions, most often ischemic stroke; distinguished from peripheral vertigo by HINTS exam, nystagmus type, and MRI.

Verubecestat

Verubecestat (MK-8931), Merck's oral BACE1/BACE2 inhibitor for Alzheimer's disease, was the first BACE1 inhibitor to reach phase 3 but failed in the EPOCH and APECS trials, which were terminated for futility with possible cognitive worsening.

Very long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency

VLCAD deficiency, also called very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, is an autosomal recessive ACADVL disorder impairing beta-oxidation of 14-20 carbon fatty acids, causing hypoketotic hypoglycemia, cardiomyopathy, and rhabdomyolysis, detected by C14:1 newborn screening.

Vesical tenesmus

Vesical tenesmus, also called bladder tenesmus or strangury, is the persistent painful urge to urinate with little or no output; ICD-10 R30.1, caused by cystitis, stones, or fistulas.

Vesicovaginal fistula

Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF), also called bladder-vaginal fistula, is an abnormal bladder-vagina connection causing continuous urinary incontinence, mainly from obstructed labor in developing countries and pelvic surgery elsewhere; surgical repair succeeds in 80–95% of cases.

Vessel wall imaging

Vessel wall imaging, also called vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging, is a black-blood MRI technique that suppresses blood signal to directly show artery wall inflammation, thickening, and plaque that luminal imaging misses.

Vestibular function tests

Vestibular function tests are a group of clinical diagnostic procedures measuring the inner ear's balance organs and vestibular pathways to evaluate dizziness and balance disorders.

Vestibular hair cell

Vestibular hair cell, also called vestibular sensory hair cell (type I and type II), is the inner ear mechanoreceptor that transduces head motion and gravity into vestibular nerve signals; type I cells have calyx endings, type II bouton endings, and mammals regenerate them poorly.

Vestibular implant

A vestibular implant is an implanted neurostimulator that restores balance by electrically stimulating the vestibular nerve in people with bilateral vestibular hypofunction, first implanted in 2007 and still investigational.

Vestibular migraine

Vestibular migraine (migrainous vertigo) is a migraine subtype causing recurrent vertigo, defined by Bárány Society/IHS criteria; affects 1–3% of people, treated with propranolol, valproate, venlafaxine, CGRP antibodies, and vestibular rehabilitation.