458 GLOSSARY 



Vasomotor. (From the Latin words vas, "a vessel;" motor, from 

 movere, "to move." Regulating the tension of the bloodvessels. 



Venae Cavae. (Literally, the hollow veins.) The two large veins 

 that open into the right auricle of the heart. 



Venae Comites. (Accompanying veins.) Veins that accompany an 

 artery in its course. 



Venae Cordis Minimi. The smallest veins of the heart. 



Ventral. (From the Latin word venter, "belly.") Pertaining to 

 the belly. Or used in meaning in front, as ventral aspect. 



Ventricle. A small cavity or pouch. (From the Latin ventriculus, 

 a dim. of venter, "a belly.") 



Venule. A small vein. 



Vermiform (appendix). (From the Latin word vermis, "a worm;" 

 forma, "form.") Worm-shaped appendix. 



Vernix Caseosa. (A cheesy varnish.) The sebaceous deposit 

 covering the surface of the fetus. Seen on delivery. 



Vertebra. (From the Latin word vertere, "to turn." A single bone 

 of the spinal column. 



Vertebral. Referring to or characteristic of the vertebra. 



Vertex. (That which turns or revolves about itself, from the Latin 

 word vertere, "to turn.") The crown or top of the head or skull. 



Vesica Urinaris. The urinary bladder. 



ViUus (pi. villi). (From the Latin word, "a tuft of hair.") The 

 minute club-shaped projections from the mucous membrane of the 

 small intestine, consisting of a lacteal vessel, an arteriole, and a venule, 

 enclosed in a layer of epithelial cells. 



Virgin. A woman who has never had sexual intercourse. 



Viscera Plural of viscus, meaning the organs of the abdomen, etc. 



Visceral. Relating to viscera, the stomach, liver, etc. 



Vitreous (humor). (From the Latin word vitreus, from vitrum, 

 "glass.") The transparent, jelly-like substance filling the posterior 

 chamber of the eye. 



Volatile. (From the Latin word volatilis, from volare, "to fly.") 

 Passing into vapors at ordinary temperatures; evaporating. 



Voluntary. Under the control of the will. Voluntary muscles, etc. 



Vomer. (From the Latin, "a ploughshare.") The thin plate of bone 

 situated vertically between the nasal cavities, which forms the posterior 

 portion of the nasal septum (partition). 



Vulva. (From the Latin word volvere, "to roll up.") The external 

 organs of generation in the woman. 



Zygoma. (From the Greek word meaning cheek bone.) The bony 

 arch above the cheek and in front of the ear formed by the zygomatic 

 processes from the temporal and malar bones. 



Zygomatic. Relating to the zygoma. 



