GLOSSARY 503 



vessels ; specifically a nerve when stimulated, or a drug which acts 



in this way when administered. 

 Va'so-dila'tor. [From the Lat. vas, a " vessel," and dilator, a " dilator."] 



An agent which brings about dilatation of blood-vessels. 

 Ve'nae Ca'vse, pi. of Ve'na Ca'va. [Lat.] " Hollow veins." A name 



given to the two great veins of the body which convey the blood 



to the right auricle of the heart. 

 Ven'tral. [From the Lat. venter, ventris, the " belly."] The front surface 



of the body. 

 Ven'tricle. [From the dim. of Lat. venter, the " belly."] A small cavity. 

 Ver'miform. [From the Lat. vermis, a " worm," and forma, " form."] 



Worm-shaped. 

 Ver'nix Caseo'sa. [Lat.] " Cheesy varnish." The fatty varnish found 



on the new-born infant, which is secreted by the sebaceous glands of 



the skin. 

 Ver'tebrae, pi. of Ver'tebra. [Lat. from verto, to " turn."] The bones 



of the spine. 

 Vibration. [From the Lat. vihrare, to shake.] The act of moving rapidly 



to and fro. 

 Vil'li. [Lat. pi. of villus, " shaggy hair."] The conical projections on 



the valvulae conniventes, making the mucous membrane look shaggy. 

 Vitel'lus. [Lat. vitellus, a " yolk."] The yolk of an egg. 

 Vit'reous. [From the Lat. vitrum, " glass."] Glass-like. A name 



applied to the transparent, jelly-like substance which fills the back 



part of the eyeball behind the crystalline lens. 

 Vo'mer. [Lat. a " ploughshare."] The thin plate of bone shaped some- 

 what like a ploughshare which separates the nostrils. 



Xi'phoid. [From the Gr. xiphos, " sword," and eidos, " form."] Shaped 

 Uke or resembling a sword, ensiform. 



Zygomat'ic. [From the Gr. zygos, " yoke," " join."] Of or pertaining 

 to the malar bone or this bone and its connections. Constituting or 

 entering into the formation of the zygoma. 



Zymogen. [From the Gr. zwme, "leaven" and ^ig'nere, " to beget."] A 

 mother substance or antecedent of an enzyme. 



