Vasodilation
Widening of blood vessels that results from relaxation of the muscular walls of the vessels. What widens in vasodilation is actually
the diameter of the interior (lumen) of the vessel. The opposite of vasodilation is vasoconstriction.
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- Vasodilators
Agents that act as blood vessel dilators (vasodilators) and open vessels by relaxing their muscular walls. For example, nitroglycerin is a vasodilator. So are the ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors.
- Vasomotor
Relating to the nerves and muscles that cause blood vessels to constrict or dilate.
- Vasomotor rhinitis
Inflammation of the nose (rhinitis) due to abnormal nerve control of the blood vessels in the nose. Vasomotor rhinitis is not allergic rhinitis. Decongestant medications are used to temporarily reduce swelling of sinus and nasal tissues leading to an improvement of breathing and a decrease in obstruction.
- Vasopressin
A relatively small (peptide) molecule that is released by the pituitary gland at the base of the brain after being made nearby (in the hypothalamus). Vasopressin has an antidiuretic action that prevents the production of dilute urine (and so is antidiuretic). A syndrome of inappropriate secretion of vasopressin which results in the inability to put […]
- Vaccination, anthrax
A series of six shots over six months and booster shots annually, the anthrax vaccine now in use in the USA was first developed in the 1950s and approved by the Food and Drug Administration for general use in 1970. It is produced by the Michigan Biologic Products Institute of Michigan’s Department of Health and […]