Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

vesicular rickettsiosis
See 
rickettsialpox.
vesiculitis
Inflammation of a vesicle, particularly
of the seminal vesicles behind the male bladder.
vesiculography
The use of special X-ray equip-
ment and a dye to examine the seminal vesicles and
related structures. Vesiculography is most often
used when prostate disease or cancer is suspected.
vertebral compression fracture
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vessel
A tube in the body that carries fluids.
Examples of vessels are blood vessels and lymph
vessels.
vessel, afferent
See 
afferent vessel.
vessel, efferent
See 
efferent vessel.
vestibular 1
Having to do with a structure that is
a vestibule (entrance), such as the vestibule of the
ear.
2
Having to do with the body’s system for
maintaining equilibrium.
vestibular apparatus
The vestibule and three
semicircular canals of the inner ear. Like an inter-
nal carpenter’s level, these structures work with the
brain to sense, maintain, and regain balance and a
sense of where the body and its parts are positioned
in space. See also 
vestibular disease; vestibular
system.
vestibular disease
A disorder of the vestibular
apparatus, which is necessary for the sense of bal-
ance. A disease may cause vestibular problems by
directly affecting the structure or integrity of the
vestibular apparatus in the ear, by interrupting 
the feedback loop between these structures and the
brain, or by affecting the parts of the brain that
interpret data from the vestibular apparatus.
Conditions known to impair vestibular function
include acoustic neuroma, autism, Ménière’s dis-
ease, multiple sclerosis, infection in the middle ear
(otitis media), medications that are toxic to the ear
(ototoxic), seizure disorders, syphilis, and trauma.
Diagnosis is made via neurological tests, in which
the response to movement requests and questions
about spatial positioning are observed. Diagnosis of
vestibular disease may be confirmed by imaging
inner ear structures or testing brain function.
Treatment depends on the cause of the disease.