Medical dictionary

What is analysed? Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in various physiological functions, including calcium and phosphate regulation, immune system function, bone health, and cellular growth and differentiation. The vitamin D test measures vitamin D levels in the blood. What does the result mean? The result indicates the concentration of vitamin

What is vitamin D deficiency?Vitamin D deficiency is when the body is lacking in the vitamin, which is essential for strong bones and teeth. It’s estimated that one billion people worldwide suffer from low levels of vitamin D.Vitamin D is produced by the body when our skin is exposed to sunlight and it can be found naturally in some foods like fish liver oil, egg yolks and fortified dairy and cere

What is analysed? Vitamin K is an essential fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in various physiological functions, including blood clotting, calcium regulation, bone health, cellular growth, and antioxidant activity. The vitamin K test measures vitamin K levels in the blood. What does the result mean? The result indicates the concentration of vitamin K in the blood. W

What is vitiligo? Vitiligo is a condition that consists of a progressive depigmentation of the skin in different areas of the body, causing white spots. The depigmented areas of the skin can manifest themselves in different ways – either spread over the body or in specific locations (for example, only on one side of the body). Its appearance can arise at any age.What are the symptoms of vitil

What is a vitrectomy? A vitrectomy is a type of eye operation, in which the vitreous humour, a jelly-like fluid inside the eye is removed and replaced with a saline solution. The operation is usually performed under local anaesthetic. The function of the vitreous humour is to protect the retina; the sensory membrane at the very back of the eye that receives light and sends images of what the

What is vitreomacular traction? In the middle of your eye, there is a substance called vitreous. In a healthy eye, this substance is a clear gel - mainly made up of water and collagen - attached to the macula and the retina and helps maintain your eye’s shape. When we look at an object, light travels through the vitreous and focuses onto the retina at the back of the eye. As we age, th

What are vocal cord nodules? Vocal cord nodules are the growth of small lumps or bulges by the vocal cords. When these nodules appear, they affect the glottic closure of the vocal cords and cause a tone of voice change which normally sounds ‘broken’, and more intense. It's sometimes called singer's nodules, as frequent singing is one of the causes of this condition. Celeb

What are voice disorders? Voice disorders are medical conditions which affect the sounds that depend on the larynx (vocal cords), the pitch, volume, tone and other qualities of the voice. Voice disorders, therefore, affect speech production.  Your vocal cords are made of muscle, mucous membranes, and cartilage. Vocal cords are located at the top of your windpipe (tra

What is voice feminisation?Voice feminisation is a treatment for transgender or nonbinary individuals to modify their vocal tone in order to sound more feminine and aligned with their gender identity. Voice feminisation often involves the combination of vocal cord surgery and speech therapy, but patients may choose to undergo one or the other alone. Why would a patient undergo voice femi