| inspiratory capacity | The maximum volume of air that can be inspired after reaching the end of a normal, quiet expiration. It is the sum of the tidal volume and the inspiratory reserve volume. Common abbreviation is ic. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| vital capacity | <chest medicine, physiology> The volume of gas that can be expelled from the lungs from a position of full inspiration, with no limit to the duration of expiration, it is equal to the inspiratory capacity plus the expiratory reserve volume. (11 Nov 1997) |
| forced vital capacity | Vital capacity measured with the subject exhaling as rapidly as possible; data relating volume, expiratory flow, and time form the basis for other pulmonary function tests, e.g., flow-volume curve, forced expiratory volume, forced expiratory time, forced expiratory flow. (05 Mar 2000) |
| inspiratory | Relating to or timed during inhalation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| inspiratory centre | The region of the medulla oblongata that is electrically active during inspiration and where electrical stimulation produces sustained inspiration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| inspiratory reserve volume | The extra volume of air that can be inspired with maximal effort after reaching the end of a normal, quiet inspiration. Common abbreviation is irv. (12 Dec 1998) |
| inspiratory stridor | A crowing sound during the inspiratory phase of respiration due to pathology involving the epiglottis or larynx. (05 Mar 2000) |
| brilliant vital red | Trisodium salt of a sulfonated diazo dye (a ditolyl group diazotised to sulfonated aminonaphthalene residues), used as a vital stain. Synonym: brilliant vital red. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vital | 1. Belonging or relating to life, either animal or vegetable; as, vital energies; vital functions; vital actions. 2. Contributing to life; necessary to, or supporting, life; as, vital blood. "Do the heavens afford him vital food?" (Spenser) "And vital virtue infused, and vital warmth." (Milton) 3. Containing life; living. "Spirits that live throughout, vital in every part." 4. Being the seat of life; being that on which life depends; mortal. "The dart flew on, and pierced a vital part." (Pope) 5. Very necessary; highly important; essential. "A competence is vital to content." (Young) 6. Capable of living; in a state to live; viable. "Pythagoras and Hippocrates . . . Affirm the birth of the seventh month to be vital." (Sir T. Browne) Vital air, oxygen gas; so called because essential to animal life. <physiology> Vital capacity, the breathing capacity of the lungs; expressed by the number of cubic inches of air which can be forcibly exhaled after a full inspiration. Vital force. <biology> See Tripod. <botany> Vital vessels, a name for latex tubes, now disused. See Latex. Origin: F, fr. L. Vitalis, fr. Vita life; akin to vivere to live. See Vivid. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| vital centre | Centre essential to life; usually refers to the centres located in the medulla oblongata which are necessary for the maintenance of respiration and circulation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vital index | The ratio of births to deaths within a population during a given time. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vital knot | A circumscript region in the lower part of the medulla oblongata, near the apex of the calamus scriptorius, interpreted by M. Flourens (1858) as a nerve centre controlling respiration. Synonym: vital knot, vital node. Origin: Fr. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vital node | A circumscript region in the lower part of the medulla oblongata, near the apex of the calamus scriptorius, interpreted by M. Flourens (1858) as a nerve centre controlling respiration. Synonym: vital knot, vital node. Origin: Fr. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vital pulp | A pulp composed of viable tissue, either normal or diseased, that responds to electric stimuli and to heat and cold. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vital red | Trisodium salt of a sulfonated diazo dye (a ditolyl group diazotised to sulfonated aminonaphthalene residues), used as a vital stain. Synonym: brilliant vital red. (05 Mar 2000) |