Vital centre Health Dictionary

Vital Centre: From 1 Different Sources


any of the collections of nerve cells in the brain that act as governing centres for different vital body functions – such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, temperature control etc. – making reflex adjustments according to the body’s needs. Most lie in the hypothalamus and brainstem.
Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

Health Centre

A centre that may carry out promotive, protective, preventive, diagnostic, curative and rehabilitative health care activities for ambulant people.... health centre

Vasomotor Centre

The description ‘vasomotor’ refers to control of the muscular walls of blood vessels, particularly ARTERIES, dilating or constricting their diameters. The vasomotor centre is a group of neurons (see NEURON(E)) in the MEDULLA OBLONGATA of the BRAIN; they receive messages from sensory receptors in the circulatory system, and engineer re?ex alterations in the heart rate and blood-vessel diameters in order to adjust the blood pressure. The centre also receives transmission from other parts of the brain enabling emotions – fear or anger – to in?uence blood pressure. The vasomotor centre operates through the vasomotor nerves of the SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM and the PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM.... vasomotor centre

Vital Capacity

The amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled from the lungs after a deep inspiration. (See RESPIRATION.)... vital capacity

Vital Sign

An indication that an individual is still alive. Chest movements (resulting from respiration), the existence of a pulse (showing that the heart is still beating) and constriction of the pupil of the eye in response to bright light are all vital signs. Other tests such as assessment of brain activity may also be needed in some circumstances: for example, when a patient is on a life-support machine. (See also GLASGOW COMA SCALE.)... vital sign

Vital Signs

The pulse, respiration, temperature and blood pressure.... vital signs

Vital Statistics

Systematically tabulated information concerning births, marriages, divorces, separations and deaths, based on registrations of those vital events.... vital statistics

Community Health Centre

An ambulatory health care programme, usually serving a catchment area which has scarce or non-existent health services or a population with special health needs. These centres attempt to coordinate federal, state and local resources in a single organization capable of delivering both health and related social services to a defined population.... community health centre

Community Mental Health Centre

An entity which provides comprehensive mental health services (principally ambulatory), primarily to individuals residing or employed in a defined catchment area.... community mental health centre

Cost Centre

An accounting device whereby all related costs attributable to some “financial centre” within an organization, such as a department, centre or programme, are segregated for accounting or reimbursement purposes.... cost centre

Day Care Centre

A facility, operated by a local authority, voluntary organization, geriatric centre or acute hospital, providing activities for older people. These activities, usually during the day for a determined period, are intended to promote independence and enhance living skills, and can include the provision of personal care and preparation of meals.... day care centre

Day Surgical Centre / Clinic

A free-standing ambulatory surgery centre, independent of a hospital.... day surgical centre / clinic

Day Therapy Centre

See “day care centre”.... day therapy centre

Geriatric Centre

A facility specializing in services for older persons which include acute care, geriatric assessment, rehabilitation, medical and nursing services, therapy services and residential care.... geriatric centre

Neighbourhood Health Centre

See “community health centre”.... neighbourhood health centre

Patient-centred Care

An approach to care that consciously adopts a patient’s perspective. This perspective can be characterized around dimensions such as respect for patients’ values, preferences and expressed needs; coordination and integration of care; information, communication and education; physical comfort, emotional support and alleviation of fear and anxiety; involvement of family and friends; or transition and continuity.... patient-centred care

Senior Centre

A centre that provides a variety of onsite programmes (and sometimes outreach services) for older adults, including recreation, socialization, congregate meals, and some health services. Usually a good source of information about area programmes and services.... senior centre

Vital Centres

Groups of neurons (see NEURON(E)), usually sited in the HYPOTHALAMUS and the BRAIN stem, that are the control centres for various essential body functions. Examples are: blood pressure, breathing, heart rate and temperature control. The centres are part of the body’s re?ex adjustments to the outside world and its internal environment and are essential in maintaining HOMEOSTASIS.... vital centres

Statistics, Vital

Assessment of a population’s health that relies on the collection of data on birth and death rates and on the causes of death.... statistics, vital

Centre

n. (in neurology) a collection of neurons (nerve cells) whose activities control a particular function. The respiratory and cardiovascular centres, for example, are regions in the lower brainstem that control the movements of respiration and the functioning of the circulatory system, respectively.... centre

Centrencephalic

adj. (in electroencephalography) describing discharges that can be recorded synchronously from all parts of the brain. The source of this activity is in the *reticular formation of the midbrain. Centrencephalic epilepsy is associated with a congenital predisposition to seizures.... centrencephalic

Children’s Centre

(Sure Start Children’s Centre) a building housing a range of services to support children up to five years of age and their families, including childcare, early education, parenting advice, and access to health advice. Over 3 000 ‘Sure Start’-branded Children’s Centres were established under Labour governments from 1997 to 2010. Many centres have subsequently closed, with the result that provision is no longer universal across the UK. See also health inequalities.... children’s centre

Client-centred Therapy

(Rogerian therapy) a method of psychotherapy in which the therapist refrains from directing clients in what they should do and instead concentrates on communicating understanding and acceptance. Frequently the therapist reflects the clients’ own words or feelings back to them. The aim is to enable clients to solve their own problems.... client-centred therapy

Health And Social Care Information Centre

(HSCIC) formerly, an executive nondepartmental public body set up in April 2013 to collect, analyse, and publish UK national health data and supply IT systems and services to health-care providers nationwide. It was rebranded as *NHS Digital in August 2016.... health and social care information centre

Nhs Walk-in Centre

a medical centre offering free and fast access to health-care advice and treatment. The first centres were opened in 2000. They provide advice and treatment for minor injuries and illnesses as well as guidance on how to use NHS services. Currently, the NHS offers a mix of walk-in centres, urgent care centres, minor injury units, and urgent treatment centres, all with different levels of service. By the end of 2019, these will all be called urgent treatment centres.... nhs walk-in centre

Person-centred Care

an approach to health care that focuses on the needs of the individual care user, rather than providing a standardized response to their condition. The patient is encouraged to take an active role in discussing a health-care plan that reflects their own needs, circumstances, and values.... person-centred care

Sure Start Children’s Centre

see children’s centre.... sure start children’s centre

Urgent Treatment Centre

see NHS walk-in centre.... urgent treatment centre

Vital Staining

(intravital staining) the process of staining a living tissue by injecting a stain into the organism. Compare supravital staining.... vital staining



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