Glossary - V

Vaginal Thrush

Thrush, also known as Candidiasis or a yeast infection, occurs due to an overgrowth of yeast in the body, usually Candida albicans. Symptoms include mild to severe itching and soreness in and around the vagina.

Healthcare practitioners can find out about probiotics for thrush on our sister site, Probiotic Professionals.

Vaginal tract

The vaginal tract is usually referred to simply as the vagina. It is located between the urinary tract which is at the front, and the anal canal which is at the back, and extends from the entrance up to the cervix. Just as in the gut, the vaginal tract is lined with microflora which exist in a delicate balance and play an important role in the health of the female intimate area.

Find out more about the vaginal flora.

Villi

Villi are small finger like projections that cover the lining of the small intestine. They help to absorb nutrients from digested food. Their structure increases the surface area in the gut, allowing for more efficient nutrient absorption. 

Virus

A virus is a very small infectious microbe that can only replicate itself inside the living cells of an organism. Viruses on average are about 1/100th of the size of an average bacterium cell.