Valsalva maneuver

Valsalva maneuver
A maneuver in which a person tries to exhale forcibly with a closed glottis (the windpipe) so that no air exits through the mouth or nose as, for example, in strenuous coughing, straining during a bowel movement, or lifting a heavy weight. The Valsalva maneuver impedes the return of venous blood to the heart. Named for Antonio Maria Valsalva, an Italian anatomist (1666-1723).

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Val·sal·va maneuver also Val·sal·va's maneuver val-'sal-və(z)- n a forceful attempt at expiration when the airway is closed at some point esp a conscious effort made while holding the nostrils closed and keeping the mouth shut esp. for the purpose of testing the patency of the eustachian tubes, adjusting middle ear pressure, or aborting tachycardia called also Valsalva A. M. Valsalva see SINUS OF VALSALVA

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1. forcible exhalation effort against a closed glottis; the resultant increase in intrathoracic pressure interferes with venous return to the heart. Called also Valsalva experiment. 2. forcible exhalation effort against occluded nostrils and a closed mouth causes increased pressure in the eustachian tube and middle ear, so that the tympanic membrane moves outward; formerly used as a test of eustachian tube patency. Called also Valsalva method or test.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Valsalva maneuver — [val sal′və] n. [after Antonio Valsalva (1666 1723), It anatomist] any forced expiratory effort against a closed or blocked air passage, as blowing hard with nose and mouth closed during an ascent or descent in an aircraft to equalize pressure in …   English World dictionary

  • Valsalva maneuver — The Valsalva maneuver is performed by forcibly exhaling against a closed airway. Variations of the maneuver can be used either in medicine, as a test of cardiac function and autonomic nervous control of the heart or to ‘clear’ the ears and… …   Wikipedia

  • Valsalva maneuver — /val sal veuh/ a forced expiratory effort against a closed glottis that decreases intrathoracic pressure, hampering venous return to the heart, and that can be used to inflate the Eustachian tubes and adjust pressure in the middle ear. [named… …   Universalium

  • Valsalva maneuver — noun Etymology: Antonio Maria Valsalva died 1723 Italian anatomist Date: 1886 a forceful attempt at expiration when the airway is closed at some point; especially a conscious attempt made while holding the nostrils closed and keeping the mouth… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Valsalva maneuver — Val•sal′va maneu ver [[t]vælˈsæl və[/t]] n. med an attempt to expel air against a closed glottis or closed lips and nostrils, used for adjusting pressure in the middle ear • Etymology: after Antonio M. Valsalva (1666–1723), Italian anatomist who… …   From formal English to slang

  • valsalva maneuver — (ˌ)valˌsalvə noun Usage: usually capitalized V Etymology: after Antonio Valsalva died 1723 Italian anatomist : the inflation of the middle ear by closing the mouth and nostrils and blowing so as to puff out the cheeks …   Useful english dictionary

  • valsalva maneuver — The procedure of raising the pressure in the nasal passage or the naspharynx by forcible expiration with the mouth closed and the nostrils pinched to clear the eustachian tubes. This maneuver usually is executed during descent in response to a… …   Aviation dictionary

  • Valsalva maneuver (experiment method test) etc. — Val·sal·va maneuver (experiment, method, test), etc. (vahl sahlґvə) [Antonio Maria Valsalva, Italian anatomist, 1666–1723] see under maneuver, and see sinus aortae …   Medical dictionary

  • Valsalva experiment — Valsalva maneuver (def. 1) …   Medical dictionary

  • Valsalva method — Valsalva maneuver (def. 2) …   Medical dictionary

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