What is the meaning of the abbreviation VS?

The abbreviation "VS" stands for "Vital Signs." Vital signs are critical measurements that provide important information about a patient's health status. These include the assessment of heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and temperature. Monitoring vital signs is fundamental in both emergency and routine healthcare settings, as they can indicate the physiological status of a patient and help identify any potential health concerns quickly.

In contrast, the other options refer to different medical concepts but do not align with the common abbreviation of "VS." "Visual status" pertains to a patient's eyesight, "vascular symptoms" would relate to issues with the blood vessels, and "vocal sounds" could refer to speech or breathing sounds. While these all have significance in healthcare, they are correctly represented by other abbreviations or terms and do not commonly use "VS" as their abbreviation.