MeSH Database Example: Text Version

Example of MeSH Database record	Explanation of record components
Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio: The ratio of alveolar ventilation to simultaneous alveolar capillary blood flow in any part of the lung. (Stedman, 25th ed)	MeSH heading and definition: The definition describes how the term is used for indexing.
Year introduced: 1970(1968)	Year introduced: The term is searchable back to the earliest date shown.
Subheadings: This list includes those paired at least once with this heading in MEDLINE and may not reflect current rules for allowable combinations. drug effects - immunology - instrumentation - methods - physiology - radiation effects - veterinary	Subheadings: Lists subheadings that have been used with this heading. Select subheadings for searching using the checkboxes.
Restrict Search to Major Topic headings only. Do Not Explode this term (i.e., do not include MeSH terms found below this term in the MeSH tree).	Major Topic and Do Not Explode searching options: Use checkboxes to select.
Entry Terms: Ratio, Ventilation-Perfusion Ratios, Ventilation-Perfusion Ventilation Perfusion Ratio Ventilation-Perfusion Ratios	Entry terms: "Synonyms" for the heading. A search of any of these terms in PubMed will automatically retrieve citations for articles indexed with the MeSH heading.
Previous Indexing: Respiratory Function Tests (1966-1967)	Previous Indexing: Helpful for searching this concept prior to use of current heading.
All MeSH Categories Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Category Diagnosis Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures Diagnostic Techniques, Respiratory System Respiratory Function Tests Pulmonary Gas Exchange Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio All MeSH Categories Phenomena and Processes Category Circulatory and Respiratory Physiology Respiratory Physiology Respiratory Physiologic Phenomena Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio	MeSH hierarchy: The position of the term in the hierarchy. Many terms are positioned in more than one branch.