Look at several sources and see how they agree. It also contains a small section on the scannable resume. The vita is just like a resume but for academic environments. It's generally longer than a resume, and it allows you to go into greater detail about your accomplishments. It's not only for job-searching, as scholars often need to include them with papers, grant applications, and other professional activities.
Many professors offer links to their vitas from their homepages.
If you can't find one in your field, your advisor ought to be happy to show you an example. General information about the vita. More vita information. Notice their sidebar for help with everything career and job-related. Much the same information, but they offer a link to a sample.