Medical terms - Letter T (page 10) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Toc- (prefix)

Stemming from the Greek word 'tokos' meaning childbirth, we have toc-, toco-, tok-, and toko- as combining forms, all referring to labor or childbirth
Toco-

Prefix meaning childbirth. For example, tocolysis is the slowing or halting of labor. Sometimes spelled tok-, toko-
Tocolysis

The delaying or inhibition of labor during the birth process
Tocolytic

Relating to the inhibition of labor, delaying or halting labor
Tocolytic agent

A medication that can inhibit labor, slow down or halt the contractions of the uterus. Tocolytic agents are widely used today to treat premature labor and permit pregnancy to proceed and so permit the fetus to gain in…
Tocophobia

An abnormal and persistent fear of childbirth. A phobia is an unreasonable fear that can cause avoidance and panic. Phobias are a relatively common type of anxiety disorder. Phobias can be treated with cognitive…
Tocus

Labor, childbirth. Directly from the Greek 'tokos' meaning childbirth
Toddler

A young child who is learning to walk with short unsteady steps. The word toddle is of unknown origin
Toddler elbow

See: Nursemaid's elbow
Toddler's fracture

A torsion fracture of the tibia, without bone displacement
Toe sign

An important neurologic examination based upon what the toes do when the sole of the foot is stimulated. If the big toe goes up, that may mean trouble. The toe sign, also called the Babinski reflex, is obtained by…
Toe, turf

See: Turf toe
Toenail

A toenail is produced by living skin cells in the toe. A toenail consists of several parts including the nail plate (the visible part of the nail), the nail bed (the skin beneath the nail plate), the cuticle (the tissue…
Toenail, ingrown

A common disorder, particularly on the big (great) toe. The corner of the nail curves down into the skin, often due to mis-trimming of the nail, or due to shoes that are too tight. An ingrown toenail can be painful and…
Toes, six

The presence of an extra sixth toe, a very common congenital malformation (birth defect This is called hexadactyly. The word hexadactyly literally means six digits. In medical usage, hexadactyly does not specify whether…
Toilet

1. In medicine, cleansing of a wound and the skin around it. 2. In obstetrics, cleansing of a woman just after childbirth. 3. In dentistry, the cleaning out of a cavity before a restoration. 4. A device for the disposal…
Tok-

From the Greek word 'tokos' meaning childbirth, we have toc-, toco-, tok-, and toko- as combining forms, all referring to labor or childbirth
Toko- (prefix)

Stemming from the Greek word 'tokos' meaning childbirth, we have toc-, toco-, tok-, and toko- as combining forms, all referring to labor or childbirth
Tolerance

A state in which a T cell can no longer respond to antigen. The T cell 'tolerates' the antigen. Also called immune tolerance
Tolerance, immune

See: Immune tolerance
Toll receptor

One of a family of receptors that provide a critical link between immune stimulants produced by microorganisms and the initiation of the host defense. Activation of the toll receptors causes the release of antimicrobial…
Toll-like receptor 4

TLR4. One in a family of receptors that provide critical links between immune stimulants produced by microorganisms and the initiation of host defenses. Abbreviated TLR4. TLR4 is a transmembrane lipopolysaccharide…
Toluidine

A chemical compound implicated, along with aniline, in the causation of bladder cancer. Aniline and o-toluidine -- both compounds are aromatic amines -- are used in the manufacture of a variety of dyes, pharmaceuticals…
Tom-

Or tomo- before a consonant. A combining form meaning a cut, section, slice or layer, as might be achieved by cutting or slicing. Used in the formation of compound words such tomography. From the Greek tomos (a cutting)
Tomo-

Or tom- before a vowel. A combining form meaning a cut, section, or layer, as might be achieved by cutting or slicing. Used in the formation of compound words such tomography. From the Greek tomos (a cutting)
Tomogram

A radiograph (x-ray) of a selected layer of the body made by tomography. A tomogram is a two-dimensional image representing a slice or section through a three-dimensional object. The term tomogram may be made more…
Tomograph

The apparatus for generating a tomogram, a two-dimensional image of a slice or section through a three-dimensional object. The tomograph achieves this remarkable feat by simply moving an x-ray source in one direction as…
Tomography

The process for generating a tomogram, a two-dimensional image of a slice or section through a three-dimensional object. Tomography achieves this remarkable result by simply moving an x-ray source in one direction as…
Tomography, computerized

See: Computerized tomography
Tomography, computerized axial

Pictures of structures within the body created by a computer that takes the data from multiple X-ray images and turns them in pictures. The CAT (computerized axial tomography) scan can reveal some soft-tissue and other…
Tone deafness

The inability to recognize musical tones or reproduce them. Also called amusia
Tongue

The tongue is a strong muscle anchored to the floor of the mouth. It is covered by the lingual membrane which has special areas to detect tastes. The tongue is composed of muscles attached to the lower jaw and to the…
Tongue base

See: Base of tongue
Tongue cancer

Cancer: Malignancy of the tongue; squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. Risk factors include smoking tobacco, smokeless tobacco, heavy alcohol intake, and dentures. Tongue cancer usually occurs after the age of 40…
Tongue tie

A minor congenital anomaly (birth defect) in which the flap of mucous membrane under the tongue (known as the frenum) is too short and limits the normal mobility of the tongue. The medical term for this condition is…
Tongue, anterior

See: Anterior tongue
Tonic-clonic seizure

The classic type of epileptic seizure consisting of two phases to a tonic-clonic seizure -- the tonic phase and the clonic phase. In the tonic phase the body becomes entire rigid, and in the clonic phase there is…
Tonometry

Tonometry: A standard eye test that determines the fluid pressure inside the eye. Increased pressure is a possible sign of glaucoma, a common and potentially very serious eye problem if not detected and treated…
Tonotopic

Pertaining to the spatial arrangement of where sound is perceived, transmitted, or received. There is tonotopy in the cochlea, the small snail-like structure in the inner ear that sends information about sound to the…
Tonotopy

The spatial arrangement of where sound is perceived, transmitted, or received. There is tonotopy in the cochlea, the small snail-like structure in the inner ear that sends information about sound to the brain. There is…
Tonsil stone

A tiny stone (calculus) in the tonsils. These stones, called tonsilloliths, are found within little pockets (crypts) in the tonsils that typically form in chronic recurrent tonsillitis and harbor bacteria. The stones…
Tonsillectomy

Tonsillectomy: The surgical removal of both tonsils. A tonsillectomy may be performed in cases of recurrent tonsillitis, or treat sleep apnea and some speech disorders.
Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis: Inflammation of the of a tonsil, typically as a result of infection by either a virus or bacteria.
Tonsillolith

A tiny stone (calculus) in the tonsils. Also referred to as a tonsillith. These stones, called tonsilloliths, are found within little pockets (crypts) in the tonsils that typically form in chronic recurrent tonsillitis…
Tonsils

Small masses of lymphoid tissue at the back of the throat, on either side of the throat
Tooth

The structures within the mouth that allow for biting and chewing. Teeth have different shapes, depending on their purpose. The sharp canine and frontal teeth allow for biting, while the flattened, thick molars in the…
Tooth and nail syndrome

A genetic disorder characterized by the absence of several teeth at birth and abnormalities of the nails. The disorder is also known as hypodontia and nail dysgenesis or Witkop syndrome (TNS). It was first described by…
Tooth erosion

Tooth erosion is a gradual loss of the normally hard surface of the tooth due to chemical, not bacterial, processes. Erosion is an eating away of a surface. The word 'erosion' comes from the Latin 'erodere' meaning to…
Tooth numbering

The accordance of a unique number to each tooth. The Universal/National System for permanent (adult) dentition (1-32) includes: (1) is the patient's upper right molar and follows around the upper arch to the upper left…
Tooth root

The lower two-thirds of a tooth. The roots are normally buried in bone, and serve to anchor the tooth in position. They are covered with a thin layer of bone, and insert into sockets in the bone of the jaw