Medical terms - Letter T (page 2) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Talc

A very soft, soapy-feeling mineral that is a silicate of magnesium, sometimes with small amounts of aluminum silicate. Talc is used in making dusting powder (talcum powder), in cosmetic preparations, and as a filter aid…
Talipes

Clubfoot. The Latin word talipes was compounded from talus (ankle) + pes (foot) since, with the common ('classic') type of clubfoot (talipes equinovarus), the foot is turned in sharply and the person seems to be walking…
Talipes equinovarus

The common ('classic') form of clubfoot. Talipes is made up of the Latin talus (ankle) + pes (foot). Equino- indicates the heel is elevated (like a horse's) and -varus indicates it is turned inward. With this type of…
Talus

The ankle bone. The ankle joint is formed by the talus and the bottom of the tibia and fibula that rest upon it. The Latin word 'talus' means ankle and in medicine it can refer to the entire ankle, too.
Tamoxifen (Nolvadex)

An antiestrogen (a drug that blocks the effects of estrogen) which competes with estrogen for binding sites in target tissues such as breast. Tamoxifen has been widely publicized. It was approved by the US Food and Drug…
Tampon

A tampon is a pack or pad used to plug, to stanch, to stop the flow of blood or other fluids. The tampon may be made of cotton, sponge, or another material. Tampons serve in surgery to control bleeding. Likewise, with…
Tamponade, balloon

A procedure in which a balloon is inflated within the esophagus or stomach to apply pressure on bleeding blood vessels, compress the vessels, and stop the bleeding. Used in the treatment of bleeding veins in the…
Tamponade, cardiac

A life-threatening situation in which there is such a large amount of fluid (usually blood) inside the pericardial sac around the heart that it interferes with the performance of the heart. The end result, if untreated…
Tamponade, chronic

A situation in which a chronic excess of fluid inside the pericardial sac and thickening of the pericardial sac progressively compress the heart and impair its performance. The excess fluid in the pericardial sac acts…
Tamponade, esophagogastric

A procedure in which a balloon is inflated within the esophagus or stomach to apply pressure on bleeding blood vessels, compress the vessels, and stop the bleeding. Used in the treatment of bleeding veins in the…
Tamponade, pericardial

A life-threatening situation in which there is such a large amount of fluid (usually blood) inside the pericardial sac around the heart that it interferes with the performance of the heart. The end result, if untreated…
Tanapox

A poxvirus infection common in equatorial Africa. The disease starts with mild fever for 2 to 4 days accompanied by headache and myalgia (muscle ache), followed by the eruption of one or more large red nodules on the…
Tandem mass spectrometry

An instrument used in medical laboratories consisting of two mass spectrometers in series connected by a chamber known as a collision cell. The sample to be examined is essentially sorted and weighed in the first mass…
Tandem MS

Abbreviation for tandem mass spectrometry. See: Tandem mass spectrometry
Tandem repeat sequences

Multiple copies of the same DNA base sequence on a chromosome; used as a marker in physical mapping of the chromosome
Tap, joint (aspiration)

A procedure whereby a sterile needle and syringe are used to drain joint fluid from the joint. This is usually done as an office procedure or at the bedside in the hospital. The skin over the joint is sterilized with a…
Tap, spinal

Also known as a lumbar puncture or 'LP', a spinal tap is a procedure whereby spinal fluid is removed from the spinal canal for the purpose of diagnostic testing. It is particularly helpful in the diagnosis of…
Tapazol

Trade name for methimazole, an antithyroid medication.
Tapeworm

A worm that is flattened like a tape measure and functions as an intestinal parasite, unable to live freely on its own but able to do so within an animal's gut. The eggs usually enter the body via raw or uncooked beef…
Tapeworm infection, pork

Known medically as cysticercosis, an infection caused by Taenia solium (the pork tapeworm). Infection occurs when the tapeworm larvae enter the body and form cysticerci (SIS-tuh-sir-KEY) (cysts). When cysticerci are…
Tapeworm, African

See Taenia saginata.
Tapeworm, armed

Taenia solium
Tapeworm, beef

See Taenia saginata.
Tapeworm, measly

Taenia solium
Tapeworm, pork

Taenia solium
Taphephobia

Fear of being buried alive. A phobia is an unreasonable sort of fear that can cause avoidance and panic. Phobias are a relatively common type of anxiety disorder. Phobias can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy…
TAR syndrome

TAR stands for Thrombocytopenia (low blood platelets) and Aplasia (absence) of the Radius (the long bone on the thumb-side of the forearm), features characterizing this syndrome. There is phocomelia (flipper-limb) with…
Tarantella

A remarkable example of early music therapy that originated in the region of Taranto, a city in southeastern Italy, in the 15th to 17th centuries. There it was believed that the bite of the tarantula spider, while not…
Tarantism

A disease once thought to result from the bite of the tarantula spider. This extraordinary affliction was associated with melancholy, stupor, madness and an uncontrollable desire to dance. In fact, dancing off the…
Tarantismo

See: Tarantism.
Tarantismo

A neurological syndrome characterized by repetitive, involuntary, purposeless movements caused by the long-term use of certain drugs called neuroleptics used for psychiatric, gastrointestinal and neurological disorders…
Tardive dyskinesia

A procedure that uses computers to create a 3-dimensional picture of the tumor in order to target the tumor as accurately as possible and give it the highest possible dose of radiation while sparing normal tissue as…
Targeted radiation therapy

A procedure that uses computers to create a 3-dimensional picture of the tumor in order to target the tumor as accurately as possible and give it the highest possible dose of radiation while sparing normal tissue as…
Tarsal cyst

Also called a Meibomian cyst or a chalazion. A tarsal cyst is an inflammation of the oil gland of the eyelid
Tarsal gland

See: Meibomian gland
Tarsal tunnel syndrome

A type of compression neuropathy (nerve disease due to compression of the nerve) in the ankle and foot. Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is similar to the better-known carpal tunnel syndrome (CTT) caused by compression and…
Tarsus

Any broad flat surface. The flat of the eyelid is called the tarsus, as is the base of the heel. The bones in the heel are collectively called the bony tarsus. Tarsus comes from the Greek 'tarsos' meaning a wicker…
Tarsus, bony

See: Bony tarsus
Tartar

Tartar is the hardened product of longstanding plaque accumulating minerals from the saliva and foods. Plaque is the soft accumulation of food debris and bacteria around teeth. These bacteria feed on left over food in…
Tassinari syndrome

Taste belongs to our chemical sensing system, or the chemosenses. The complicated process of tasting begins when molecules released by the substances stimulate special cells in the mouth or throat. These special sensory…
Taste

Taste belongs to our chemical sensing system, or the chemosenses. The complicated process of tasting begins when molecules released by the substances stimulate special cells in the mouth or throat. These special sensory…
Taste bud

One of the tiny, barrel-shaped endings of the gustatory nerve located around the base of the papillae (small bumps) on the tongue
Tattoo

>non-reactive pigments; >sterile, disposable needles; and >sterile work conditions. Without these refinements, inks may cause inflammation, and infection is an ever-present danger. Persons who are prone to keloid…
Tattoo removal

Tattoo removal: Those who regret getting a tattoo have three choices: hide it, cover it with a better tattoo, or have it removed. The most effective form of tattoo removal is the use of a laser to destroy the ink…
Tattoos & permanent makeup

The intradermal application of inks for the purpose of tattooing or permanent makeup (also known as micropigmentation). The pigments in these inks raise concerns about tattoo removal, adverse reactions to tattoo colors…
Tay-Sachs disease

A genetic metabolic disorder caused by deficiency of the enzyme hexosaminidase A (hex-A) that results in a failure to process a lipid called GM2 ganglioside that accumulates in the brain and other tissues. Abbreviated…
TB

Common abbreviation (spelled out T-B) for tuberculosis. Tuberculosis took its name from the characteristic tubercles (tiny lumps) caused by infection with the bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that is responsible…
TC-99 tetrofosmin scintimammography

Scintimammography is an imaging technique that uses a radioisotope (a radioactive substance) to help visualize the breast and find cancer. Scintimammography using the radioisotope technetium tetrofosmin (Tc-99…
TCM

Traditional Chinese medicine
Td

Adult diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. See Td immunization