Medical terms - Letter T (page 3) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Td immunization

Td is the vaccine given to children over six and adults as a booster for immunity to diphtheria and tetanus
Tear

A drop of the salty secretion of the lacrimal glands which serves to moisten the conjunctiva and cornea
Tear film

The liquid layer bathing the cornea and conjunctiva. It creates a perfectly smooth liquid outer layer that polishes the corneal surface, mechanically traps and flushes out foreign bodies and chemicals, contains…
Tear gas poisoning

See: Riot control agent poisoning
Tear gland

The gland that makes tears. An abnormality of the tear glands can impair the production of the tears and lead to dry eyes. Also called a lacrimal gland
Teaspoon

An old-fashioned but convenient household measure. A teaspoon holds about 5 cc of liquid
Technetium 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…
Technology transfer

The process of converting scientific findings from research laboratories into useful products by the commercial sector
Technology, recombinant DNA

A series of procedures used to join together (recombine) DNA segments. A recombinant DNA molecule is constructed (recombined) from segments from 2 or more different DNA molecules. Under certain conditions, a recombinant…
TEE

Transesophageal echocardiography. A diagnostic test which employs ultrasound waves to make images of the heart chambers, valves and surrounding structures and which is done through the esophagus. TEE may be used, for…
Teething

Teething is the emergence of the primary (baby) teeth through a baby or child's gums. Teething usually begins between four and seven months of age. While the lower central bottom teeth (central incisors) are normally…
Telangiectasia perstans

A form of mastocytosis that usually affects adults, characterized by the presence of multiple hyperpigmented macules with telangiectases (visibly dilated small blood vessels), located primarily on the trunk, but also on…
Telangiectasia, hereditary hemorrhagic

See: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia
Telemedicine

The use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications for the health and education of the patient or healthcare provider and for the purpose of improving patient care…
Teleological

Serving an ultimate purpose in its design. For example, 'What is the true purpose of the nose?' That is a teleological question. For another example, to say that all evolutionary changes occur for a definite purpose is…
Teleology

The study of the ultimate purpose of the design of something in nature. For example, 'what is the true purpose of the nose?' is a teleological question and, to say that all evolutionary changes occur for a definite…
Telepathology

The use of telecommunications technology to facilitate the transfer of image-rich pathology data between remote locations for the purposes of diagnosis, education, and research. Telepathology systems are divided into…
Telesurgery

Surgical procedures carried out at a distance thanks to advances in robotic and computer technology and their applications to surgery. The first demonstration of trans-Atlantic telesurgery was reported in 2001 when…
Telogen effluvium

>The growing, or anagen, stage is the predominant phase (80% to 90% of a person's hair is usually in the anagen phase). >A transitional, or catagen, stage. >Resting, or telogen, stage. When new hair growth is initiated…
Telomerase

An enzyme concerned with the formation, maintenance, and renovation of telomeres, the ends of chromosomes. Telomerase regulates the proliferative capacity of human cells. Telomerase activation plays a critical role in…
Telomere

The end of a chromosome, a specialized structure involved in the replication and stability of the chromosome. On the DNA level, the telomere is a dull stretch of road. It is a length of DNA monotonously made up of a…
Temperature

The temperature is the specific degree of hotness or coldness of the body. It is usually measured with a thermometer
Temple

An area just behind and to the side of the forehead and the eye, above the side of the check bone (the zygomatic arch) and in front of the ear. In optometry, the temple is the side bar of a pair of glasses which passes…
Temporal

1. Pertaining to time, limited in time, temporary, or transient.2. Pertaining to the temple region of the head. The temporal lobe of the brain is located beneath the temple. From the Latin tempus which means both time…
Temporal arteritis

Also called giant cell arteritis or cranial arteritis, this is a serious disease characterized by inflammation of the walls of the blood vessels (vasculitis). The vessels affected by inflammation are the arteries (hence…
Temporal bone

A large irregular bone situated at the base and side of the skull. The temporal bone is connected with the mandible (the jaw bone) via the temporomandibular (TM) joint. The temporal bone is formed of three parts…
Temporal lobe

The lobe of the cerebral hemisphere located down on the side just forward of the occipital lobe. The temporal lobe contains the auditory cortex which is responsible for hearing. It is also the site of the seizure…
Temporal lobe epilepsy

See: Epilepsy, temporal-lobe
Temporal-lobe epilepsy

Epilepsy that is characterized by abnormal electrical activity in the temporal lobe of the brain. This activity does not cause grand mal seizures; rather, it causes unusual behaviors and patterns of cognition. Temporal…
Temporary loss of consciousness

A partial or complete loss of consciousness with interruption of awareness of oneself and ones surroundings. When the loss of consciousness is temporary and there is spontaneous recovery, it is referred to as syncope…
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)

The joint that hinges the lower jaw (mandible) to the temporal bone of the skull. It is one of the most frequently used joints in the entire body, moving whenever a person eats, drinks, or talks
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ): A disorder of the temporomandibular joint(s) that causes pain, usually in front of the ear(s), sometimes in the form of a headache. Pain in the TMJ can be due to trauma, such as a…
Ten-day measles

An acute highly contagious viral disease with fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and a spreading skin rash, the measles (also known as rubeola) is a potentially disastrous disease. It can be complicated by ear…
Tendinitis

Inflammation of a tendon (the tissue by which muscle attaches to bone). Tendinitis most commonly occurs as a result of injury, such as to the tendons around the shoulder or elbow. It can also occur as a result of an…
Tendo Achilles

See: Achilles tendon
Tendo calcaneus

See: Achilles tendon
Tendon

The tissue by which a muscle attaches to bone. A tendon is somewhat flexible, but fibrous and tough. When a tendon becomes inflamed, the condition is referred to as tendinitis or tendonitis. Inflamed tendons are at risk…
Tendon, Achilles

See: Achilles tendon
Tendon, patellar

See: Patellar tendon
Tendonitis, Achilles

See: Achilles tendonitis
Tendonitis, patellar

See: Patellar tendonitis
Tendonopathy

Any disease or dysfunction of a tendon, The form of tendonopathy is named for the affected tendon, as in Achilles tendonopathy or rotator cuff tendonopathy. Patellar tendonopathy is an overuse syndrome of the patellar…
Tendonopathy, patellar

See: Patellar tendonitis
Tenesmus

Straining, especially long-continued, ineffectual and painful straining, at stool or in urination. Straining at stool is called rectal tenesmus; straining at urination is called vesical tenesmus.
Tenia

In medicine, tenia is a genus (group) of large tapeworms some of which are parasitic in humans. In anatomy, tenia refers to a band or a structural line and applies to several bands and lines of nervous matter in the…
Tennis elbow

A painful injury to the tendon that is attached to the outer part of the elbow due to repetitive twisting of the wrist or forearm which causes irritation and inflammation of the extensor tendon. This tendon attaches to…
Tenormin

See: Atenolol
Tenosynovitis, De Quervain's

1) The pressure within a vessel, such as blood pressure: the pressure within the blood vessels. For example, elevated blood pressure is referred to as hypertension. 2) Stress, especially stress that is translated into…
Tension

1) The pressure within a vessel, such as blood pressure: the pressure within the blood vessels. For example, elevated blood pressure is referred to as hypertension. 2) Stress, especially stress that is translated into…
Tension pneumothorax

The pressure of the blood within an artery, the arterial pressure. Also called the intra-arterial pressure. For example, elevated blood pressure is referred to as hypertension.