Medical terms - Letter T (page 8) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Thrombosis

The formation or presence of a blood clot in a blood vessel. The vessel may be any vein or artery as, for example, in a deep vein thrombosis or a coronary (artery) thrombosis. The clot itself is termed a thrombus. If…
Thrombosis, cavernous sinus

A cavernous sinus thrombosis is a blood clot within the cavernous sinus, a large channel of venous blood in a cavity bordered by the sphenoid bone and the temporal bone of the skull. The cavernous sinus is an important…
Thrombosis, deep vein (DVT)

Blood clotting in the veins of the inner thigh or leg. In air travel, DVT is the 'economy-class syndrome.' Even in young, health travelers the long stretches immobilized in cramped seats in cabins with very low humidity…
Thrombospondin

One of a family of glycoproteins (carbohydrates complexed with proteins) that are made in cells, secreted by cells, and incorporated into cells including blood platelets (thrombocytes) from which they take their name…
Thrombotic disease due to protein C deficiency

Protein C is a protein in plasma that enters into the cascade of biochemical events leading to the formation of a clot. Deficiency of protein C results in thrombotic (clotting) disease and excess platelets with…
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)

A life-threatening disease involving embolism and thrombosis (plugging) of the small blood vessels in the brain. TTP is characterized by platelet microthrombi (tiny traveling clots composed of platelets, the clotting…
Thromboxane

A substance made by platelets that causes blood clotting and constriction of blood vessels. There are two thromboxanes. Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) is active but is very unstable and has a half-life of only 30 seconds before…
Thromboxane A2

The active type of thromboxane. Abbreviated TXA2
Thromboxane B2

The inactive product of thromboxane. Abbreviated TXB2
Thrombus

A blood clot in a blood vessel or within the heart. From the Greek thrombos meaning a lump or clump, or a curd or clot of milk
Thrush

Thrush: Yeast infection of the mouth and throat, characterized by patches of white, caused by the fungus Candida albicans . Yeast are part of the normal flora in the mouth. They ordinarily do not cause symptoms. Certain…
Thumb

The short thick finger situated at an angle to the other fingers so it can be opposed to the them, making it possible to pick up and hold things. The thumb is analogous in position to the big toe (the great toe) and…
Thymine (T)

One member of the base pair A-T (adenine-thymine) in DNA.
Thymoglobulin

A brand name for antithymocyte globulin
Thymosin

One of several polypeptide hormones secreted by the thymus that control the maturation of T cells. They are derived from a polypeptide called prothymosin-alpha (PTMA) or alpha thymosin
Thymus

A lymphoid organ situated in the center of the upper chest just behind the sternum (breastbone). It is in the thymus that lymphocytes mature, multiply, and become T cells. (That is why they are called T cells. The T is…
Thymus and parathyroids, hypoplasia of

See: DiGeorge syndrome
Thymus gland

See: Thymus
Thyrocalcitonin

A hormone, also called calcitonin, produced by the thyroid gland that lowers the levels of calcium and phosphate in the blood and promotes the formation of bone. Bone is in a constant state of remodeling whereby old…
Thyroglobulin

A protein found in the thyroid gland. Some thyroglobulin can be found in the blood, and this amount may be measured after thyroid surgery to determine whether thyroid cancer has recurred. Thyroglobulin derived from pig…
Thyroglossal cyst

A fluid-filled sac present at birth in the midline of the neck. A thyroglossal cyst is a congenital malformation (a birth defect). It results from incomplete closure of a segment of the thyroglossal duct, a tube-like…
Thyroglossal duct cyst

Synonymous with a thyroglossal or thyrolingual cyst. See: Thyroglossal cyst
Thyroid

A blood protein that binds with the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4).
Thyroid binding globulin

A blood protein that binds with the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4).
Thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer: Cancer of the gland in front of the neck that normally produces thyroid hormone which is important to the normal regulation of the metabolism of the body. There are 4 major types of thyroid cancer --…
Thyroid cartilage

The largest of the cartilages of the larynx (the voice box). The thyroid cartilage is formed of two approximately quadrilateral plates (called laminae) that are joined anteriorly (in the front) at an angle of from 90°…
Thyroid gland

A gland that makes and stores hormones that help regulate the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and the rate at which food is converted into energy. Thyroid hormones are essential for the function of every…
Thyroid hormone

A chemical substance made by the thyroid gland for export into the bloodstream. The thyroid gland needs iodine to make thyroid hormones. The two most important thyroid hormones are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine…
Thyroid hormone organification defect IIb

See Pendred syndrome
Thyroid hormone receptor

A molecule that receives a thyroid hormone and permits it to dock on the nuclear membrane of a cell. The thyroid hormone receptors (THRs) belong to a family of nuclear receptors that function as hormone-activated…
Thyroid hormones

Chemical substances made by the thyroid gland, which is located in the front of the neck. This gland uses iodine to make thyroid hormones, which are essential for the function of every cell in the body. They help…
Thyroid insufficiency

See: Hypothyroidism
Thyroid peroxidase test

Thyroid peroxidase test: A blood test done to detect autoantibodies directed against thyroid peroxidase (TPO), an enzyme in the thyroid gland that is very important to the production of thyroid hormones. TPO is found in…
Thyroid scan

Thyroid scan: An image taken of the thyroid gland after radioactive iodine is taken by mouth. The thyroid gland is in front of the neck: NTER> Thyroid scanning is a nuclear medicine procedure. As the thyroid gland…
Thyroid stimulating hormone

A hormone produced by the pituitary gland at the base of the brain in response to signals from the hypothalamus gland in the brain. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) promotes the growth of the thyroid gland in the neck…
Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI)

A form of immunoglobulin G (IgG) that can bind to thyrotropin (TSH) receptors on the thyroid gland. TSIs mimic the action of TSH, causing excess secretion of thyroxine and triiodothyronine. The TSI level is abnormally…
Thyroid storm

Thyroid storm is a severe, life-threatening condition caused by an excess of thyroid hormone. A number of factors can be involved in causing thyroid storm, including over-replacement of thyroid hormones or discontinuing…
Thyroidectomy

The surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid gland. NTER> Subtotal thyroidectomy, the more commonly performed operation, involves removal of only a part of the gland. This procedure may be done to: > >Remove a…
Thyroiditis

Thyroiditis: Inflammation of the thyroid gland which is located in front of the neck: NTER> The inflamed thyroid gland can release an excess of thyroid hormones into the blood stream, resulting in a temporary…
Thyroiditis, autoimmune

See: Hashimoto thyroiditis
Thyroiditis, Hashimoto

See: Hashimoto thyroiditis
Thyroiditis, postpartum

Postpartum Thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid gland after pregnancy. NTER>
Thyroiditis, subacute

Subacute Thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid gland after a viral illness. NTER>
Thyrolingual cyst

See: Thyroglossal cyst
Thyroplasty

A surgical technique designed to improve the voice by altering the cartilages of the larynx (the voice box), which houses the vocal folds (the vocal cords) in order to change the position or length of the vocal folds…
Thyrotropin

A hormone produced by the pituitary gland at the base of the brain in response to signals from the hypothalamus gland in the brain. The suffix -tropin indicates 'an affinity for'. Thyrotropin has an affinity for the…
Thyroxine

Abbreviated T4. A hormone made by the thyroid gland that has four iodine molecules attached to its molecular structure. T4 and other thyroid hormones help regulate growth and control the rate of chemical reactions…
TIA

See Transient ischemic attack
Tibia

The larger of the two bones in the leg (the smaller one being the fibula). The tibia is familiarly known as the shinbone. 'Tibia' is a Latin word meaning both shinbone and flute. It is thought that 'tibia' refers to…
Tibia vara

Improper growth of the tibia in the leg, causing bowlegs or other leg problems. The tibia may bow anteriorly (in the front) or posteriorly (in the back). See also tibia vara.