Medical terms - Letter T (page 9) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Tibial bowing

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.
Tibial muscular dystrophy

See: Muscular dystrophy, tibial
Tic

A repetitive movement that is difficult, if not impossible, to control. Tics can affect any group of muscles. The most common are facial tics, such as eye- blinking, nose-twitching, or grimacing. Tics that affect the…
Tic disorder

A disorder characterized by the presence of tics. If both motor and vocal tics are present for more than six months, the diagnosis of Tourette syndrome may be made. Diagnosis is by observation. Treatment is not usually…
Tic douloureux

A synonym for trigeminal neuralgia. From the French, meaning literally a painful tic. See: Trigeminal neuralgia
Tick

A small wingless bloodsucking insect that, along with the mite, belongs to the order Acarina. Ticks may be found in tall grass, where they may attach to a passing animal or person. Pulling a tick forcefully out from…
Tick bite

A bite from a bloodsucking, parasitic insect that punctures the skin with a sharp beak. The tic burrows into the skin with its head. Tick bites can carry serious illness, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, other…
Tick fever

See: Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Tick typhus

Also known as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, an acute febrile (feverish) disease initially recognized in the Rocky Mountain states, caused by Rickettsia rickettsii transmitted by hard-shelled (ixodid) ticks. Occurs only…
Tick typhus, African

See Typhus, African tick
Tick typhus, Queensland

See: Queensland tick typhus
Tick, American dog

See American dog tick
Tick, Rocky Mountain wood

See Rocky Mountain wood tick
Tick-borne disease

>Babesiosis (a malaria-like infection) >Colorado tick fever (generally in the western US) >Ehrlichiosis >Lyme disease >Relapsing fever (also called tick fever, most common in the western US) >Rocky Mountain spotted…
Tick-borne rickettsioses of the eastern hemisphere

There are 3 known diseases caused by infection with rickettsial agents. They are North Asian tick-borne rickettsiosis, Queensland tick typhus, and African tick typhus (fievre boutonneuse)
Tick-borne rickettsiosis, north Asian

One of the tick-borne rickettsial diseases of the eastern hemisphere, similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, but less severe, with fever, a small ulcer (eschar) at the site of the tick bite, swollen glands nearby…
Tid (on prescription)

Seen on a prescription, tid means three times a day. It is an abbreviation for 'ter in die' which in Latin means three times a day. The abbreviation 'tid' is sometimes written without a period either in lower-case…
Tight foreskin

See Phimosis
Tilt-table test

Tilt-table test: Tilt-table testing involves placing the patient on a table with a foot-support. The table is tilted upward and the blood pressure and pulse are measured and symptoms are recorded with the patient in…
Time, prothrombin

A clotting test, the prothrombin time is done to test the integrity of part of the clotting scheme. The prothrombin time is commonly used as a method of monitoring the accuracy of blood thinning treatment…
Timothy syndrome

A childhood disorder characterized by severe cardiac arrhythmia, syndactyly (webbing) of the fingers and toes, congenital heart disease, intermittent hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), cognitive abnormalities and autism…
Tinea barbae

A superficial fungal infection of the skin, affecting the bearded area of the face and neck, with swellings and marked crusting, often with itching, sometimes causing the hair to break off. Also known as ringworm. In…
Tinea capitis

A superficial fungus infection of the skin, affecting the scalp. Also known as ringworm. This disorder occurs most commonly in children, especially those in late childhood and adolescence. It can spread in schools…
Tinea cruris

A superficial fungus infection of the crotch and perineum known popularly as jock itch. Good general hygiene helps prevent it, as does keeping the area clean and dry . Laundering underwear and athletic supporters…
Tinea incognito

Tinea corporis, a common fungal infection of the skin, better known as ringworm, whose appearance has been modified by the application of high-potency topical steroids in a way that renders it no longer visually…
Tinea unguium

>People with diabetes; >People with disease of the small blood vessels (peripheral vascular disease); and >Older women (perhaps because estrogen deficiency increases the risk of infection); and >Women of any age who…
Tinel's sign

An examination test that is used by doctors to detect an irritated nerve. Tinel's sign is performed by lightly banging (percussing) over the nerve to elicit a sensation of tingling or 'pins and needles' in the…
Tinnitus

Tinnitus: 'Ringing in the ears' or another noise that seems to originate in the ears or head. Tinnitus is due to diverse causes including ear infections, fluid in the ears, Meniere syndrome, medications such as aspirin…
TIPS

TIPS stands for 'transjugular, intrahepatic, portosystemic shunt.' It is a shunt (tube) placed between the portal vein which carries blood from the intestines to the liver and the hepatic vein which carries blood from…
Tired

A feeling of a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency of accomplishment, usually accompanied by a sense of weariness and fatigue. Tiredness is not a singular symptom that defines any one particular disease…
Tiredness

See: Tired
Tissue

A tissue in medicine is not like a piece of tissue paper. It is a broad term that is applied to any group of cells that perform specific functions. A tissue in medicine need not form a layer. Thus, > >The bone marrow is…
Tissue plasminogen activator

(tPA) An enzyme that helps dissolve clots. tPA is made by the cells lining blood vessels and has also been made in the laboratory. It is systemic thrombolytic (clot-busting) agent and is used in the treatment of heart…
Tissue, connective

See: Connective tissue
Tissue, lymphoid

A part of the body's immune system that helps protect it from bacteria and other foreign entities. Lymphoid tissue is rich in lymphocytes (and accessory cells such as macrophages and reticular cells). The lymphoid…
Titer

The degree of dilution of a substance such as an antibody, reflecting the strength of the solution. The English spell it 'titre,' French for 'title,' derived from the Latin 'titulus,' an inscription or label. The…
Titin

A giant filamentous protein essential to the structure, development, and elasticity of muscle. The gene encoding titin is mutated in tibial muscular dystrophy
Titre

Variant spelling of 'titer' -- the degree of dilution of a substance such as an antibody, reflecting the strength of the solution. Americans spell it 'titer' while the English spell it 'titre,' French for 'title,'…
TLR4

Toll-like receptor 4
TLSO

Thoracolumbosacral orthosis. This is one of two main types of braces used to correct the lateral (sideways) curve of the spine in scoliosis. Patients can wear this brace to correct spinal curves whose apex is at or…
TMA

See Trimethylaminuri
TMJ

Tempero-mandibular joint, the joint that hinges the lower jaw (mandible) to the skull.
TMJ syndrome

Disorder of the temporo-mandibular joint(s) causing pain usually in front of the ear(s).
TMR

Stands for transmyocardial laser revascularization, a procedure by which a physician uses a laser to make holes in the heart to relieve the pain of severe angina. TMR has been done from both the outside and inside of…
TMS

Transcranial magnetic stimulation
TNF

Tumor necrosis factor
TNFRSF6

Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 6. Also called FAS. See: FAS gene
Tobacco

A South American herb, formally known as Nicotiana tabacum, whose leaves contain 2-8% nicotine and serve as the source of smoking and smokeless tobacco. Nicotiana tabacum belongs to the nightshade family, which also…
Tobacco smoke, environmental

Abbreviated ETS. See: ETS.
Tobacco smoking

Smoking: The direct inhalation of tobacco smoke, the basis of major health hazards. Long known to cause cancer in humans, tobacco smoking is generally held to be the leading preventable cause of cancer in developed…