Glossary T's
tachycardia
Definition:heart rate of over 100 beats per minute
tuberculin test
Definition:skin test performed to determine previous infection with tuberculosis; can help rule out the possibility of being currently infected with tuberculosis
tuberculosis
Definition:infectious bacterial disease transmitted through the air that mainly affects the lungs
temporal arteritis
Definition:inflammation and narrowing of arteries in the head and neck, including those in the scalp near the temple, which can cause blindness if untreated
tendinitis
Definition:inflammation of a tendon, usually caused by injury, characterized by pain, tenderness, and sometimes limited movement in the attached muscle
tendon
Definition:strong connective tissue cords that attach muscle to bone or muscle to muscle
tenosynovitis
Definition:inflammation of the inner lining of the sheath that covers a tendon
terminal condition
Definition:irreversible condition that, without use of life-sustaining procedures, will result in death in a relatively short time or a state of permanent unconsciousness
testicular torsion
Definition:severe pain and swelling of a testicle, due to twisting of the spermatic cord
tetanus
Definition:disease, sometimes fatal, affecting the brain and spinal cord caused by infection with bacterium present in soil and manure
tetracyclines
Definition:group of antibiotic drugs used to treat a wide variety of infections, including bronchitis and some types of pneumonia
thallium scan
Definition:type of radionuclide scanning used to assess the heart
thalamus
Definition:part of the brain which functions in the integration of sensory information
therapeutic range
Definition:range of doses of a drug that will produce beneficial results without side effects
thoracentesis
Definition:procedure to sample or drain fluid around the lung (pleural effusion)
thoracic
Definition:pertaining to the thorax
thoracoscopy
Definition:examination of the membranes covering the lungs using an endoscope
thoracostomy
Definition:procedure in which the chest is surgically opened to operate on an organ in the chest cavity
thorax
Definition:the chest
thrombectomy
Definition:removal of a blood clot
thromboembolism
Definition:blockage of a blood vessel by a blood clot fragment that has broken off and traveled from another area of the body
thrombolytic
Definition:normal body process that breaks down blood clots; also refers to drug that breaks down clots
thrombophlebitis
Definition:inflammation of a vein, along with clot formation in the affected area
thrombosis
Definition:condition in which a blood clot (thrombus) has formed inside a blood vessel
thrombus
Definition:blood clot in a blood vessel
thyroid gland
Definition:gland located in the front of the neck below the voice box that plays an important role in metabolism and growth; the gland produces thyroid hormone
thyroiditis
Definition:inflammation of the thyroid gland
thyrotoxicosis
Definition:toxic condition resulting from over activity of the thyroid gland
thyroxin
Definition:hormone produced by the thyroid gland that helps regulate energy production in the body
tibia
Definition:thicker of the two long bones in the lower leg; commonly called the shin
tic
Definition:involuntary, repetitive movement such as a twitch
tinnitus
Definition:persistent ringing or buzzing sound in the ear
tissue
Definition:similar cells and intercellular substances combined to perform a specific function in the body
tolerance
Definition:decreased sensitivity of the body to a certain drug, usually either because the liver becomes more efficient at breaking down the drug or the body's tissues become less sensitive to it; increased tolerance creates a need for a higher dose of the drug in order to have the same effects
tonsillitis
Definition:infection and inflammation of the tonsils
tonsils
Definition:masses of lymphoid tissue located at either side of the back of the throat that are part of the immune system
tourniquet
Definition:device placed tightly around an arm or leg in order to stop blood flow; can be used to locate veins in order to take a blood sample or to control blood flow during some operations
toxemia
Definition:presence of bacterial toxins in the blood
toxicity
Definition:the extent to which a substance is poisonous
toxin
Definition:a poisonous substance
trachea
Definition:the tube running from the voice box (larynx) down the neck and into the upper part of the chest, where it divides to form the two bronchi of the lungs; commonly called the windpipe
tracheitis
Definition:inflammation of the trachea
tracheostomy
Definition:creation of an opening in the trachea through which a tube is usually inserted to maintain an open airway and facilitate breathing; also called tracheotomy
traction
Definition:use of tension to hold a body part in place or to correct or prevent an alignment problem
transcutaneous
Definition:passing, entering or made by penetration through the skin
transplant
Definition:transferring a healthy tissue or organ to replace a damaged tissue or organ; also refers to the tissue or organ transplanted
triage
Definition:system used to classify sick or injured people according to the severity of their conditions
tricuspid valve
Definition:valve in the heart that allows blood to flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle, but prevents blood from flowing back
tricyclic antidepressant
Definition:drug used in the treatment of clinical depression
triglyceride
Definition:main form of fat in the blood; determining levels of triglyceride is useful in diagnosing and treating diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease
toxic shock syndrome
Definition:life-threatening condition caused by a staphylococci toxin
tubal pregnancy
Definition:pregnancy that occurs in the fallopian tubes, with a fertilized egg implanting in the tube instead of the uterus; severely painful and can be fatal if not detected and treated
tube thoracostomy
Definition:procedure to re-expand the lung and/or remove fluid or blood around the lung using a chest tube
transesophageal echocardiogram
Definition:ultrasound test in which images of the beating heart are obtained by a probe placed through the mouth into the esophagus and advanced to a position midway between the mouth and stomach, just behind the heart
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Definition:method of relieving pain by applying tiny electrical impulses to nerve endings beneath the skin
terminal illness
Definition:any illness due to which it is anticipated that a person has less than six months to live
testicles
Definition:the two male sex organs that produce sperm and the sex hormone testosterone
testosterone
Definition:sex hormone that stimulates development of male sex characteristics and bone and muscle growth; produced by the testicles and in small amounts by the ovaries
thrush
Definition:candida infection
transient ischemic attack (TIA)
Definition:temporary block in the supply of blood to the brain, resulting in temporary loss of sensation, movement, vision, or speech; often called mini-strokes and can be precursors to a real stroke
tonsillectomy
Definition:surgical removal of the tonsils, usually to treat tonsillitis
Plasminogen Activator (TPA)tissue plasminogen activator (TPA)
Definition:substance produced by the body and as a genetically engineered drug to prevent abnormal blood clotting
tubetracheostomy tube
Definition:tube, inserted into an opening made in the trachea, to maintain an open airway and facilitate breathing
trauma
Definition:physical injury or emotional shock
tumor
Definition:abnormal mass that occurs when cells in a certain area multiply unchecked; can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign)
transurethral prostatectomy
Definition:removal of cancerous tissue from the prostate gland using a resectoscope (a long, narrow instrument passed up the urethra), which allows the surgeon to simultaneously view the prostate and cut away the cancerous tissue
tympanic membrane
Definition:medical term for the eardrum