Enter a word or phrase below to search our online dictionary of over 1,300 general medical terms, or click on a letter of the alphabet to view all terms beginning with that letter:
Search for 'T'
| Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| tachycardia | An abnormally rapid heartbeat. |
| tachypnea | Rapid breathing. |
| talus | A bone of the ankle. |
| Tanner staging | A growth chart used to assess the stage of puberty based on pubic hair growth, the development of genitalia in boys and breasts in girls. |
| telogen effluvium | Thinning hair. Rarely results in actual baldness. |
| temporomandibular joint | TMJ. The joint between the lower jaw and the side of the head, located just in front of the ear. |
| tendinitis | Inflammation of a tendon. |
| tendon | A cord of strong white fibrous tissue connecting muscle to bone. |
| teratogen | An agent that causes physical defects in a developing embryo. |
| testis | The male gonad or reproductive organ. |
| testosterone | One of the male sex hormones. |
| tetanus | An infectious disease, often fatal, caused by a Clostridium tetani bacteria. The bacteria usually enters the body through wounds. Characterized by muscle spasms and convulsions. Also called lockjaw. |
| tetany | A continuous muscle spasm. |
| thalassemia | An inherited type of chronic anemia. |
| therapeutic | A substance or treatment that's effective in treating disease. |
| thoracentesis | A surgical puncture and drainage of the chest cavity. |
| thoracic | Having to do with the chest. |
| thorax | The chest. |
| thrombocyte | A platelet. |
| thromboembolism | Blockage of a blood vessel by the piece of a blood clot that has broken loose from its original site. |
| thrombosis | Formation of a blood clot within a blood vessel or the heart. |
| thrush | Infection of the mouth by yeast. Characterized by milky-white lesions on the mouth, lips and throat. |
| thymus | A ductless gland located behind the upper portion of the breastbone. |
| thyroid gland | A large endocrine gland located in the front and sides of the neck and below the Adam's apple. Essential for the regulation of growth and metabolism. |
| thyroxine | The hormone from the thyroid gland that's essential in metabolism. |
| tibia | The larger of two bones in the lower leg. |
| tic | An involuntary spasm or twitching of a muscle. |
| tinea | A general term for fungal infections of the skin, usually combined with a description of the site or cause. Examples include tinea cruris or "jock itch," and tinea pedis or "athlete's foot." |
| tinnitus | Ringing in the ears. Sensation of a high-pitched sound that's not actually present. |
| tissue | A group of similar cells that together perform certain specialized functions. |
| tongue | The muscular organ attached to the floor of the mouth. Used to speak, chew, swallow and taste. |
| tonsillectomy | A procedure to remove the tonsils. |
| tonsils | A pair of oval masses of lymphoid tissue, one on each side of the throat at the back of the mouth. |
| toxemia | The presence of toxic substances in the blood from bacteria or body cells. |
| toxic | Poisonous. |
| trachea | The air passage extending from the throat to the bronchi. Also called the windpipe. |
| tracheostomy | A surgical incision in the trachea (the windpipe) through which a rigid tube is inserted to allow air to enter. |
| trachoma | A chronic infectious eye disease caused by Chlamydia infection of the eye. A leading cause of blindness worldwide. |
| transfusion | Introduction of blood or blood products through a vein into the body's circulation. |
| transplantation | The transfer of living organs or tissue from a donor to another person or from one area in the body to another. |
| trauma | Injury produced by an external force. |
| trench mouth | An acute, severe bacterial infection of the gums and lining of the mouth. |
| triage | A system of assigning priorities of medical treatment based on urgency, severity of injury and chance for survival. |
| triceps | A muscle of the arm used to extend the forearm. |
| trichinosis | Infection with a roundworm caused by consumption of larvae in undercooked pork or other infected meat. |
| trichomoniasis | Infection with Trichomonas protozoa. Frequently causes vaginal itching and discharge in women. It's usually acquired by sexual contact with an infected partner. |
| tricuspid valve | The heart valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle. |
| trisomy | The presence of an extra chromosome in addition to the usual pair. Down syndrome is an example of a condition caused by trisomy. |
| truss | A device to keep a hernia in its proper place. |
| TSH | Thyroid-stimulating hormone. A pituitary hormone that stimulates thyroid hormone production. |
| tuberculin | A protein injected into the skin to test for tuberculosis infection. |
| tuberculosis | An infectious disease caused by bacteria and characterized by the formation of tubercles in various tissues of the body, especially of the lungs. |
| tumor | Overgrowth of tissue. |
| tussis | Cough. |
| tympanic membrane | The eardrum. |
| typhoid fever | A bacterial infection with Salmonella typhi transmitted by contaminated water, milk or other foods. Proper sanitation and hygiene prevent the spread of disease. |
| typhus | An infectious disease spread to people by the bite of ticks, mites, fleas and lice. Typhus is characterized by high fever, headache and a rash. |
