T cell (T sel): Lymphocyte that acts by secreting molecules that regulate the immune system or by causing the destruction of foreign cells, viruses, and cancer cells.

tachycardia (tak-ē-KARD-ē-ă): Condition of a fast heart (rate).

tachypnea (tak-i(p)-NĒ-ă): Rapid breathing.

tarsectomy (tar-SEK-tŏ-mē): Excision of the tarsal.

temporal lobe (TEM-p(ŏ-)răl lōb): Region of the cerebral cortex directly beneath the temporal bone of the cranium.

tendinitis (ten-dĭ-NĪT-ĭs): Inflammation of the tendon.

tenomyoplasty (tĕn-ō-MĪ-ō-plăs-tē): Surgical repair of the tendon and muscle.

tenorrhaphy (tĕn-OR-ă-fē): Suturing of a tendon.

tenosynovitis (ten-ō-sin-ŏ-VĪT-ĭs): Inflammation of the tendon and synovial membrane.

teratogen (tĕ-RAT-ŏ-jĕn): Agent producing malformations (in a developing embryo)such as chemicals, viruses and environmental factors.

teratogenic (tĕ-rat-ŏ-JĔN-ĭk): Producing malformations.

teratology (tĕr-ă-TŎL-ō-jē): The study of malformations.

term built from word parts: Term that can be translated literally to find their meaning.

term NOT built from word parts: Term that cannot be translated literally.

testes (TĔS-tēs): Male gonads (singular = testis).

testicular cancer (tĕs-TĬK-ū-lăr KAN-sĕr): Cancer of the testicle.

testicular torsion (tĕs-TĬK-ū-lăr TOR-shŏn): Twisting of the spermatic cord causing decreased blood flow to the testis. Considered a surgical emergency and accompanied by sudden onset of severe scrotal pain.

thalamus (THĂL-ă-mŭs): Major region of the diencephalon that is responsible for relaying information between the cerebrum and the hindbrain, spinal cord, and periphery.

thalassemia (thal-ă-SĒ-mē-ă): An inherited condition typically occurring in individuals from the Middle East, the Mediterranean, African, and Southeast Asia, in which maturation of the RBCs does not proceed normally. The most severe form is called Cooley’s anemia.

thermoreceptors (thĕr-mō-rē-SĔP-tor): Specialized neurons that respond to changes in temperature.

thoracalgia (thō-răk-ĂL-jē-ă): Pain in the chest.

thoracentesis (thō-ră-sen-TĒ-sĭs): Surgical puncture to aspirate fluid from chest cavity.

thoracic (thō-RĂS-ĭk): Pertaining to the chest.

thoracic duct (thō-RĂS-ĭk dŭkt): Large duct that drains lymph from the lower limbs, left thorax, left upper limb, and the left side of the head.

thoracocentesis (thō-ră -kō-sen-TĒ-sĭs): Surgical puncture to aspirate fluid (from the chest cavity).

thoracoscope (thō-RĀ-kō-skōp): Instrument used to visualize the chest cavity.

thoracoscopy (thō-ră-KŎS-kō-pē): Visual examination of the chest cavity.

thoracotomy (thō-răk-ŎT-ō-mē): Incision into the chest cavity.

tract (trakt): Bundle of axons in the central nervous system having the same function and point of origin.

thrombocytes (THRŎM-bō-sīts): These are cell fragments that aid in blood clotting.

thrombocytopenia (throm-bŏ-sīt-ŏ-PĒ-nē-ă): Abnormal reduction of (blood) clotting cells.

thrombocytosis (THRŎM-bō-sī-tŏ-sĭs): A condition in which there are too many platelets.

thrombolysis (throm-BOL-ĭ-sĭs): Dissolution of a (blood) clot.

thrombophlebitis (throm-bō-flĕ-BĪT-ĭs): Inflammation of a vein associated with a (blood) clot.

thrombosis (throm-BŌ-sĭs): Formation of unwanted blood clots.

thrombus (THROM-bŭs): (blood) clot (attached to the interior wall of artery or vein).

thymectomy (thī-MĔK-tō-mē): Excision of the thymus gland.

thymocytes (THĪ-mŏ-sīt): Lymphocytes that develop into T-cells in the thymus gland.

thymoma (thī-MŌ-mă): Tumor of the thymus gland.

thymus (THĪ-mŭs): Primary lymphoid organ, where t lymphocytes proliferate and mature.

thyroidectomy (thī-royd-EK-tŏ-mē): Excision of the thyroid gland.

thyroiditis (thī-royd-ĪT-ĭs): Inflammation of the thyroid gland.

thyroidotomy (thī-royd-ŎT-ō-mē): Incision into the thyroid gland.

thyroparathyroidectomy (thī-rō-par-ă-thī-royd-EK-tŏ-mē): excision of the thyroid gland and parathyroid glands.

tibial (TĬB-ē-ăl): Pertaining to the tibia.

tinea (TIN-ē-ă): A group of fungal skin diseases, characterized by itching, scaling, and sometimes painful lesions.

tissue (TISH-oo): Group of many similar cells that work together to perform a similar function.

tissue membrane (TISH-oo MEM-brān): Thin layer or sheet of cells that covers the outside of the body, the organs, internal passageways that lead to the exterior of the body, and the lining of the movable joint cavities.

tissue rejection (TISH-oo rĕ-JEK-shŏn): The recipient’s immune system recognizes the transplanted tissue, the graft, as non-self and mounts an immune response against it, ultimately destroying it.

tissue typing (TISH-oo TĪP-ĭng): The determination of MHC molecules in the tissue to be transplanted to better match the donor to the recipient.

tomography (tō-MOG-ră-fē): Process of recording slices.

tonometer (tō-NOM-ĕt-ĕr): Instrument used to measure pressure (within the eye).

tonometry (tō-NOM-ĕ-trē): Process of measuring pressure (within the eye).

tonsillectomy (tŏn-sĭl-ĔK-tō-mē): Excision of the tonsils.

tonsillitis (tŏn-sĭl-Ī-tĭs): Inflammation of the tonsils.

tonsils (TON-sĭls): Lymphoid nodules associated with the nasopharynx.

toxic shock syndrome: Severe illness characterized by high fever, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, and myalgia followed by hypotension and, in severe cases, shock and death. Typically occurs in women using tampons and caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes.

trachea (TRĀ-kē-ă): The trachea (windpipe) extends from the larynx toward the lungs.

tracheitis (trā-kē-Ī-tĭs):Inflammation of the trachea.

trachelectomy (trak-ĕ-LEK-tŏ-mē): Excision of the cervix.

trachelorrhaphy (trā-kĕl-OR-ă-fē): Suturing of the cervix.

tracheoplasty (TRĀ-kē-ō-plăs-tē): Surgical repair of the trachea.

tracheostenosis (trā-kē-ō-stĕn-Ō-sĭs): Narrowing of the trachea.

tracheostomy (trā-kē-ŎS-tō-mē): Creation of an artificial opening into the trachea.

transdermal (trănz-DĔRM-ăl): Pertaining to through the skin.

transient ischemic attack (TIA) (TRAN-zē-ĕnt is-KĒ-mē-ă ă-TAK): Temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain in which symptoms occur rapidly but last only a short time.

transurethral (trans-ū-RĒ-thrăl): Pertaining to through the urethra.

transurethral incision of the prostate gland (TUIP): Surgical procedure that widens the urethra by making a few small incisions in the bladder neck and the prostate gland.

transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT): Treatment that eliminates excess tissue present in benign prostatic hyperplasia by using heat generated by microwave.

transurethral resection of the prostate gland (TURP): Surgical removal of pieces of the prostate gland tissue by using an instrument inserted through the urethra.

transverse plane (trăns-VĔRS plān): Plane that divides the body or organ horizontally into upper and lower portions.

trichomoniasis (trĭk-ō-mō-NĪ-ă-sĭs): Sexually transmitted disease caused by the one-cell organism Trichomonas. Chiefly affects the urinary tract, vagina, or digestive system.

tubal ligation (TOO-băl lī-GĀ-shŏn): Surgical closure of the fallopian tubes for sterilization.

tympanic membrane (tĭm-PĂN-ĭk MEM-brān): Ear drum.

tympanometer (tĭm-pă-NŎM-ĕ-tēr): Instrument used to measure the middle ear.

tympanometry (tĭm-pă-NŎM-ĕ-trē): Measurement of the tympanic membrane.

tympanoplasty (tĭm-păn-ō-PLĂS-tē): Surgical repair of the tympanic membrane.