Medical Dictionary: Glossary (T)

What is tachypnea?

Abnormally fast breathing.

What is tetanus?

An often fatal infectious disease that is caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which usually enters the body through a puncture, a cut, or an open wound.

What is tabes dorsalis?

Slowly progressive degeneration of the spinal cord that occurs in the final phase of syphilis a decade or more after originally contracting the infection.

What is thorax?

The part of the body that is located between the abdomen and the neck. Within the thorax are the lungs, the heart, and the first section of the aorta. Also known as chest.

What is thyroid?

A butterfly shaped gland found at the front of the neck , that secretes the thyroxine hormone, a crucial hormone for body functions.

What is tonsils?

Small masses of lymphoid tissue at the back and on both sides of the throat.

What is tremor?

An abnormal, repetitive shaking movement of the body. Tremors have many causes and can be inherited, related to illnesses (such as thyroid disease), or caused by fever, hypothermia, drugs, or fear.

What is tuberculosis?

An infection caused by the bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Usually affects the lung , though it can onvolve other organs like the brain , kidney , spine etc.

What is turgor?

The degree of elasticity of skin, sometimes referred to as skin turgor. The assessment of skin turgor is used clinically to determine the extent of dehydration, or fluid loss, in the body.

What is typhoid fever?

An acute illness with fever , caused by infection with the bacterium Salmonella typhi. Typhoid fever has an insidious onset, with fever, headache, constipation, malaise, chills, and muscle pain.