Glossary

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Tachycardia - a rapid heart rate (over 100 beats per minute)

Tay-Sachs disease - a severe genetic disorder that causes nervous system disturbances and death, usually before the age of 3

Temperature method - a natural method of family planning in which a woman determines her time of ovulation by changes in her daily temperature

Teratogen - anything that causes abnormalities in a developing embryo or fetus, such as a drug or virus

Teratoma - a tumor composed of cells not normally found in the part of the body when the tumor occurred

Termination of pregnancy - see Abortion

Testicles - the two male sex organs that produce sperm and the sex hormone testosterone

Testicular feminization factor - a genetic disorder in which an individual who is genetically male has the external appearance of a female because the body is unresponsive to testosterone

Testosterone - the 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

Tetracyclines - a group of antibiotic drugs used to treat a wide variety of infections, including bronchitis and some types of pneumonia

Tetralogy of Fallot - a genetic heart disease involving four structural defects in the heart, which result in insufficient levels of oxygen in the blood

Thalassemia - a group of genetic blood disorders characterized by a defect in the ability to produce hemoglobin, leading to the rupturing of red blood cells (called hemolytic anemia)

Thromboembolism - blockage of a blood vessel by a blood clot fragment that has broken off and traveled from another area of the body

Thrombophlebitis - inflammation of a vein, along with clot formation in the affected area

Thrombosis - a condition in which a blood clot (thrombus) has formed inside a blood vessel

Thrombus - a blood clot in a blood vessel

Thyroid gland - a gland located in the front of the neck below the voice box that plays an important role in metabolism (the chemical processes in the body) and growth; the gland produces thyroid hormone

Thyroxin - a hormone produced by the thyroid gland that helps regulate energy production in the body

Tietze's syndrome - inflammation of the cartilage that joins ribs to the breastbone, causing chest pain

Tipped uterus - an abnormal condition in which the uterus is tilted backward instead of slightly forward

Toxic shock syndrome - a life-threatening condition caused by a staphylococci toxin

Transferrin - a substance in the blood that transports iron throughout the body

Triglyceride - the main form of fat in the blood; determining levels of triglyceride is useful in diagnosing and treating diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease

Trimester - one of three periods lasting about 3 months each; the stages into which pregnancy is divided

Triple X syndrome - the presence of an extra X chromosome in a woman, which may cause some degree of mental retardation

Trisomy - the presence in the cells of three copies of a certain chromosome instead of the normal two copies

Trisomy 21 - see Down syndrome

Tubal ligation - a procedure in which the fallopian tubes are cut and tied off; usually a permanent form of sterilization

Tubal pregnancy - a 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

Tuboplasty - surgical repair of a damaged fallopian tube to treat infertility

Tumor - an abnormal mass that occurs when cells in a certain area reproduce unchecked; can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign)

Turner's syndrome - a genetic disorder in women in which only one X chromosome is present, or both chromosomes are present but one is defective

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