MedTerm Speak

Master the language of medicine

T-Cell

TEE-sel

/ˈtiː sɛl/

A type of lymphocyte which develops in the thymus and is central to the specific immune response.

Tachycardia

tak-ih-KAR-dee-uh

/ˌtækɪˈkɑːrdiə/

An abnormally rapid heart rate, typically defined as over 100 beats per minute at rest.

Target Cell

TAR-get sel

/ˈtɑːrɡɪt sɛl/

A cell which bears receptors for a hormone, drug, or other signaling molecule.

Tendon

TEN-dun

/ˈtɛndən/

A flexible but inelastic cord of strong fibrous collagen tissue attaching a muscle to a bone.

Testosterone

tes-TOS-tuh-rohn

/tɛsˈtɒstəroʊn/

A steroid hormone that stimulates development of male secondary sexual characteristics.

Tetanus

TET-uh-nus

/ˈtɛtənəs/

A sustained muscle contraction evoked when the motor nerve that fires at a very high luminous rate.

Thalamus

THAL-uh-mus

/ˈθæləməs/

A gray matter structure in the forebrain that relays sensory signals to the cerebral cortex.

Thoracic Cavity

thuh-RAS-ik KAV-ih-tee

/θəˈræsɪk ˈkævɪti/

The chamber of the body of vertebrates that is protected by the thoracic spike (rib cage).

Thrombin

THROM-bin

/ˈθrɒmbɪn/

An enzyme in blood plasma which causes the clotting of blood by converting fibrinogen to fibrin.

Thymus

THY-mus

/ˈθaɪməs/

A lymphoid organ situated in the neck of vertebrates that produces T cells for the immune system.

Thyroid Gland

THY-royd gland

/ˈθaɪrɔɪd ɡlænd/

A large ductless gland in the neck which secretes hormones regulating growth and development through the rate of metabolism.

Thyroxine

thy-ROK-seen

/θaɪˈrɒksiːn/

The main hormone (T4) produced by the thyroid gland, acting to increase metabolic rate.

Tidal Volume

TY-dul VOL-yoom

/ˈtaɪdəl ˈvɒljuːm/

The amount of air which moves into or out of the lungs during a single respiratory cycle.

Tight Junction

tyt JUNK-shun

/taɪt ˈdʒʌŋkʃən/

A specialized connection between two adjacent animal cell membranes such that there is no space between them.

Trabeculae

truh-BEK-yuh-lee

/trəˈbɛkjʊli/

A series or group of partitions formed by bands or columns of connective tissue, especially in spongy bone.

Trachea

TRAY-kee-uh

/trəˈkiːə/

A large membranous tube reinforced by rings of cartilage, extending from the larynx to the bronchial tubes; the windpipe.

Transcription

tran-SKRIP-shun

/trænˈskrɪpʃən/

The process by which the information in a strand of DNA is copied into a new molecule of messenger RNA (mRNA).

Translation

trans-LAY-shun

/trænzˈleɪʃən/

The process by which a sequence of nucleotide triplets in mRNA gives rise to a specific sequence of amino acids.

Triglyceride

try-GLIS-er-yd

/traɪˈɡlɪsəraɪd/

An ester formed from glycerol and three fatty acid groups; the main constituents of natural fats and oils.

Tropomyosin

troh-poh-MY-uh-sin

/ˌtroʊpəˈmaɪəsɪn/

A protein involved in muscle contraction, related to myosin and occurring with troponin in the thin filaments of muscle tissue.

Troponin

troh-POH-nin

/ˈtroʊpənɪn/

A globular protein complex involved in muscle contraction, occurring with tropomyosin in the thin filaments of muscle tissue.