tricuspid valve One of the four heart valves, the first one that blood encounters as it enters the heart. The tricuspid valve stands between the right atrium and the right ventricle, and it allows blood to flow only from the atrium into the ventricle.
tricuspid Having three flaps or cusps. For example, the aortic valve and the tricuspid valve in the heart each have three cusps.
trichotillomania Compulsive hair pulling. An impulse control disorder characterized by the repeated urge to pull out scalp hair, eyelashes, eye brows, or other body hair. Treatment may include cognitive-behavior therapy and medications.
trichomoniasis Infection with the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. The infection is sexually transmitted, and the vagina is the most common site of infection in women, while the urethra (urine canal) is the most common site of infection in men. Most men with trichomoniasis have no signs or symptoms; however, some men may have an irritation inside…
trichomonas A single-celled protozoan parasite best known in medicine because one species causes vaginitis (vaginal inflammation). The species of trichomonas responsible for the sexually transmitted disease is Trichomonas vaginalis. The vagina is the most common site of infection in women, and the urethra (urine canal) is the most common site of infection in men. See…
trichobezoar A wad of swallowed hair and food. Trichobezoars can sometimes cause blockage of the digestive system, especially at the exit of the stomach. See also bezoar.
trichinosis A disease that is due to eating raw or undercooked pork or wild game that is infected with Trichinella spiralis larvae. Initial symptoms are abdominal discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, and fever. Next usually come headaches, fevers, chills, cough, eye swelling, aching joints, muscle pains, itchy skin, diarrhea, and constipation. With heavy infection, patients…
trichinellosis See trichinosis.
Trichinella spiralis The worm that causes trichinosis. Trichinella spiralis larvae can infest pigs and wild game. It hibernates in muscle tissue within a protective cyst. When a human or an animal eats meat that contains infective Trichinella cysts, the acid in the stomach dissolves the hard covering of the cyst and releases the worms. The…
triceps The muscle that extends (straightens) the forearm. The triceps can be felt as the tense muscle in the back of the upper arm while one is doing push-ups. The triceps has three heads, or origins. Its full name is the triceps brachii.
TRICARE See CHAMPUS.
triage The process of sorting people based on their need for immediate medical treatment as compared to their chance of benefiting from such care. Triage is done in emergency rooms, disasters, and wars, when limited medical resources must be allocated to maximize the number of survivors. Triage in this sense originated in World War I….