Dictionary

toxicology The study of the nature, effects, and detection of poisons (toxins) and the treatment of poisoning.

tocolytic Relating to the inhibition, delaying, or halting of labor. For example, a tocolytic drug is a medication that deters labor.

tocophobia Fear of childbirth.

tocus Labor, childbirth.

toddler’s fracture See fracture, toddler’s.

toe sign See Babinski reflex.

toenail A tough, protective plate that is produced by living skin cells in the toe. A toenail consists of several parts, including the nail plate (the visible part of the nail), the nail bed (the skin beneath the nail plate), the cuticle (the tissue that overlaps the plate and rims the base of the nail),…

toenail, ingrown A common disorder, particularly on the big (great) toe, in which the corner of the nail curves down into the skin due to mistrimming of the nail or due to shoes being too tight. An ingrown toenail can be painful and lead to infection. Sometimes simply removing the corner of the nail from…

toes, six See hexadactyly.

T1–T12 Symbols that represent the 12 thoracic vertebrae.

tongue A strong muscle that is anchored to the floor of the mouth. The tongue is covered by the lingual membrane, which has special areas to detect different types of tastes. The tongue muscles are attached to the lower jaw and to the hyoid bone, a small, U-shaped bone that lies deep in the muscles…

tongue tie A minor congenital anomaly in which the flap of mucous membrane under the tongue (known as the frenulum) is unusually short and limits somewhat the mobility of the tongue. The name tongue tie reflects the unfounded folk belief that with this condition, a child cannot feed or speak properly because the tongue is…