Dictionary

T1–T12 Symbols that represent the 12 thoracic vertebrae.

toes, six See hexadactyly.

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…

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),…

toe sign See Babinski reflex.

toddler’s fracture See fracture, toddler’s.

tocus Labor, childbirth.

tocophobia Fear of childbirth.

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

tocolysis The slowing or halting of labor during the birth process.

toc-, toco- Prefix meaning childbirth, as in tocolysis (the slowing or halting of labor). Sometimes spelled tok- and toko-.

tobacco A South American herb (Nicotiana tabacum) whose leaves contain 2 to 8 percent nicotine and serve as the source of both smoking and smokeless tobacco and the basis of great health hazards.