tonometry A standard eye test that is done to determine the fluid pressure inside the eye. Increased pressure is a possible sign of glaucoma, a common and potentially very serious problem if not detected and treated promptly. The pressure inside the eye is measured from the outside. In most cases, the pressure can be measured…
tonsil A small mass of lymphoid tissue in the back of the throat (pharynx). There are usually two tonsils, one on either side of the posterior pharynx. Like other lymphatic tissue, the tonsils are part of the immune system and should not be removed without a sufficient reason.
tonsil stone See tonsillolith.
tonsillectomy The surgical removal of both tonsils.
tonsillitis Inflammation of one or both tonsils, typically as a result of infection by a virus or bacteria.
tonsillolith A tiny stone (calculus) in the tonsils. Such stones are found within little pockets (crypts) in the tonsils. These pockets typically form in chronic recurrent tonsillitis, and they harbor bacteria. Tonsilloliths are foul smelling because they tend to contain high quantities of sulfur compounds. When crushed, they give off a characteristic rottenegg smell and…
tooth One of the structures within the mouth that allow for biting and chewing. Teeth have different shapes, depending on their purpose. The sharp canine and incisor teeth allow for biting, and the flattened, thick molars in the back of the mouth provide grinding surfaces for masticating food. All teeth have essentially the same structure:…
tooth, wisdom One of the large molars in the very back of the jaw. The human jaw has changed in size over the course of evolution, and wisdom teeth are no longer needed, but they continue to erupt in many individuals. If the jaw is too small to accommodate them, they may cause pain or…
tooth erosion The gradual loss of the normally hard surface of the tooth due to chemical, not bacterial, processes.
t.i.d. A prescription abbreviation meaning three times a day. See also Appendix A, “Prescription Abbreviations.”
tight foreskin See phimosis.
tilt-table test A test that involves placing a patient on a table with a foot-support, tilting the table upward, and measuring the blood pressure and pulse. Symptoms are recorded with the patient in diverse positions. The tilt-table test is designed to detect postural hypotension (orthostatic hypotension), a condition caused by changing body position from a…