Dictionary

T-8 cell See T-suppressor cell.

telemedicine The use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications for the health and education of the patient or healthcare provider and for the purpose of improving patient care. Telemedicine includes consultative, diagnostic, and treatment services.

telemetry, cardiac The process of automatic measurement and transmission of data regarding heart rate and rhythm from remote sources. Blood pressure, breathing, level of oxygen in the blood, and body temperature can also be measured. The patient is connected to monitors that record and send the data to a central monitoring area, where trained staff…

telomerase The enzyme that is concerned with the formation, maintenance, and renovation of telomeres, the ends of chromosomes.

telomere The end of a chromosome. The ends of chromosomes are specialized structures that are involved in the replication and stability of DNA molecules. A telomere is a length of DNA that is made up of a repeating sequence of six nucleotide bases (TTAGGG). Small numbers of these terminal TTAGGG sequences are lost from the…

temperature The specific degree of hotness or coldness of the body. The normal body temperature is generally considered to be 37° C (98.6° F). However, the normal body temperature may range between 36.1 to 37.2° C (97° and 99° F) during the day. The body temperature at the beginning of the day, when a person…

temple The area just behind and to the side of the forehead and the eye, above the side of the zygomatic arch (cheekbone) and in front of the ear.

temporal 1 Pertaining to the temple region of the head. For example, the temporal lobe of the brain is so named because of its anatomic location beneath the temple. 2 Pertaining to time, limited in time, temporary, or transient.

temporal arteritis See arteritis, cranial.

temporal bone A large irregular bone that is situated at the base and side of the skull. The temporal bone is connected with the mandible (the jawbone) via the temporomandibular joint.

temporal lobe The lobe of the cerebral hemisphere on the side of the brain just forward of the occipital lobe. The temporal lobe is located beneath the temple region of the head. The temporal lobe contains the auditory cortex, which is responsible for hearing. It is also the site of the seizure activity that is…

temporary loss of consciousness See syncope.