Long Term Care Glossary of Terms
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Temporal arteritis- inflammation and narrowing of arteries in the head and neck, including those in the scalp near the temple, which can cause blindness if untreated. (Source: AMA)

Temporomandibular joint syndrome- headache, facial pain, and jaw tenderness caused by irregularities in the way the joints, muscles, and ligaments in the jaw work together. (Source: AMA)

Tendinitis- inflammation of a tendon, usually caused by injury, characterized by pain, tenderness, and sometimes limited movement in the attached muscle. (Source: AMA)

Therapeutic range- the range of doses of a drug that will produce beneficial results without side effects. (Source: AMA)

Thoracoscopy- examination of the membranes covering the lungs using an endoscope. (Source: AMA)

Thoracotomy- a procedure in which the chest is surgically opened to operate on an organ in the chest cavity. (Source: AMA)

Thorax- the chest. (Source: AMA)

Thromboembolism- blockage of a blood vessel by a blood clot fragment that has broken off and traveled from another area of the body. (Source: AMA)

Thrombophlebitis- inflammation of a vein, along with clot formation in the affected area. (Source: AMA)

Thrombosis- a condition in which a blood clot (thrombus) has formed inside a blood vessel. (Source: AMA)

TIA- see Transient ischemic attack. (Source: AMA)

Tinnitus- a persistent ringing or buzzing sound in the ear. (Source: AMA)

Tolerance- decreased sensitivity of the body to a certain drug, usually either because the liver becomes more efficient at breaking down the drug or the body's tissues become less sensitive to it; increased tolerance creates a need for a higher dose of the drug in order to have the same effects. (Source: AMA)

Tonometry- the procedure used to measure the pressure within the eye; is useful in detecting glaucoma. (Source: AMA)

Tourette's syndrome- a movement disorder characterized by involuntary tics and noises, and in some cases uncontrollable shouting of obscenities. (Source: AMA)

Toxicity- the extent to which a substance is poisonous. (Source: AMA)

Trachea- the tube running from the larynx (the voice box) down the neck and into the upper part of the chest, where it divides to form the two bronchi of the lungs; commonly called the windpipe. (Source: AMA)

Tracheotomy- insertion of a tube through a surgical opening in the trachea to maintain an open airway. (Source: AMA)

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation- a method of relieving pain by applying tiny electrical impulses to nerve endings beneath the skin. (Source: AMA)

Transient ischemic attack- a temporary block in the supply of blood to the brain, resulting in temporary loss of sensation, movement, vision, or speech; often called mini-strokes and can be precursors to a real stroke. (Source: AMA)

Triage- a system used to classify sick or injured people according to the severity of their conditions. (Source: AMA)

Triglyceride- the main form of fat in the blood; determining levels of triglyceride is useful in diagnosing and treating diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. (Source: AMA)

Tuberculosis- an infectious bacterial disease transmitted through the air that mainly affects the lungs. (Source: AMA)

Tumor- an abnormal mass that occurs when cells in a certain area reproduce unchecked; can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). (Source: AMA)

Tunnel vision- loss of peripheral vision so that only objects directly ahead can be seen; most commonly due to damage caused by increased pressure within the eye (glaucoma). (Source: AMA)

Typhoid fever- an acute bacterial infection causing fever, headache, abdominal discomfort, and enlargement of the liver and spleen. (Source: AMA)

Typhus- a group of diseases caused by the microorganism rickettsia, spread by the bites of fleas, mites, or ticks; symptoms include headache, fever, rash, and a series of complications if untreated. (Source: AMA)

Ulcer- an open sore that occurs on the skin or on a mucous membrane because of the destruction of surface tissue. (Source: AMA)

Ulcerative colitis- a chronic condition in which ulcers occur on the mucous membrane lining of the colon (the end of the large intestine) and the rectum. (Source: AMA)

Ultrasound scanning- an imaging procedure used to examine internal organs in which high-frequency sound waves are passed into the body, reflected back, and used to build an image; also sometimes called sonography. (Source: AMA)

Urinalysis- a group of physical and chemical tests done on a sample of urine to check for various disorders, including those of the kidneys and urinary tract. (Source: AMA)

Urinary incontinence- the involuntary release of urine because of the inability to control bladder muscles; may occur as a natural part of the aging process or be caused by an injury or disorder. (Source: AMA)

Urinary tract- the structures in the body that are responsible for the production and release of urine, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. (Source: AMA)

Uterine prolapse- a condition in which the uterus moves downward into the vagina due to a weakness of the ligaments and muscles that hold the uterus in place. (Source: AMA)

Valvotomy- surgical correction of a narrowed heart valve. (Source: AMA)

Varicose veins- enlarged, twisted veins just below the surface of the skin, caused by defective valves in the veins. (Source: AMA)

Vascular- pertaining to blood vessels. (Source: AMA)

Vasculitis- inflammation of blood vessels. (Source: AMA)

Vasovagal attack- a sudden slowing of the heart, causing faintin. (Source: AMA)

Venipuncture- piercing of a vein with a hollow needle to inject fluid or withdraw blood. (Source: AMA)

Venography- an X-ray procedure for viewing veins. (Source: AMA)

Ventilation- the process through which oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged between the lungs and the air; also refers to the use of a machine to carry out this process in someone who cannot breathe on his or her own. (Source: AMA)

Ventilator- a machine used to take over breathing when a person cannot breathe on his or her own. (Source: AMA)

Ventricle- a small cavity or chamber; there are four ventricles in the brain that circulate cerebrospinal fluid through it, and two in the heart that pump blood throughout the body. (Source: AMA)

Ventricular fibrillation- rapid, irregular contractions of the heart. (Source: AMA)

Ventricular septal defect- a hole in the wall that separates the two lower chambers of the heart (called the ventricles). (Source: AMA)

Vertebral arteries- a pair of arteries running up the neck to supply the brain with blood. (Source: AMA)

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency- episodes of dizziness and weakness caused by insufficient blood flow to the brain. (Source: AMA)

Vertigo- the feeling that one or one's surroundings are spinning. (Source: AMA)

Wart- a contagious, harmless growth caused by a virus that occurs on the skin or a mucous membrane. (Source: AMA)

Weight-bearing exercise- exercise that puts stress on bones, such as walking, which helps build up bone density and prevent the bones from becoming brittle. (Source: AMA)

Wheeze- a high-pitched sound produced during breathing because of narrowing of the airways; common sign of asthma. (Source: AMA)

Whiplash injury- injury to the ligaments, joints, and soft tissues of the neck region of the spine because of a sudden, violent jerking motion of the head. (Source: AMA)

Whipple's disease- a rare disorder that has widespread effects on the body, including impaired absorption of nutrients, weight loss, joint pain, and anemia. (Source: AMA)

White blood cell count- the number of white blood cells present in a blood sample; useful in diagnosing and evaluating various diseases and infections. (Source: AMA)

Xeroderma pigmentosum- a genetic disorder in which the skin is extremely sensitive to sunlight, causing it to age prematurely and leaving the individual particularly susceptible to skin cancer. (Source: AMA)

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