T



T




T cell lymphocyte derived from thymus, responsible for cell-mediated immunity.


TAB vaccine against typhoid, paratyphoid A, paratyphoid B. TABT also protects against tetanus.


tachycardia abnormally rapid heart and pulse rate.


tachypnoea abnormally rapid respiration, as in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.


tactile pertaining to touch.


taking up of cervix effacement of cervical canal early in labour.


talipes clubfoot; congenital deformity of uncertain cause, usually detected on first paediatric examination; foot develops at abnormal angle to leg. Positional talipes may occur if oligohydramnios in pregnancy caused fetus to become cramped in utero; may be equinovarus or calcaneovalgus combination. Immediate physiotherapy may correct mild talipes; stretching, massage, splinting or operative treatment may be needed in severe cases.


talipomanus clubhand.


talus ankle bone; highest tarsal bone.


tamoxifen non-steroidal oral antioestrogen used palliatively in postmeno pausal women with breast cancer and to stimulate ovulation in infertility.


tarsus 1. bones composing articulation between foot and leg: talus, calcaneus, navicular, medial, intermediate and lateral cuneiform, and cuboid; ankle or instep. 2. cartilaginous plate forming framework of either (upper or lower) eyelid.


taurine crystallised acid from bile; also in small quantities in lung and muscle tissue; present in high quantities in breastmilk; necessary for conjugation of bile acids in first week of life until glycine takes over function, and for nervous system development.


Taussig–Bing syndrome transposition of great vessels of heart with ventricular septal defect straddled by large pulmonary artery.


taxonomy orderly classification of organisms into appropriate categories (taxa) with application of suitable and correct names.


Tay–Sachs disease inherited autosomal recessive condition, affecting primarily Ashkenazi Jews; progressive disorder marked by degeneration of brain tissue and maculas (with formation of cherry red spot on retinas), dementia, blindness, death. Investigation at 14 weeks’ gestation reveals absence of enzyme hexosaminidase A, which indicates conclusive diagnosis. Carriers have lower level of enzyme in blood.


tea tree oil aromatherapy essential oil; highly anti-infective, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antimicrobial; useful for herpes infection, MRSA, HIV-related infection.


team midwifery midwifery management system with midwives divided into teams to care for identified groups of women; aims to improve communication and continuity of care by reducing number of midwives seen by individual mother. See also caseload midwifery.


tears 1. liquid product from lacrimal ducts, which cleanse eyes 2. See perineal laceration, tentorial tears.


teat 1. nipple of breast. 2. manufactured nipple used on infants’ feeding bottles.


teething eruption of teeth through gums; first tooth usually erupts between 6 and 9 months. See also dentition.


telemetry remote control record of fetal heart and uterine contractions, enabling ambulation during labour.


temazepam hypnotic drug; avoid in first trimester.


temperature degree of heat measured by thermometer, taken via mouth, rectum, axilla or groin, or via mechanical apparatus. Normal t. of human body is 36–37°C (97–98.4°F); varies slightly during day; higher in women during luteal phase of menstrual cycle. See pyrexia and fever.


temporal pertaining to side of head. T. bone irregular skull bone with squamous part forming part of vault.


tendon cord or band of strong white fibrous tissue connecting muscle to bone; when muscle contracts it pulls tendon, which moves bone.


TENS See transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.


tension 1. act of stretching. 2. pressure or concentration of gas; see Po2. Premenstrual t. symptoms occurring due to hormonal changes in 5–7 days before menstrual period, e.g. abdominal distension, headaches, emotional lability, poor coordination, fluid retention etc.


tentorial tears laceration of tentorium cerebelli due to excessive intrapartum moulding or precipitate delivery, causing bleeding from great vein of galen.


tentorium cerebelli septum of dura mater, separating cerebral hemispheres from cerebellum. See intracranial membranes.


teras malformed fetus or infant. Adj teratic.


teratogen agent causing physical defects in developing embryo. Adj teratogenic.


teratogenicity ability to cause defects in developing embryo/fetus; may arise from drugs and other noxious substances, e.g. anticonvulsants, anticoagulants, heroin, alcohol, nicotine, environmental factors including radiation, chemicals, e.g. pesticides, infective agents, e.g. rubella, cytomegalovirus, maternal disease, e.g. diabetes; distinct from mutagenicity, which causes genetic mutations.


teratoma congenital tumour containing teeth, hair and cells of other tissues not normally found in place where situated.


term end of pregnancy, any time after 37th week of pregnancy.


termination of pregnancy (TOP) abortion induced, legally or illegally.


tertiary third. T. syphilis See syphilis.


testicles, testes two glands in scrotum producing spermatozoa and male sex hormones. Undescended t. testicle remains in pelvis or inguinal canal.


testosterone hormone produced by testes; stimulates development of male characteristics.


tetanic relating to tetanus.


tetanus notifiable disease caused by Clostridium tetani, anaerobe found in cultivated soil and manure; tetanus antitoxin confers passive immunity if exposed to infection.


tetany condition caused by calcium deficiency, alkalaemia or impaired parathyroid gland function; tonic contraction of hand and feet muscles (carpopedal spasm) with hypersensitivity of other muscles occurs; artificially fed neonates with low serum calcium concentration may develop tetany. See also hypocalcaemia.


tetracycline antibiotic substance effective against many different micro-organisms; use with caution during pregnancy; if prescribed in second or third trimester, may cause yellow discoloration and subsequent premature degeneration of baby’s bones and first teeth.


tetradactyly four digits on hand or foot.


tetralogy series of four. Fallot’s t. congenital heart defect involving pulmonary stenosis; ventricular septal defect; dextroposition of aorta, in which aortic opening overrides septum and receives blood from both right and left ventricles; right ventricular hypertrophy; surgical correction is required.


thalamus part of brain at base of cerebrum; most sensory impulses pass from body to thalamus and are transmitted to cortex and forebrain.


thalassaemia recessively inherited haemoglobinopathy preventing normal haemoglobin production; individual with one thalassaemia gene and one normal adult haemoglobin (HbA) gene (heterozygous) has thalassaemia trait (healthy carrier); when both genes are abnormal (homozygous), disease is present. Alpha thalassaemia occurs in Chinese, South-east Asian and Mediterranean racial groups; those with trait have no symptoms; carrier status is confirmed by specialist DNA testing; incompatible with life, causes intrauterine hydrops (Bart’s hydrops). Beta thalassaemia occurs in Mediterranean and some Asian racial groups; those with beta thalassaemia trait have no clinical symptoms, but carrier status is suspected if erythrocytes are small and anaemia is present; beta thalassaemia major is not clinically apparent at birth because fetal haemoglobin has compensatory effect but, as fetal haemoglobin declines, baby becomes anaemic and blood transfusions are required every 4–6 weeks for life, with risk of transfusion reactions, infection and iron overload; iron chelation therapy is given from age 2 to prevent toxic accumulation of iron. Pregnant women are screened for beta thalassaemia carrier status and offered partner testing if appropriate; if both are carriers, there is 25% chance of having affected baby.


thalidomide sedative hypnotic drug and immunomodulatory agent used to treat multiple myeloma and leprosy; causes serious developmental deformities of fetus if taken in pregnancy, mainly absence or foreshortening of one or more limbs.


theophylline respiratory stimulant with no known long-term side effects; reduces incidence of apnoeic attacks in small preterm babies.


therapeutic abortion legally induced abortion performed when fetus is grossly malformed or in cases when mother’s physical or mental health is jeopardised if pregnancy continues.


therapy treatment. Chemotherapy treatment with chemical drugs.


thermometer instrument for measuring temperature. Clinical t. special thermometer used to measure and record body temperature.


thermoneutral environment range of environmental temperature over which heat production, oxygen consumption and nutritional requirements for growth are minimal, provided body temperature is normal


thermoregulation balance between heat production and heat loss.


thiamine vitamin B1; component of B complex group of vitamins, found in food, plasma and cerebrospinal fluid; deficiency causes neurological symptoms, cardiovascular dysfunction, oedema, reduced intestinal motility.


thiazole benzothiadiazine sulphonamide derivatives, e.g. chlorothiazide; diuretic action by inhibiting reabsorption of sodium in proximal renal tubule and stimulating chloride excretion.


thiopental sodium pentothal, barbiturate, given intravenously to induce general anaesthesia; not recommended in pregnancy.


third-degree perineal laceration complete tear of whole perineal body extending through anal sphincter into rectum.


third stage of labour from birth of baby to separation and complete expulsion of placenta and membranes, may be managed physiologically (duration 5 minutes to 2 hours, average 20–30 minutes) or actively, with oxytocic drug administered to expedite placental separation and control haemorrhage (duration 5–10 minutes). Placenta and membranes may be delivered actively with controlled cord traction.


thoracic relating to thorax. T. duct large lymphatic vessel situated in thorax along spine, opening into left subclavian vein.


thorax chest; cavity containing heart, lungs, bronchi, oesophagus, bounded by diaphragm below, sternum in front and dorsal vertebrae behind; enclosed by ribs as protective framework.


threatened miscarriage vaginal bleeding, usually slight, sometimes with abdominal pain but no cervical dilatation; usually resolves spontaneously but abortion becomes inevitable if cervix dilates. See also abortion.


threshold level that must be reached for effect to be produced; degree of intensity of stimulus that just produces sensation.


thrill tremor or vibration elicited by tapping wall of cavity containing fluid, e.g. pregnant uterus with polyhydramnios.


thrombo- pertaining to blood clot.


thrombectomy surgical removal of clot from blood vessel.


thrombin substance formed in blood by action of thromboplastin on prothrombin in presence of calcium; thrombin then converts plasma protein fibrinogen into fibrin, forming clot.


thrombocyte blood platelet.


thrombocythaemia increase in number of circulating blood platelets.


thrombocytopenia uncommon deficiency of platelets, characterised by purpuric haemorrhages; usually resolves spontaneously; occurs in neonates of mothers with purpura and congenital rubella.


thromboembolic pertaining to thromboembolism. T. disorders thrombosis and embolism, leading cause of maternal mortality.


thromboembolism obstruction of blood vessel with thrombotic material carried by blood from site of origin to plug another vessel; major cause of maternal death in Britain.


thromboembolitic D stockings (TED stockings) graduated compression stockings used to reduce risk of thromboembolic disorders; mothers at risk should be encouraged to wear them, e.g. prior to, during and after surgery such as Caesarean section.


thrombokinase activated clotting factor X.


thrombolysis dissolution of thrombus.


thrombophilia screen

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Jun 18, 2016 | Posted by in MIDWIFERY | Comments Off on T

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