Neuroglossary

Terms used in brain injury, spinal cord injury and other neurotrauma treatment and rehabilitation

T (T1-weighted images - turgor)

T1-weighted images - In MRI's, these are images where a relatively short TE (transverse plane sampling time) of generally 17 msec, but less than 30 msec, and short TR (sampling time in the T1) of generally 500 msec, but less than 800 msec, are utilized. These images typically generate the best anatomic images and are valuable for demonstrating marrow disorders. T1-weighted images are also well suited for evaluating contrast enhancement.

T2-weighted images - In MRI's, these are images where a relatively long TE (transverse plane sampling time) of generally more than 80 msec, and long TR (sampling time) of generally greater than 2000 msec are used. These images are the most sensitive for detecting the hydration state of the disc and are valuable in detecting extradural lesions. These pulsing sequences are important to establish the presence of intramedullary lesions of the spinal cord. At higher field strengths these images are also useful in identifying marrow disorders.

tactile - Pertaining to the touch.

tempora - The temples; the region on either side of the head, above the zygomatic arch.

temporal lobe - Lobe at lateral-anterior area of the cerebrum; governs and regulates memory, olfactory, recognition, sexual expression, etc.

temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ) - A disorder, sometimes caused by trauma to the head and neck, characterized by pain arising from the articulation between the skull and the mandible.

tendon - Fibrous cord, by which a muscle is attached.

teno- - Combining form denoting relationship to a tendon.

tenoblasts - Immature tendon cells.

tenocyte - The cell of a tendon.

tensile - Of, undergoing, or exerting tension. Capable of being stretched.

tension - The act of stretching; the condition of being stretched or strained; the degree to which anything is stretched or strained.

tera- - Combining form referring to abnormal congenital defects.

teratogen - Substance, agent, or factor that interferes with embryonic development and causes gross deformities in the embryo.

teratology - The part of embryology that deals with grossly abnormal development and congenital malformations. In earlier times, they were considered warnings or portents of the future, magical, and divinatory. A few hundred years ago, fetal disease, by way of a transplacental route, was suggested as a cause. Genetics and a hereditary aspect were suspect. Now, factors in the maternal environment as well as genetics are the concerns of teratology, which became a science in the early nineteenth century

testes - Male gonads that produce hormones and generate sperm cells.

theca - Surrounding case or sheath, usually refers to the dura mater.

thoracic spine (dorsal spine) - Part of the spine that corresponds to the chest, behind the chest.

thoraco- - Pertaining to the chest.

thoracolumbar junction - Pertains to the area where the rigid thoracic spine joins with the flexible lumbar spine. Usually it refers to segments T11, T12, an L1. It is a common site of fracture because the thoracolumbar junction acts as a fulcrum for the spineﾒs motion.

thoracostomy tube - Tube inserted through an opening in the chest wall, for application of suction to the pleural cavity that is often used to reexpand the lung in spontaneous pneumothorax.

three-column principle - Classification system that divides vertebral bodies in order to identify locations of certain injuries. We use it to visualize how injury can cause instability of the spine. Physiologically, when damaged, the spine follows a pattern as if it had three columns, close to each other. This principle refers to the thoracic and lumbar spines.

three joint complex - Since, in the intervertebral joint, the joint articulates in three places, between the two facet joints with the adjacent two facets joints and between the intervertebral disc and the adjacent intervertebral disc, this motion segment is called the three joint complex. Each independent articulation allows the motions of flexion, extension, and torsion.

thrombo- - Combining form denoting relationship to thrombus or blood clot.

thromboxane - An intermediate in the metabolic pathway of arachidonic acid, formed from prostaglandin endoperoxides and released from suitably stimulated platelets.

tibial nerve - One of the nerves affected when a disc herniation occurs between L5 and S1. Pain is in the posterior part of the thigh behind the knee, the popliteal space (underside of the knee), the calf, the heel, and on the lateral (outside) aspect of the foot and big toe.

tic - A coordinated, repetitive movement, often of the face.

tinnitus - A sound experienced subjectively with no external source. May be due to a disorder of the auditory apparatus or of the brain.

tissue factor - Tissue factor, evoked by damaged tissue, acts to produce blood clots.

-tomo, -tomy - Combining form relating to a cutting or operation, or to a layer achieved by cutting or slicing.

tonicity - Sustained partial contraction of muscles when they are relaxed or resting.

tonus - The steady contraction of the muscles to maintain the posture of the body.

tors- - Combining form meaning twist or rotation.

torsion - The act of twisting and rotating along the axis of the structure.

torticollis - Condition in which the neck twists to one side of the head by contraction of the cervical muscles. Also called wry neck.

trachea - Tube descending from the larynx and branching into the right and left main bronchi.

tract - Bundle of nerve fibers having the same origin, function an distribution.

traction - A form of pulling one structure by another, along its axis. For instance, cervical traction separates the vertebrae of the spine by pulling the head up against the weight of the body.

traction rings - Horizontal projections of bone, growing parallel to the surface of the vertebrae. As seen in lateral plain x-rays, they are 1 mm above or below the discal border. They indicate segmental instability and do not represent degeneration of the disc.

transaction - Section or cut made transversely across a long axis.

transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) - Way to reduce pain through electrodes applied to the skin.

translational acceleration - Velocity changes of an object moving along a straight line or vector through the center of gravity.

transligamentous - In the spine, this refers to disturbing and going across into the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) fibers.

transthoracic decompression - Surgery done for the release of pressure on the spinal canal. It is done by way of (trans) a surgical incision in the chest (thoracic) approach.

transverse - Placed crosswise; situated at right angles to the long axis of a part.

transverse arteries - Vertebral arteries that go through the foramina from the sixth to the first cervical vertebrae up to the brain.

transverse foraminae - Natural openings in ether transverse processes of cervical vertebrae that, in the upper six vertebrae, transmit the vertebral vessels. In the seventh vertebra, it is small or possibly absent.

transverse ligament of the atlas (atlantis) - The strong horizontal part of the atlasﾒs cruciform ligament that attaches at each end to the atlasﾒs lateral masses and curves at the back around the dens of the axis. In this way it divides the atlantal ring into a smaller anterior division of the dens, and a larger posterior division for the spinal cord and related structures. Also called Lauthﾒs ligament.

transverse processes - Part of the vertebrae that project posterolaterally from the junction of the pedicles and laminae. They resemble wings of the vertebral body, acting as levers and providing attachments for the deep back muscles.

transversospinalis muscles - General term that includes the semispinalis and multi-fidus muscles and the rotators.

trapezius muscles - Muscles that rotate the scapula to raise the shoulder in abduction of the arm. They draw the scapula backward. Innervation is from the accessory nerve and the cervical plexus. It originates in the occipital bone, the ligamentum nuchae, and the spinous processes of seventh cervical and all thoracic vertebrae. It inserts into the clavicle, acromion, and the spine of the scapula.

treadmill exercises - Walking, as on a treadmill, for physical therapy.

tremor - Rhythmic movement of a joint, usually the hands. Indicative of anxiety states or CNS disease, common as a drug reaction.

trigeminal nerve - Cranial Nerve V. A complex motor and sensory nerve with three sensory components (ophthomologic, maxillary, mandibular) receiving sensation from face and underlying structure and with motor components to tear glands, etc.

trigeminal nerve nuclei - Nuclear complex of the trigeminal nerve that is located chiefly in the pons and medulla oblongata, but also in the mesencephalon and upper cervical cord. They are the nuclei motorus nervi trigemini; the nuclei sensorius principalis nervi trigemini; the nuclei mesencephalicus nervi trigemini, and the tractus spinalis nervi trigemini.

trigger point - See active myofascial trigger point.

trochlear nerve - Cranial Nerve IV. Supplies superior oblique muscle of the eye.

tropho- - Combining form denoting relationship to food or nutrition. Many words contain it, since in the embryonic stage nutrition is involved in the development of the embryo.

trophoblast - Also called trophoderm, this is the outermost layer of extraembryonic tissue of the blastocyst, attaching the fertilized ovum to the uterine wall. It supplies nutrition to the embryo.

trophoectoderm - Surrounding epithelial layer of a blastocyst, composed of cells called trophoblasts. It develops into a fetal membrane system.

tubercle - Rounded elevation on a bone; a small raised eminence.

tuberosity - Large rounded elevation on a bone.

turgor - The condition of being swollen and congested. Turgor vitalis: the normal consistence of living tissue.