Glossary of Chiropractic & Medical Terms

TENDON - The fibrous band of tissue that connects muscle to bone. It is mainly composed of collagen. Muscles connect to bones by way of tendons. The muscle starts out as a tendinous origin on a bone, then the muscle transforms again into a tendon as it inserts into another bone. The tendons do not have the capacity to stretch and contract like muscles.

THALAMUS - Brain cells which lie in the upper part of the brain stem.

THERAPEUTIC NECESSITY: Therapeutic necessity exists when planned treatment/care is likely to produce benefit in the management of a patient with a disorder evidenced by recognized signs and symptoms.

THERAPEUTIC TRIALl: A regime of therapy tried for a perceived condition when a definite diagnosis has not been established. A favourable response of the patient may assist in establishing the diagnosis.

THIRD PARTY PAYOR - The source of reimbursement or payment of charges for medical services when the patient does not make direct payment, i.e., payments made by insurance companies, government agencies, or employers. The patient and the doctor represent the two other parties in third party pay arrangements.

THORACIC - The chest level region of the spine that is located between the cervical and lumbar vertebrae. It consists of 12 vertebrae which serve as attachment points for ribs.

THROMBUS - A blood clot attached to the wall of an artery.

TIC DOULOUREUX - See trigeminal neuralgia below.

TMJ (TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT)/TMJ DYSFUNCTION - The TMJ is the joint connection between the jaw bone (mandible) and temporal bone of the skull. It is also referred to as a craniomandibular joint. TMJ Dysfunction is a problem with the alignment and/or function of the jaw. When the junction of the jaw is out of alignment it can create several problems such as headaches, jaw pain, sinus problems, stiffness in the jaw and muscle tension in the face, head, neck and shoulders. TMJ disorders affect spine function, and spinal joint dysfunction can influence the TMJ. Chiropractic treatment should be included in any treatment program for TMJ disorder. Dental consultation is important in diagnosing malocclusion of the jaw.

TORTICOLLIS/TORTIPELVIS - Involuntary spasms of the musculature of the cervical spine (torticollis), or in the lower back and pelvis (tortipelvis), that cause the neck or pelvis to twist out of place, without the ability to move back to an erect or neutral posture.

TOXICOLOGY - The study of the toxic or harmful effects of substances on the body.
Treatment Plan: That element of case management in which a health care regimen appropriate to the diagnosis or clinical impression is identified and initiated.

TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA - Paroxysmal pain in the face. Pain may be so severe that it causes an involuntary grimace or "tic."

TRUE-NEGATIVE RATE: See Specificity

TRUE-NEGATIVE RESULT: A negative test result in a patient who does not have a disease.

TRUE-POSITIVE RATE: See Sensitivity

TUMOR - Any swelling or mass.

ULTRASOUND – Diagnostic: the use of high-frequency sound to create images of internal body structures;

THERAPEUTIC: the use of high-frequency sound waves to treat a body part as part of a physiotherapeutic procedure.