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Kinesiology Dictionary
Please use this dictionary of professional kinesiology terms and definitions to help you learn. New terms and definitions will be added on a regular basis for you to learn from. I have decided to extend the dictionary to include terms and definitions from sciences that relate to and support being a kinesiologist or any other healthcare professional. Knowledge itself is power - use the dictionary to empower yourself. Please use the letters in blue below as links to get to the first letter of the term you are looking for. You will be transferred to another page containing those terms and definitions accordingly. Enjoy!
Term | Definition | Associated Field |
|---|---|---|
T-wave | ECG deflection representing ventricular repolarization. | ECG |
TLR (Toll-Like Receptor) | Immune receptor detecting pathogens. | Biology |
TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) | Brain stimulation technique. | Neuroscience |
Tachycardia | Abnormally fast heart rate (>100 bpm). | ECG / Pathophysiology |
Tachypnea | Abnormally rapid breathing. | Physiology |
Talus | Ankle bone transmitting weight between tibia and foot. | Anatomy |
Tarsals | Cluster of bones forming the ankle. | Anatomy |
Taste Bud | Sensory organ for taste perception. | Anatomy / Physiology |
Taut Band | Tight segment in muscle linked to trigger points. | Sport Injury |
Tectorial Membrane | Inner ear structure involved in hearing. | Anatomy |
Tegmentum | Brainstem region regulating motor functions. | Neuroscience |
Tendon | Connective tissue attaching muscle to bone. | Anatomy |
Tendonitis | Inflammation of a tendon. | Sport Injury |
Tenosynovitis | Inflammation of tendon sheath. | Pathophysiology |
Tension Headache | Headache due to muscle contraction and stress. | Pathophysiology / Psychology |
Tension Pneumothorax | Collapsed lung with mediastinal shift. | Pathophysiology |
Tentorium Cerebelli | Dural fold separating cerebrum from cerebellum. | Anatomy |
Teratogen | Agent causing developmental abnormalities. | Pathophysiology |
Terminal Bouton | Axon ending releasing neurotransmitters. | Neuroscience |
Testis | Male reproductive organ producing sperm/testosterone. | Anatomy |
Testosterone | Hormone regulating male traits and muscle growth. | Physiology |
Tetanus (Disease) | Infection by Clostridium tetani causing muscle spasms. | Pathophysiology |
Tetanus (Muscle) | Sustained muscle contraction without relaxation. | Physiology |
Thalamus | Brain relay center for sensory/motor signals. | Neuroscience |
Thiamine (Vitamin B1) | Essential vitamin for energy metabolism. | Nutrition |
Thoracic Cage | Ribcage protecting thoracic organs. | Anatomy |
Thoracic Vertebrae | Twelve vertebrae in mid-spine. | Anatomy |
Thorax | Chest region housing heart and lungs. | Anatomy |
Threshold Stimulus | Minimum signal needed to trigger response. | Physiology |
Thrombocyte (Platelet) | Cell fragment essential for blood clotting. | Physiology |
Thrombosis | Formation of a blood clot inside a vessel. | Pathophysiology |
Thymus | Gland where T-cells mature. | Anatomy |
Thyroid Cartilage | Largest laryngeal cartilage (Adam’s apple). | Anatomy |
Thyroid Gland | Endocrine gland regulating metabolism. | Physiology |
Thyroxine (T4) | Thyroid hormone regulating metabolism. | Physiology |
Tibia | Shinbone, weight-bearing lower leg bone. | Anatomy |
Tibialis Anterior | Muscle enabling dorsiflexion of foot. | Anatomy |
Tidal Volume (TV) | Normal air volume inhaled/exhaled per breath. | Physiology |
Tight Junction | Cell connection preventing leakage. | Biology |
Tilt Table Test | Clinical test for diagnosing fainting (syncope). | Medicine |
Time to Exhaustion Test | Exercise test measuring endurance capacity. | Exercise Testing |
Tinnitus | Ringing in the ears. | Pathophysiology |
Tonic Contraction | Continuous, sustained partial muscle contraction. | Physiology |
Tonometer | Device measuring intraocular pressure. | Medicine |
Tonus | State of partial muscle contraction. | Physiology |
Topography (Brain) | Mapping of brain function by regions. | Neuroscience |
Torque | Rotational force around an axis. | Physics / Biomechanics |
Torso | Trunk of the human body. | Anatomy |
Total Lung Capacity (TLC) | Maximum volume of air lungs can hold. | Physiology |
Touch Receptor | Sensory nerve detecting tactile stimuli. | Physiology |
Trachea | Windpipe connecting larynx to bronchi. | Anatomy |
Tracheostomy | Surgical opening in trachea for breathing. | Medicine |
Tract | Bundle of nerve fibers in CNS. | Anatomy |
Training Load | Measure of volume and intensity of exercise. | Exercise Physiology |
Training Volume | Total amount of work performed in training. | Strength & Conditioning |
Trapezius | Large back/neck muscle stabilizing scapula. | Anatomy |
Trapezoid Bone | Carpal bone in wrist. | Anatomy |
Trauma | Injury from external force. | Pathophysiology |
Tremor | Involuntary rhythmic muscle movement. | Pathophysiology |
Trendelenburg Gait | Abnormal gait from hip abductor weakness. | Biomechanics |
Triacylglycerol (Triglyceride) | Main form of stored fat. | Nutrition / Biochemistry |
Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) | Wrist stabilizing structure. | Anatomy / Sport Injury |
Triceps Brachii | Upper arm muscle extending elbow. | Anatomy / Strength & Conditioning |
Triceps Reflex | Deep tendon reflex testing C7-C8. | Physiology |
Trigeminal Nerve (CN V) | Cranial nerve for facial sensation/mastication. | Anatomy |
Trigger Point | Localized muscle knot causing referred pain. | Sport Injury |
Triglyceride Hydrolysis | Breakdown of fat into glycerol and fatty acids. | Biochemistry |
Triglycerides | Blood lipids storing energy. | Nutrition |
Triiodothyronine (T3) | Active thyroid hormone regulating metabolism. | Physiology |
Triplanar Motion | Movement across all three anatomical planes. | Biomechanics |
Triplet Code | Genetic coding of amino acids by three nucleotides. | Genetics |
Trochanter (Greater/Lesser) | Bony prominences of femur for muscle attachment. | Anatomy |
Trochlea | Pulley-like bone structure guiding tendon. | Anatomy |
Trochlear Nerve (CN IV) | Cranial nerve controlling eye movement. | Anatomy |
Trophic Factors | Molecules supporting neuronal survival. | Neuroscience |
Trophoblast | Outer embryonic cells forming placenta. | Biology |
Tropic Hormone | Hormone regulating other endocrine glands. | Physiology |
Tropomyosin | Protein stabilizing actin filaments. | Physiology |
Tropomyosin-Blocking Site | Actin region regulating contraction. | Physiology |
Troponin | Protein regulating muscle contraction; biomarker for heart attack. | Biochemistry / Medicine |
True Vocal Cords | Structures producing sound in larynx. | Anatomy |
Trunk Flexion | Bending forward at the waist. | Biomechanics |
Trunk Rotation | Twisting motion of the torso. | Biomechanics |
Trypsin | Digestive enzyme breaking down proteins. | Biochemistry |
Tuberosity | Rounded bone projection for tendon/ligament attachment. | Anatomy |
Tubulin | Protein forming microtubules. | Biology |
Tuning Fork Test | Clinical hearing test using vibration. | Medicine |
Turbulent Flow | Chaotic fluid flow pattern. | Physics |
Turgor Pressure | Pressure of water inside plant/animal cells. | Physiology |
Tympanic Membrane | Eardrum separating outer/middle ear. | Anatomy |
Tympanometry | Test assessing middle ear function. | Medicine |
Type I Muscle Fibers | Slow-twitch, fatigue-resistant fibers. | Exercise Physiology |
Type II Muscle Fibers | Fast-twitch, powerful but fatigue quickly. | Exercise Physiology |
Tyrosine | Amino acid precursor to catecholamines and thyroid hormones. | Biochemistry |
Tyrosine Kinase | Enzyme transferring phosphate to tyrosine residues. | Biochemistry |
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