Word Of The Day

Dorland's Word of the Day is a great way to broaden your knowledge of medical terminology. With a new and interesting term brought to you from the 32nd edition of Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary each day, it's an easy and fun way to increase your medical vocabulary!

You can view a new word on this website each day.

Today's Word

uncombable hair syndrome

an abnormality of the hair inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, in which the individual hairs are triangular in cross section, with a longitudinal groove; the hair has a spun-glass appearance and is arranged in bundles that stand out in different directions. Called also pili canaliculi, pili trianguli et canaliculi, and spun glass hair syndrome.

Word of the Day Archive

twin transfusion syndrome

a syndrome caused by twin-to-twin transfusion (q.v.); the donor twin develops hypovolemia, hypotension, anemia, microcardia, and growth retardation, while the recipient develops hypervolemia, hypertension, polycythemia, cardiomegaly, and congestive heart failure; hydramnios frequently occurs. Called also twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

twiddler's syndrome

dislodgement, breakdown, or other malfunction of an artificial cardiac pacemaker, chemotherapy port, drip infusion valve, or similar implanted diagnostic or therapeutic device as a result of unconscious or habitual manipulation by the patient.

TNF-receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS)

a periodic fever of autosomal dominant inheritance, caused by mutations in the gene for tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and characterized by febrile attacks lasting one or two days to two weeks, frequently accompanied by myalgia, abdominal pain and gastrointestinal disturbances, headache, testicular pain, conjunctivitis, periorbital edema, pleuritis, erythematous skin lesions, and arthralgia. There is neutrophilia, and serum C-reactive protein is elevated while the soluble type 1 receptor for TNF-a is decreased. Called also familial Hibernian fever.

TINU syndrome

a rare syndrome of tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis, often with immunologic alterations; called also Dobrin syndrome.

staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome

an infectious disease of infants, young children, and occasionally older children and adults, seen after infection with certain strains of Staphylococcus aureus (phage group II), which elaborate exfoliatin, an epidermolytic erythrogen endotoxin. Clinical signs range from a localized bulla to widespread fine vesicles and bullae that are easily ruptured, resulting in exfoliation of large sheets of skin, leaving raw, denuded areas that make the skin surface look scalded. Called also dermatitis exfoliativa neonatorum and Ritter's disease.

slipping rib syndrome

weakness or rupture of the medial fibrous attachments of the eighth, ninth, or tenth ribs, so that their cartilage tip slips upward and impinges on the intercostal nerve, causing chest pain.

Sj?gren's syndrome

a symptom complex of unknown etiology, usually occurring in middle-aged or older women, marked by the triad of keratoconjunctivitis sicca with or without lacrimal gland enlargement, xerostomia with or without salivary gland enlargement, and the presence of a connective tissue disease, usually rheumatoid arthritis but sometimes systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, or polymyositis. An abnormal immune response has been implicated. Called also Sj?gren's disease.