Staphylococcus: Bacteria that are very prevalent and are often associated with infectious arthritis.

Steroid Hormones: Hormones that include the sex hormones androgen and estrogen and the corticosteroids.

Streptococcus: Bacteria that cause severe infections and may be associated with infectious arthritis.

Synovectomy: Removal of the synovial membrane from n inflamed joint.

Synovial Fluid: A clear viscous liquid produced by the synovial membrane, which lubricates movable joints and contains nutrients for cartilage.

Synovial Membrane: A sheet of tissue found in joints, bursas, and tendon sheaths.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): A disease of inflammation of many parts of the body such as the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, brain and lungs.

Temporal Arthritis: It occurs in the elderly and most commonly affects the arteries of the scalp. The patient complains of severe headache, and blindness may result from thrombosis of the arteries to the eyes.

Tendon: A dense, fibrous connective tissue that attaches a bone and muscle together so that the bone moves when the muscle contracts.

Tenotomy: The cutting of a tendon.

Tolmetin Sodium: The genetic name for a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Tophi: Lumps of uric acid crystals that have been deposited in the joints of the hands and feet, the elbows, and the earlobes; a sign of gout.

Toxin: Any poisonous substance formed by plant or animal cells.

Traction: Drawing or pulling an extremity or joint to relieve pressure or realign the bones.

Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation (TNS): A technique that stops messages such as pain along nerve pathways on their way to the brain by using an outside low-intensity current.

Trauma: Physical or psychological shock or an injury or wound.

Triceps: The large muscle along the back of the arm.

Ulnar Deviation: A deformation of the hand in the direction of the little finger.

Ultrasound Therapy: Therapy that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce heat in tissues under the skin in order to relieve pain.

Uric Acid: A product of purine metabolism; too much uric acid in the blood over a prolonged period of time (years) can lead to the development of gout.

Uricosuric Drugs: Drugs that increase the kidney’s excretion of uric acid.

Vertebrae: Bones (33 of them) in the spinal column.

Virus: Tiny structures (not cells) made up of a core of nucleic acid surrounded by a protein sheath. They depend entirely on living cells for reproduction, as they have no metabolism of their own. In invading living cells, viruses can cause infection.

While Blood Cells: The blood cells concerned with defending the body against infection and disease; also known as leukocytes.