Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

tight foreskin
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found in fingernails, skin, and hair. As new cells
grow in the matrix, the older cells are pushed out
and compacted, taking on the flattened, hardened
form of the toenail. The average growth rate for toe-
nails is 0.1 mm per day. The exact rate of nail
growth depends on numerous factors, including the
age and sex of the individual and the time of year.
Toenails generally grow fastest in young people, in
males, and in the summer. Toenails grow more
slowly than fingernails. See also 
nail; nail care.
toenail, ingrown
A common disorder, particu-
larly on the big (great) toe, in which the corner of
the nail curves down into the skin due to mistrim-
ming of the nail or due to shoes being too tight. An
ingrown toenail can be painful and lead to infection.
Sometimes simply removing the corner of the nail
from the skin is enough to cure this problem,
although this might need to be done by a physician,
podiatrist, or foot-care specialist. Any infection that
is present requires treatment. In some cases the
entire nail must be removed. If ingrown toenails are
caused by congenital nail malformations, the nail
bed can be treated to permanently prevent
regrowth.
toes, six
See 
hexadactyly.
tok-, toko-
See 
toc-, toco-.
T1–T12
Symbols that represent the 12 thoracic
vertebrae.
tongue
A strong muscle that is anchored to the
floor of the mouth. The tongue is covered by the lin-
gual membrane, which has special areas to detect
different types of tastes. The tongue muscles are
attached to the lower jaw and to the hyoid bone, a
small, U-shaped bone that lies deep in the muscles
at the back of the tongue and above the larynx. On
the top surface of the tongue are small nodules,
called papillae, that give the tongue its rough tex-
ture. Between the papillae, at the sides and base of
the tongue, are the taste buds, which are small bulb-
like structures. The muscle fibers of the tongue are
heavily supplied with nerves. Babies have more taste
buds than adults, and they have them almost every-
where in the mouth, including the cheeks. The
tongue aids in the formation of the sounds of speech
and aids in swallowing.