Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

transition, menopause
See 
menopause tran-
sition.
transitional cell carcinoma
See 
carcinoma,
transitional cell.
translation
The process by which the genetic
code carried by messenger RNA (mRNA) directs the
production of proteins from amino acids.
translocation
A structural chromosome rearrange-
ment in which chromosome material is transferred
from one chromosome to another. Translocation is the
result of chromosome breakage.
transmission, perinatal
See 
vertical transmis-
sion.
transmission, vertical
See 
vertical transmis-
sion
.
transplant
The grafting of a tissue from one
place to another. The transplanting of tissue can be
from one part of a patient to another part (autolo-
gous transplantation), as in the case of a skin graft
using the patient’s own skin; or from one patient to
another patient (allogenic transplantation), as in
the case of transplanting a donor kidney into a
recipient. See also 
bone marrow transplant; heart
transplant; kidney transplant; lung transplant.
transsexual
A person who desires or has
achieved transsexualism.
transsexualism
Consistently strong desire to
change one’s anatomical gender. Some transsexuals
were misassigned gender at birth (for example,
being anatomically male but raised as female),
either on purpose or due to indistinct anatomy.
Most, however, are perfectly normal physically.
Transsexuals may dress and behave as individuals of
the opposite sex, and they may choose to use hor-
mones or surgery to develop desired secondary sex
characteristics. Surgery to change the appearance
of the external genitals is known as sex reassign-
ment surgery. Surgery and hormonal treatments for
gender reassignment are available for both male
and female transsexuals. Transsexualism is distinct
from transvestitism (cross-dressing), and it does
not always indicate a change in the individual’s sex-
ual preference.
transudate
A fluid that passes through a mem-
brane, which filters out all the cells and much of the
protein, yielding a watery solution. A transudate is a
filtrate of blood. It is due to increased pressure in
the veins and capillaries that forces fluid through
the vessel walls or to a low level of protein in blood
serum. Transudate accumulates in tissues outside
the blood vessels and causes edema (swelling).