CH. 4: Disease & Disorder Terms

Question 1

dermatitis

Answer 1

inflammation of the skin

Question 2

dermatofibroma

Answer 2

fibrous tumor of the skin

Question 3

hidradenitis

Answer 3

inflammation of a sweat gland

Question 4

keratosis

Answer 4

abnormal condition (growth) of horny tissue (keratin)

Question 5

onychocryptosis

Answer 5

abnormal condition of a hidden nail (also called ingrown nail)

Question 6

onychomalacia

Answer 6

softening of the nails

Question 7

onychomycosis

Answer 7

abnormal condition of a fungus in the nails

Question 8

onychophagia

Answer 8

eating the nails (nail biting)

Question 9

pachyderma

Answer 9

thickening of the skin

Question 10

paronychia

Answer 10

diseased state around the nail

Question 11

scleroderma

Answer 11

hard skin (chronic hardening or induration of the connective tissue of the skin and other organs)

Question 12

seborrhea

Answer 12

discharge of sebum (excessive)

Question 13

xanthoma

Answer 13

yellow tumor (benign, primarily in the skin)

Question 14

xeroderma

Answer 14

dry skin (a mild form of a cutaneous disorder characterized by keratinization and noninflammatory scaling)

Question 15

albinism

Answer 15

congenital hereditary condition characterized by partial or total lack of pigment (melanin) in the skin, hair, and eyes

Question 16

basal cell carcinoma (BCC)

Answer 16

malignant epithelial tumor arising from the bottom layer of the epidermis called the basal layer; it seldom metastasizes, but invades local tissue and may recur in the same location. Common in individuals who have had excessive sun exposure.

Question 17

candidiasis

Answer 17

infection of the skin, mouth (also called thrush), or vagina caused by the yeast-type fungus Candida albicans. Candida is normally present in the mucous membranes; overgrowth causes an infection. Esophageal is often seen in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Question 18

carbuncle

Answer 18

infection of skin and subcutaneous tissue composed of a cluster of boils (furuncles) caused by staphylococcal bacteria

Question 19

cellulitis

Answer 19

inflammation of skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by infection; characterized by redness, pain, heat, and swelling

Question 20

contusion

Answer 20

injury with no break in the skin, characterized by pain, swelling, and discoloration (also called a bruise)

Question 21

eczema

Answer 21

noninfectious, inflammatory skin disease characterized by redness, blisters, scabs, and itching

Question 22

fissure

Answer 22

slit or cracklike sore in the skin

Question 23

furuncle

Answer 23

painful skin nodule caused by staphylococcal bacteria in a hair follicle (also called a boil)

Question 24

gangrene

Answer 24

death of tissue caused by loss of blood supply followed by bacterial invasion (a form of necrosis)

Question 25

herpes

Answer 25

inflammatory skin disease caused by herpes virus characterized by small blisters in clusters. Many types of herpes exist. Herpes simplex virus type 1, for example, causes fever blisters; herpes zoster, also called shingles, is characterized by painful skin eruptions that follow nerves inflamed by the virus.

Question 26

impetigo

Answer 26

superficial skin infection characterized by pustules and caused by either staphylococci or streptococci

Question 27

Kaposi sarcoma

Answer 27

cancerous condition starting as purple or brown papules that spreads through the skin to the lymph nodes and internal organs; frequently seen with AIDS

Question 28

keloid

Answer 28

overgrowth of scar tissue

Question 29

laceration

Answer 29

torn, ragged-edged wound

Question 30

measles

Answer 30

highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever, runny nose, cough, and a spreading skin rash. It is a potentially disastrous disease which can lead to pneumonia, severe bleeding, brain infections (which may cause seizures, developmental delay or chronic brain disease), and sometimes lead to death; significant cause of death, despite the availability of a safe, effective vaccine.

Question 31

MRSA infection

Answer 31

invasion of body tissue by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a strain of common bacteria that has developed resistance to methicillin and other antibiotics. It can produce skin and soft tissue infections and sometimes bloodstream infections and pneumonia, which can be fatal if not treated; quite common in hospitals and long-term care facilities but is increasingly emerging as an important infection in the general population.

Question 32

pediculosis

Answer 32

invasion into the skin and hair by lice

Question 33

pilonidal cyst

Answer 33

abnormal pocket in the skin that contains hair and skin debris. It is frequently located near the tailbone, at the top of the cleft of the buttocks. If it becomes infected, it can be severely painful and may require surgery.

Question 34

pressure injury

Answer 34

damage of the skin and the subcutaneous tissue caused by prolonged pressure, often occurring in bedridden patients; the injury, which may be painful, can present as intact skin or an open ulcer (also called pressure ulcer and bedsore; formerly called decubitus ulcer)

Question 35

psoriasis

Answer 35

chronic skin condition producing red lesions covered with silvery scales

Question 36

rosacea

Answer 36

chronic disorder of the skin that produces erythema, papules, pustules, and abnormal dilation of tiny blood vessels, usu. occurring on the central area of the face in people older than 30 years

Question 37

scabies

Answer 37

skin infection caused by the itch mite, characterized by papule eruptions that are caused by the female burrowing into the outer layer of the skin and laying eggs; accompanied by severe itching.

Question 38

squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)

Answer 38

malignant growth developing from scalelike epithelial tissue of the surface layer of the epidermis; it invades local tissue and may metastasize. While most commonly appearing on the skin, SCC can occur in other parts of the body including the mouth, lips, and genitals; most frequent cause is chronic exposure to sunlight.

Question 39

systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Answer 39

chronic inflammatory disease involving the skin, joints, kidneys, and nervous system. This autoimmune disease is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbations. t may also affect other organs.

Question 40

tinea

Answer 40

fungal infection of the skin. The fungi may infect keratin of the skin, hair, and nails. Infections are classified by body regions such as tinea capitis (scalp), tinea corporis (body), and tinea pedis (foot); also called ringworm, and tinea pedis specifically is called athlete’s foot.

Question 41

urticaria

Answer 41

itchy skin eruption composed of wheals of varying sizes and shapes; sometimes associated with infections and with allergic reactions to food, medicine, or other agents. Other causes include internal disease, physical stimuli, and genetic disorders; also called hives

Question 42

vitiligo

Answer 42

white patches on the skin caused by the destruction of melanocytes