Chap 16, Terminology Flashcards
adip/o
fat (see lip/o and steat/o)
adipose
pertaining to fat
albin/o
white
albinism
Inherited condition of absence of pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes.
caus/o
burn, burning
causalgia
Intense burning sensation in the skin due to peripheral nerve damage
cauter/o
heat, burn
electrocautery
An instrument containing a needle or blade used during surgery to burn through tissue by means of an electrical current. Electrocauterization is very effective in minimizing blood loss. (removal of warts or polyps)
cutane/o
skin (see derm/o)
subcutaneous
Pertaining to the 3rd layer of the skin, under the epidermis and dermis (cutaneous layers). The subcutaneous layer contains fatty tissue.
derm/o, dermat/o
skin
epidermis
Outermost layer of the skin.
dermatitis
Inflammation of skin.
dermatologist
Specialist in the study (diagnosis and treatment) of skin diseases & disorders.
dermatoplasty
Surgical repair of the skin.
dermabrasion
Abrasion means a scraping away. Dermabrasion is a surgical procedure using a sandpaper-like material (or other other mechanical methods are used) to remove acne scars, tattoos, and fine wrinkles.
epidermolysis
Loosening of the skin. Loosening of the epidermis with the development of large blisters (bullae); occurs after injury, or with blister-producing disease.
diaphor/o
profuse sweating (see hidr/o)
diaphoresis
Condition of profuse sweating. Commonly called sweating.
erythem/o, erythemat/o
redness
erythema
Condition of redness of the skin (flushing). Flushing; widespread redness of the skin. Erythematous means pertaining to erythema.
hidr/o
Sweat. Do not confuse hidr/o with hydr/o (water)
anhidrosis
Condition of lack of sweat or absence of sweating.
ichthy/o
dry, scaly (fish-like)
ichthyosis
Hereditary condition in which the skin is dry, rough, and scaly (resembling fish scales) because of a defect in keratinization. Ichthyosis also can be acquired, appearing with malignancies such as lymphomas and multiple myeloma.
kerat/o
hard
keratosis
Abnormal condition of thickened areas of the skin. Excessive development of hard, keratinized tissue on the skin.
leuk/o
white
leukoplakia
Condition of white plaques on mucous membranes and surfaces of the body. The suffix -plakia means plaques.
lip/o
fat
lipoma
Benign tumor of fatty tissue.
liposuction
Removal of subcutaneous adipose (fat) tissue through a blunt-tipped cannula (tube) that is introduced into the fatty area via a small incision. The fat is aspirated (suctioned out).
melan/o
black
melanoma
This is a malignant skin tumor. Tumor of melanocytes.
melanocyte
Cell in the basal layer of the epidermis that produces melanin.
myc/o
fungus (fungi include yeasts, molds, and mushrooms)
mycosis
Any disease caused by fungus. An example of a mycosis (fungal infection) is tinea pedis, commonly called “athlete’s foot”. Another fungal infection is tinea corporis (ringworm).
onych/o
nail (see ungu/o)
onycholysis
Separation of the nail plate from the nail bed in fungal infections or after trauma. Onycholysis is often seen in psoriasis.
onychomycosis
Fungal infection of the nails, which become white, opaque, thick, and brittle.
paronychia
Inflammation and swelling of the soft tissue around the nail and is associated with torn cuticles or ingrown nails.
phyt/o
plant
dermatophytosis
Fungal infection of the skin.
pil/o
hair (see trich/o), hair follicle
pilosebaceous
Pertaining to hair follicles and sebaceous glands.
py/o
pus
pyoderma
Condition of pus infection within the skin. Impetigo is a purulent (pus-containing) skin disease caused by bacterial infection.
rhytid/o
wrinkle
rhytidectomy
Removal of wrinkles. Cosmetic plastic surgery to remove wrinkles and excess skin; also call rhytidoplasty or face lift. Laser treatments, Botox Cosmetic (purified botulinum toxin) injections, and injectable fillers are used to soften lines and wrinkles.
seb/o
sebum (oily secretion from sebaceous glands)
seborrhea
Excessive secretion from sebaceous glands. Seborrheic dermatitis commonly is known as dandruff.
squam/o
scale-like
squamous epithelium
Pertaining to flat, scale-like layer of cells that cover the outside of the body (epidermis) and line the inner tubes of the body.
steat/o
fat
steatoma
Collection of sebum in a cyst or sac-like formation that forms in a sebaceous gland and can become infected; sebaceous cyst.
trich/o
hair
hypertrichosis
Abnormal condition of excessive amount of hair growth.
ungu/o
nail
subungual
Pertaining to under a nail.
xanth/o
yellow
xanthoma
Nodules develop under the skin owing to excess lipid deposits and can be associated with a high cholesterol level. A xanthoma that appears on the eyelids is a xanthelasma (-elasma = a flat plate).
xer/o
dry
xerosis
Abnormal condition of very dry, rough skin.
