chapter 16: Skin terms Flashcards
albin/o
white
caus/o
burn, burning
-> causalgia: intensely unpleasant burning sensation in skin and muscles when there is damage to nerves
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.
cutane/o
skin
-> subcutaneous: epidermis and dermis are the cutaneous layers of the skin
derm/o, dermat/o
skin
epidermoid cyst
a collection of keratinous debris within the epidermis
epidermolysis
loosening of the epidermis with the development of large blisters; occurs after injury, or with blister producing diseases
diaphor/o
profuse sweating
anthrac/o
black (as coal)
chlor/o
green
cirrh/o
tawny
-> cirrhosis
cyan/o
blue
-> cyanosis
eosin/o
rosy
->eosinophil
jaund/o
yellow
-> jaundice
leuk/o
white
lute/o
yellow
melan/o
black
poli/o
gray
-> poliosis (decrease of melanin in hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes)
xanth/o
yellow
erythem/o, erythemat/o
redness
-> erythema: flushing; widespread redness of the skin
hidr/o
sweat
ichthy/o
dry, scalpy (fish-like)
kerat/o
hard
lip/o
fat
myc/o
fungus (fungi include yeasts, molds, and mushrooms)
-> mycosis
onych/o
nail
phyt/o
plant
-> dermato phytosis: examples are fungal infections (mycoses)
pil/o
hair
py/o
pus
-> pyoderma: Pus within the skin (-derma). Impetigo is a purulent (puscontaining) skin disease caused by bacterial infection.
rhytid/o
wrinkle
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: cells are flat and scale-like; “pavement” epithelium
trich/o
hair
ungu/o
nail
xer/o
dry
crust
collection of dried serum and cellular debris
-a scab is a crust
cyst
thick-walled, closed sac or pouch containing fluid or semisolid material
- pilonidal cyst: found over the sacral area of the back in the midline and contains hairs
- epidermoid cyst: a collection of yellowish, cheesy sebum commonly found on the scalp, vulva, and scrotum
erosion
wearing away or loss of epidermis
fissure
groove or crack like sore
macule
flat, pigmented lesion measuring less than 1 cm in diameter
ex: freckles, tattoo marks, and flat moles are examples
nodule
solid, round or oval elevated lesion 1 cm or more in diameter
-an enlarged lymph node and solid growths are examples
papule
small, solid elevation of the skin
-skin tags, pimples, plaques (papules become confluent and form plaques which are elevated flat surfaces)
pustule
papule containing pus
-A pustule is a small abscess (collection of pus) on the skin.
ulcer
open sore on the skin or mucous membranes (deeper erosion)
-Decubitus ulcers (bedsores) are caused by pressure that results from lying in one position
vesicle
small collection of clear fluid (serum); blister
-Vesicles form in skin after burns and may be seen with allergies and dermatitis. A bulla (plural: bullae) is a large vesicle.
wheal
smooth, edematous (swollen) papule or plaque that is centrally redder than the surrounding skin
-often seen as hives, anaphylaxis, and insect bites
alopecia
absence of hair from areas where it normally grows
-alopecia areata: is an autoimmune disease in which hair falls out in round patches without scarring or inflammation
ecchymosis
bluish-purplish mark (bruise) on the skin
petechia
small, pinpoint hemorrhage
-smaller versions of ecchymoses (bruises)
Both ecchymoses and petechiae are forms of purpura (bleeding into the skin).
true
pruritus
- itching
- associated with most forms of dermatitis
- arises as a result of stimulation of nerves in the skin by substances released in allergic reactions or by irritation caused by substances in the blood or by foreign bodies
- condition
acne
Chronic papular and pustular eruption of the skin with increased production of sebum.
- Acne vulgaris is caused by the buildup of sebum and keratin in the pores of the skin.
- comedo/comedone: blackhead
first-degree burn
superficial epidermal lesions, erythema, hyperesthesia, and no blisters.
second degree burn
(partial thickness burn injury)
-epidermal and dermal lesions, erythema, blisters, and hyperesthesia. Wound is painful and very sensitive to touch and air currents.
third-degree burns
(full thickness burn injury)
-epidermis and dermis are destroyed (necrosis of skin), and subcutaneous layer is damaged, leaving charred, white tissue. The wound itself is insensate (patient does not respond to pinprick)
cellulitis
diffuse, acute infection of the skin marked by local heat, redness, pain, and swelling
-Areas of poor lymphatic drainage are susceptible to this skin infection.
eczema
(atopic dermatitis)
-Inflammatory skin disease with erythematous, papulovesicular, or papulosquamous lesions.
atopic dermatitis
means pertaining to atopy, which means out of place or unusual
-It is an inflammatory condition that may be hereditary, but environmental factors can also be a trigger.
exanthematous viral diseases
- rash (exanthem) of the skin due to a viral infection
- example: rubella, rubeola (measles), and varicella (chickenpox)… no longer common in children bc vaccines but erythema infectiosum (fifth disease) is common exanthematous viral disease. it is marked by fever and rash “slapped cheek”’. caused by parvovirus
- hand-foot-and-mouth disease is another common viral illness in children and is caused by enterovirus
gangrene
death of tissue associated with loss of blood supply
impetigo
bacterial inflammatory skin disease characterized by vesicles, pustules, and crusted-over lesions
-contagious pyoderma (py/o=pus) usually caused by staphylococci or strep
psoriasis
chronic, recurrent dermatosis marked by itchy, scaly, red plaques covered by silvery gray scales.
-treatment is palliative (relieving but not curing) and includes topical lubricants, keratolytics, and steroids
scabies
contagious, parasitic infection of the skin with intense pruritus
-treatment is with topical medicated cream to destroy the scabies mites (tiny parasites)
scleroderma
chronic progressive disease of the skin and internal organs with hardening and shrinking of connective tissue
- Skin is thick, hard, and rigid, with areas of both depigmentation and hyperpigmentation
- autoimmune diease
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease of collagen in skin, joints, and internal organs.
- produces a characteristic “butterfly” pattern of redness over the cheeks and nose. but all areas could be involved
- autoimmune disorder
discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE)
photosensitive, scaling, plaque-like eruption of the skin confined to the face, scalp, ears, chest, arms, back which heals with scarring
lupus vulgaris
refers to cutaneous form of tuberculosis
tinea
infection of the skin caused by a fungus
- tinea corporis: ringworm
- tinea pedis: athlete’s foot
- tinea capitis: on the scalp
- tinea barbae: affecting the skin under a beard
- tinea unguium: affecting the nails
Hyperkeratotic debris accumulates, causing the nail to separate from the nail bed (onycholysis)
urticaria (hives)
acute allergic reaction in which red, round wheals develop on the skin
- Histamine is released into the bloodstream, causing pruritus and edema (swelling).
- angioedema: swelling around the face
vitilgo
loss of pigment (depigmentation) in areas of the skin (milk-white patches)
-this is a form of leukoderma
the skin changes result from an autoimmune process, and there is an increased association of vitiligo with autoimmune disorders such as thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, and diabetes mellitus
callus
Increased growth of cells in the keratin layer of the epidermis caused by pressure or friction.
keloid
Excess hypertrophied, thickened scar developing after trauma or surgical incision.
keratosis
Thickened and rough lesion of the epidermis; associated with aging or skin damage
- Actinic keratosis is caused by long-term ultraviolet light exposure and is a precancerous lesion that can evolve into squamous cell carcinoma
- Seborrheic keratosis is a benign lesion that results from overgrowth of the upper epidermis and is dark in color.
leukoplakia
White, thickened patches on mucous membrane tissue of the tongue or cheek (evolves to squamous cell carcinoma).
nevus
pigmented lesion of the skin
- moles
- dysplastic nevi are moles that have atypical cells and may progress to form a type of cancer called melanoma
verruca
epidermal growth (wart) caused by a virus
- verruca vulgaris (common wart)
- plantar warts occur on the soles of the feet
- juvenile warts occur on the hands and face of children
- venereal warts occur on the genitals and around the anus
basal cell carcinoma
malignant tumor of the basal cell layer of the epidermis
squamous cell carcinoma
malignant tumor of the squamous epithelial cells in the epidermis
-actinic (sun-related) keratoses are premalignant (precursor) lesions in people with sun damaged skin
malignant melanoma
cancerous growth composed of melanocytes
ABCDEs of melanoma:
- Asymmetry: one half unlike the other half
- Border: irregular or poorly circumscribed border
- Color: varies from one area to another; shades of tan and brown, black, and sometimes white, red, or blue
- Diameter: usually larger than 6 mm (diameter of a pencil eraser)
- Evolution: change in the lesion over time
kaposi sarcoma
malignant, vascular, neoplastic growth characterized by cutaneous nodules
- one form of this condition is associated with AIDS
- range in color from deep pink to dark blue and purple
bacterial analyses
samples of skin are examined for presence of microorganisms. purulent (pus-filled) material or exudate (fluid that accumulates) often is taken for examination
fungal tests
scrapings from skin lesions, hair specimens, or nail clippings are sent to a lab for culture and microscopic identification of fungal infection
cryosurgery
use of subfreezing temperature achieved with liquid nitrogen application to destroy tissue
curettage
use of a sharp dermal curette to scrape away a skin lesion. curette is shaped like a spoon or scoop
electrodesiccation
tissue is destroyed by burning with an electric spark
mohs surgery
thin layers of malignant tissue are removed, and each slice is examined microscopically to check for adequate extent of the resection
mohs surgery
thin layers of malignant tissue are removed, and each slice is examined microscopically to check for adequate extent of the resection
-It is used in areas in which a wide local excision is not feasible (such as on the face) or tissue sparing is required (as with large skin cancers)
skin biopsy
Suspicious skin lesions are removed or sampled and examined microscopically by a pathologist.
punch biopsy: a surgical instrument removes a core of tissue obtained by rotation of its sharp, circular edge.
shave biopsy: tissue is excised using a cut parallel to the surface of the surrounding skin
skin test
substances are injected intradermally or applied to the skin, and results are observed
patch test: an allergen treated piece of gauze or filter paper is applied to the skin. If the skin becomes red or swollen, the result is positive.
scratch test: several scratches are made in the skin, and a very minute amount of test material is inserted into the scratches
