Dermatologist Vocabulary

Question 1

abrasion

Answer 1

skin injury that scrapes away surface of skin

Question 2

abscess

Answer 2

a collection of pus in the skin

Question 3

adenitis

Answer 3

inflammation of a gland

Question 4

adenoma

Answer 4

tumor in a gland

Question 5

adenomegaly

Answer 5

enlarged gland

Question 6

adipocyte

Answer 6

fat cell

Question 7

adipoma

Answer 7

tumor made up of fat

Question 8

adipose

Answer 8

pertaining to fat

Question 9

alopecia

Answer 9

absence or loss of hair, especially of the head

Question 10

basal cell carcinoma (BCC)

Answer 10

skin cancer in the basal cell layer of the epidermis; a very common cancer that rarely metastasizes or spreads

Question 11

biopsy (BX; bx)

Answer 11

surgical procedure to remove a piece of tissue by needle, knife, punch, or brush to examine under a microscope

Question 12

boil

Answer 12

bacterial infection of a hair follicle

Question 13

burn, 1st degree

Answer 13

mild burn that damages epidermis only; results in erythema but no blisters; generally, there is no scarring

Question 14

burn, 2nd degree

Answer 14

burn damage that extends through the epidermis and into the dermis, causing blisters to form; scarring may occur

Question 15

burn, 3rd degree

Answer 15

burn damage to the full thickness of skin and into underlying tissues; infection and fluid loss are major concerns; usually requires skin grafts to cover burned areas; scarring will occur

Question 16

cauterization

Answer 16

intentional destruction of tissue by a caustic chemical, electric current, laser, or freezing

Question 17

cellulitis

Answer 17

inflammation of connective tissue cells of skin

Question 18

chemabrasion

Answer 18

removal of superficial layers of the skin using chemicals; also called a chemical peel

Question 19

contusion

Answer 19

blunt trauma to skin that results in bruising but no break in the skin

Question 20

cryosurgery

Answer 20

using extreme cold to freeze and destroy tissue

Question 21

culture and sensitivity (C&S)

Answer 21

laboratory test that grows a colony of bacteria removed from infected area in order to identify the specific type of bacteria and its sensitivity to a variety of antibiotics

Question 22

cyst

Answer 22

fluid-filled sac under the skin

Question 23

debridement

Answer 23

removal of foreign material and dead or damaged tissue from a wound

Question 24

decubitus ulcer (decub)

Answer 24

open sore caused by pressure over bony prominences obstructing blood flow; can appear in bedridden patients who lie in one position too long; can be difficult to heal; commonly called bedsore or pressure sore

Question 25

dermabrasion

Question 26

dermatology

Answer 26

study of the skin

Question 27

dermatome

Answer 27

instrument that cuts out small section or thin slice of skin to be used for a graft

Question 28

dermatoplasty

Answer 28

surgical repair of the skin

Question 29

dermatosclerosis

Answer 29

hardened skin condition

Question 30

ecchymosis

Answer 30

“black-and-blue” skin bruise caused by blood collecting under skin after trauma

Question 31

erythema

Question 32

erythroderma

Answer 32

red skin condition

Question 33

fissure

Answer 33

cracklike break in the skin

Question 34

gangrene

Answer 34

tissue necrosis caused by loss of blood supply

Question 35

herpes simplex

Answer 35

infection by herpes simplex virus (HSV) causing painful blisters around lips and nose; commonly called fever blisters

Question 36

herpes zoster

Answer 36

viral infection of nerve root; causes appearance of very painful blisters along nerve path; commonly called shingles

Question 37

hidradenitis

Answer 37

sweat gland inflammation

Question 38

hyperhidrosis

Answer 38

abnormal condition of excessive sweating

Question 39

hyperonychia

Answer 39

condition of excessive nail (growth)

Question 40

impetigo

Answer 40

inflammatory skin disease with pustules that rupture and become crusted

Question 41

keratoderma

Answer 41

hornlike skin condition

Question 42

keratogenic

Answer 42

producing keratin

Question 43

keratosis

Answer 43

hornlike skin condition

Question 44

laceration

Answer 44

Jagged-edged skin wound caused by tearing of skin; does not mean a skin cut

Question 45

laser surgery

Answer 45

removal of skin lesions and birthmarks using a laser beam

Question 46

lesion

Answer 46

general term that indicates the presence of some type of tissue abnormality, wound, or injury

Question 47

leukoderma

Answer 47

white skin condition

Question 48

lipectomy

Answer 48

surgical removal of fat

Question 49

lipoid

Answer 49

resembling fat

Question 50

macule

Answer 50

flat, discolored spot on the skin surface; example is a freckle or birthmark

Question 51

malignant melanoma (MM)

Answer 51

aggressive form of skin cancer that originates in a melanocyte; prone to metastasize or spread

Question 52

melanocyte

Answer 52

black cell

Question 53

melanoma

Answer 53

black tumor

Question 54

melanotic

Answer 54

pertaining to (being) black

Question 55

necrosis

Question 56

nevus

Answer 56

pigmented congenital skin blemish, birthmark, or mole

Question 57

nodule

Answer 57

solid, raised clump of skin cells

Question 58

onychia

Answer 58

inflamed nail bed

Question 59

onychitis

Answer 59

inflammation of a nail

Question 60

onychomalacia

Answer 60

abnormal softening of a nail

Question 61

papule

Answer 61

small, solid, raised lesion on surface of skin

Question 62

petechiae

Answer 62

flat, pinpoint, purplish spots from bleeding under the skin

Question 63

pruritus

Answer 63

severe itching

Question 64

psoriasis

Answer 64

chronic inflammatory condition consisting of crusty papules forming patches with circular borders

Question 65

purpura

Answer 65

purplish-red bruises usually occurring in people with fragile skin

Question 66

pustule

Answer 66

raised spot on the skin containing pus

Question 67

pyogenic

Answer 67

producing pus

Question 68

pyorrhea

Answer 68

discharge of pus

Question 69

seborrhea

Answer 69

discharge of oil

Question 70

skin graft (SG)

Answer 70

transfer of skin from normal area to cover another site; used to treat burn victims and after some surgical procedures

Question 71

squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)

Answer 71

skin cancer that begins in the epidermis but may grow into deeper tissue; does not generally metastasize to other areas of the body

Question 72

tinea

Answer 72

fungal skin disease resulting in itching, scaling lesions

Question 73

trichophagia

Answer 73

hair eating (chewing/biting)

Question 74

ulcer

Answer 74

open sore or lesion in the skin or mucous membrane

Question 75

urticaria

Answer 75

skin eruption of pale reddish wheals with severe itching; usually associated with food allergy, stress, or drug reactions; also called hives

Question 76

varicella

Answer 76

highly contagious viral infection with skin rash; commonly called chickenpox

Question 77

vesicle

Answer 77

small, fluid-filled raised spot on the skin

Question 78

wheal

Answer 78

small, round, raised area on skin that may be accompanied by itching; usually seen in allergic reactions

Question 79

xeroderma

Answer 79

dry skin condition

Question 80

anhidrosis

Answer 80

medical term that means abnormal condition of no sweat