Glossary of Dermatological Terms Flashcards
a localised collection of pus
abscess
__ distribution of a dermatosis means it affects distal portions of limbs (hand, foot) and head (ears and nose)
Acral
groups of fat cells forming yellow lobules in subcutaneous tissue
Adipose cells or lipocytes
__ is the growth phase of the hair cycle, pointed tip and grows over several years
Anagen
__ distribution refers to lesions grouped in a circle
Annular
__ refers to tissue that has failed to grow
aplasia
__ are scent glands found most profusely in armpits and groins. they become active after puberty. thick and odourless, the smell comes from the bacterial colonization
apocrine sweat glands
epidermal ___ include eccrine glands, apocrine glands, pilosebaceous structures and nails
appendages
what muscle originate near the basement membrane zone and attach to the hair follicle near its base, they cause erection of the hairs on exposure to cold or fear
arrector pili muscles
__ occurs when some component of skin has shrunk
atrophy
__ is the columnar or rectangular cells at the bottom of the epidermis from which new cells are contineously produced, scattered melanocytes are normally found in this layer
basal layer
__ zone separates the epidermis from the dermis, its components include: selectively permeable basal cell membrane, lamina lucida containing anchoiring filaments, lamina densa and sublamina densa (bound to the dermis)
basement membrane
__ follows a roughly linear, segmental pattern. Birthmarks appears to be distributed within these segments
Blaschko lines
large fluid-filled blister greater than 1 cm in diameter, may be a single compartment or multiculated
bulla
cancer made up of malignant epithelial cells
carcinoma
short involutional phase of the hair cycle
catagen
structual protein making up the bulk of the dermis, it is produced by fibroblasts, composed of a triple helix of strong fibers
collagen
refers to the shape or outline of the skin lesions
configuration
__ of the skin refers to dermis and subcutaneous tissue
connective tissue
__ occurs when plasma exudes through an eroded epidermis and dries on the skin surface. it is rough on the surface and is yellow or brown in color.
crust
__ is a papule or nodule that contains fluid or semi-fluid material so is fluctant
cyst
__ cells with long finger-like processes and includes melanocytes, langerhans cells and some tissue macrophages (immune cells)
dendritic cells
study of skin, hair and nails
dermatology
corresponding with nerve root distribution (dermatome)
dermatomal
another name for skin disease
dermatosis
middle connective tissue layer of skin, composed of collagen and elastin fibers, blood vessels, nerve and inflammatory cells in a ground substance gel
dermis
__ are the structures that stick adjacent kerationcyes tightly together, rather like cement between bricks
desmosomes
the term given to skin coming off in scales or peeling
desquamation
abnormal development of a cell or tissue
dysplasia
refers to degeneration or abnormal formation of the skin, it is often refer to nail diseases
dystrophy
bruises
ecchymoses
__ glands are found deep in the dermis, they produce sweat, a weak solution of water, salt and waste products, which is excreted into a coiled duct that opens directly onto the skin surface. most dense on palms, soles, armpits and forehead
eccrine
excessive sweating is known as
hyperhidrosis
__ is the protein making up thin elastic fibers, these are produced by fibroblasts, they return deformed skin to its resting position
elastin
outer epithelial layer of the skin, is mainly composed of keratinocytes
epidermis
__ is a tissue composed of packed cells that line a body surface internally or externally
epithelium
__ is caused by loss of the surface of a skin lesion, shallow moist or crusted lesion
erosion
__ is the name given to red skin due to increased blood supply and may be applied to any red colored dermatosis
erythema
__ occurs when a skin condition affects the whole body or nearly the whole body, which is red all over
erythroderma
dark colored adherent crust of dead tissue found on some ulcers
eschar
__ is a scratch mark or surface injury penetrating the dermis, it may be linear or a picked scratch
excoriation
picked scratch
prurigo
peeling skin
exfoliation
distribution of a dermatosis involves the extensor surfaces of limbs, outer arm and front of leg
extensor distribution
an abscess in the pulp of any digit
felon
cells found in the dermis that produce collagen, elastin, ground substance and fibronectin
fibroblasts
thread-like as in “filiform wart”
filiform
dendritic cells that present antigen to the immune system
langerhans cells
any single area of altered skin; may be solitary or multiple
lesion
mean white skin
leukoderma
caused by chronic rubbing, which results in palpably thickened skin with increased skin markings and lichenoid scale
lichenification
a skin eruption that has tight adherent scale that resembles lichen planus.
lichenoid
moist peeling skin
maceration
a smooth small area of color change, often defined as less than 1.5 cm diameter
macule (ex. freckles)
sensory cells found in the epidermis
merkel cells
a condition where one type of cell transforms into another type of cell, because of a changed environment
metaplasia
a moist lining of internal areas that open onto the skin surface; ex mouth, nose, eyes, genital tissues
mucosa
sign that is positive when slight rubbing of the skin results in exfoliation of the skin’s outermost layer
Nikolsky sign
an enlargment of a papule in 3 dimensions (ht., width, length); a solid lesion more than 1 cm in diameter
nodule
round (coin-shaped) lesions
nummular lesions
what are nummular lesions also known as?
discoid lesions
the upper portion of the dermis just beneath the epidermis. It is characterized by thin haphazardly arranged collagen fibers, thin elastic fibers and ground substance
papillary dermis
small raised palpable lesions less than 1 cm diameter; may be solitary or multiple
palpule
isomorphic phenomenon resulting in ulceration; ex. ulcers appearing at the sites of minor trauma such as venepuncture
pathergy
a lesion is on a stalk
pedunculated
dermatosis around the mouth
perioral
small red, purple or brown spots
petechiae
a skin condition with a bran-like powdery scale
pityriasis
a palpable flat lesion elevated above the skin surface, usually greater than 1 cm diameter.
plaque
skin with variegated appearance, usually mixed pallor, telangiectasia & pigmentation
Poikiloderma
another name for the stratum spinosum layer; so called because prominent adherence plates look spiny.
Prickle cell layer
bleeding into the skin; does NOT blanch with pressure
purpura
a collection of pus; filled with neutrophils, may be white or yellow
pustule
widespread eruption of lesions
rash
lower portion of the dermis; composed of coarse elastic fibers and thick collagen bundles parallel to the skin surface
reticular dermis
an increase in the dead cells on the surface of the skin
scaling
hardened scar-like or indurated tissue as in localized scleroderma
sclerosis
lesion in the shape of a snake or serpent
serpiginous
lesions that appear to be stuck directly onto the skin surface without a stalk
sessile
flat epithelial cells found on the skin surface.
squamous cells
horny layer of skin consisting of stacks of dead cells without nuclei make up the dry or keratinized layer
stratum corneum
the granular layer of the epidermis characterized by flattened cells filled with dark granules containing keratohyaline protein
stratum granulosum
concentric rings like a dartboard
target lesion
What is a target lesion a.k.a?
iris lesion
the name given to prominent cutaneous blood vessels that are red/purple in color
telangiectasia
resting phase of the hair cycle. hairs in this phase have a clubbed or bulbous tip and last for several months before falling out
telogen
full thickness loss of epidermis or epithelium and dermis and may involve subcutaneous tissue.
ulcer
papules or vesicles that have a central dell
umbilicated
the name given to prominent venules, blue in color and often on the lower legs
venulectasia
wart-like; thickened & scaly
verrucous
small fluid-filled blisters less than 1cm in diameter. may be single or multiple
vesicle
an edematous papule or plaque caused by swelling in the dermis; indicates urticaria
Wheal
a lamp emitting long wavelength UVA used to examine skin pigmentary changes and fluorescent infections such as cat ringworm
wood light
a thin crack within epidermis or epithelium, due to excessive dryness
fissure
distribution of dermatosis involves the flexures
flexural distribution
distribution of dermatosis refers to individual lesions arisin from hair follicles
follicular
refers to a large malignant tumor that is erupting like a mushroom or fungus
fungating
description of scale in which is in bran-like or powdery
furfuraceous
__ layer of the epidermis is characterised by flattened cells filled with dark granules containing keratohyaline protein
granular
__ tissue is a made of a mass of new capillaries and fibrous tissue in a healing wound
granulation tissue
__ a histological term referring to chronic inflammation in which there are several types of inflammatory cells including giant cells, these form in response to foreign bodies, certain infections and inflammatory skin diseases
granuloma
__ is the gel component of the dermis, contains hyaluronic acid, dermatan sulphate and chondroitin-6-sulphate
ground substance
a rash that appears to be whirling in a circle
gyrate rash
___ has a growth phase (anagen) when the hair has a pointed tip, which lasts several years, a short involutional phase (catagen) and a resting phase with clubbed or bulbous tip (telogen) which lasts for several months
hair cycle
__ are the structures that stick basal kerationcytes tightly to the dermis via the basement membrane
hemidesmosomes
__ eruption means it looks like a herpes infection, with grouped umbilicated vesicles
herpetiform
__ layer of the epidermis consists of stacks of dead cells without nuclei make up the dry or keratinized stratum corneum
horny layer
___ or scaling is an increase in the dead cells on the surface of the skin
hyperkeratosis
__ may be due to hypermelanosis or haemosiderin deposits that result in skin color that is darker than normal
hyperpigmentation
__ is an enlargement of a tissue by an increase in cell numbers
hyperplasia
some component of the skin such as a scar is enlarged or has grown excessively
hypertrophy
__ refers to skin color that is paler than normal
hypopigmentation
__ is caused by a doctor’s action, ie: a rash due to prescription of a medicine
iatrogenic
skin feels hard and thickened
induration
__ are due to interrupted blood supply and result in black areas of necrotic tissue or dry gangrene
infarcts
protein produced by keratinocytes, forming the bulk of epidermis, hair and nails
keratin
__ are the cells that make up the “brick wall” of the epidermis
keratinocytes
what are produced by keratinocytes?
keratin
__ refers to the tendency of several skin conditions to affect areas subjected to injury, linear in shape
koebner or isomorphic phenomenon
