Integumentary System Flashcards
Mild burn affecting the epidermis and characterized by redness and pain with no blistering or scar formation
First-degree (superficial)
Burn affecting the epidermis and part of the dermis and characterized by redness, blistering or larger bullae, and pain with little or no scarring
Second-degree (partial thickness)
Severe burn characterized by destruction of the epidermis and dermis with damage to the subcutaneous layer, leaving the skin charred black or dry white in appearance with insensitivity to touch
Third-degree (full thickness)
Uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body, also called malignant cells.
carcinoma
Malignant tumor that originates in melanocytes and is considered the most dangerous type of skin cancer, which, if not treated early, becomes difficult to cure and can be fatal
melanoma
Discolored, dried sebum plugging and excretory duct of the skin; also called blackhead
comedo
Closed sac or pouch in or under the skin with a definite wall that contains fluid, semifluid, or solid material
Cyst
Growth of hair in a dermoid cyst or in a sinus opening on the skin
pilonidal
Cyst filled with sebum (fatty material) from a sebaceous gland
sebaceous
Redness of skin caused by swelling of the capillaries
Eczema
Death of tissue, usually resulting from loss of blood supply
Gangrene
External or internal loss of a large amount of blood in a short period of time
hemorrhage
Hemorrhage of any size under the skin in which the skin is not broken; also known as a bruise
contusion
Skin discoloration consisting of a large, irregularly formed hemorrhagic area with colors changing from blue-black to greenish brown or yellow; commonly called a bruise
ecchymosis
Minute, pinpoint hemorrhagic spot of the skin that is smaller version of an ecchymosis
petechia
Elevated , localized collection of blood trapped under the skin that usually results from trauma
hematoma
Excessive growth of hair in unusual places, especially in women; may be due to hypersecretion of testosterone
hirsutism
Genetic skin disorder in which the skin is dry and scaly, resembling fish skin because of a defect in keratinization
ichthyosis
Bacterial skin infection characterized by isolated pustules that become crusted and rupture
impetigo
Overgrowth of scar tissue at the site of a skin injury (especially a wound, surgical incision, or severe burn) caused by excessive collagen formation
Keloid
Chronic skin disease characterized by itchy red patches covered with silvery scales
psoriasis
Contagious skin disease transmitted by the itch mite
Scabies
Areas of pathologically altered tissue caused by disease, injury, or a wound resulting from external factors or internal disease
skin lesions
Fungal infection whose name commonly indicates the body part affected, such as tinea pedis (athlete’s foot); also called ringworm
tinea
Lesion of the skin or mucous membranes marked by inflammation, necrosis, and sloughing of damaged tissues
ulcer
Skin ulceration caused by prolonged pressure, usually in a patient who is bedridden; also known as decubitus ulcer or bedsore
pressure ulcer
Allergic reaction of the skin characterized by eruption of pale red elevated patches that are intensely itchy; also called wheals (hives)
urticaria
Rounded epidermal growth caused by a virus; also called wart
verruca
Small blister-like elevation of the skin containing a clear fluid; large vesicles are called bullae
vesicle
Localized loss of skin pigmentation characterized by milk-white patches; also called leukoderma
vitiligo
Smooth, slightly elevated skin that is white in the center with a pale red periphery; also called hives if itchy
wheal
Removal of a small piece of living tissue from an organ or other part of the body for microscopic examination to confirm or establish a diagnosis, estimate prognosis, or follow the course of a disease
Biopsy (bx)
Any test in which a suspected allergen or sensitizer is applied to or injected into the skin to determine the patient’s sensitivity to it
skin test
Use of subfreezing temperature, commonly with liquid nitrogen, to destroy abnormal tissue cells, such as unwanted, cancerous, or infected tissue
cryosurgery
Removal of foreign material, damaged tissue, or cellular debris from a wound or burn to prevent infection and promote healing
debridement
Tissue destruction by means of high-frequency electrical current; also called electrodesiccation
fulguration
Incision of a lesion, such as an abscess, followed by the drainage of its contents
Incision and Drainage (I&D)
Surgical procedure used primarily to treat skin neoplasms in which tumor tissue fixed in place is removed layer by layer for microscopic examination until the entire tumor is removed
Mohs Surgery
Surgical procedure to transplant healthy tissue by applying it to an injured site
skin graft
Transplantation of healthy tissue from one person to another person; also called homograft
allograft
Transplantation of healthy tissues from one site to another site in the same individual
autograft
Transplantation of artificial skin produced from collagen fibers arranged in a lattice pattern
synthetic
Transplantation (dermis only) from a foreign donor (usually a pig) and transferred to a human; also called a heterograft
xenograft
Procedure that repairs damaged skin, acne scars, fine or deep wrinkles, or tattoos, or improves skin tone irregularities through the use of topical chemicals, abrasions, or laser
Skin resurfacing
Use of chemicals to remove outer layers of skin to treat acne scarring and general keratoses as well as for cosmetic purposes to remove fine wrinkles on the face; also called chemabrasion
chemical peel
Any of several laser treatments employed for cosmetic and plastic surgery
cutaneous laser
Removal of acne scars, nevi, tattoos, or fine wrinkles on the skin through the use of sandpaper, wire brushes, or other abrasive materials on the epidermal layer
dermabrasion
Kill the bacteria that causes skin infections
antibiotics
Kill fungi that infect the skin
antifungals
Reduce severe itching
antipruritics
Anti-inflammatory agents that treat skin inflammation
corticosteriods
The most common form of skin cancer caused by overexposure to sunlight
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
The second most common form of non melanoma skin cancer after basal cell carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
