Outcome 6 Integumentary System Flashcards
List some accessory organs.
hair, nails, glands, skin layers, dermis, epidermis, subcutaneous layer
What are some common skin condition symptoms?
cutaneous lesions/eruptions pruritis (itching) pain edema (swelling) erythema (redness) inflammation
flat, discolored spot that may be hypopigmented, hyperpigmented or red (erythematous and purpuric)
macule
plateau-like elevated lesion greater than 1/2 cm in diameter
plaque
a nodule filled with either liquid or semisolid material under the skin; deep
cyst
vesicle containing purulent or cloudy fluid; raised on skin
pustule
thickened areas of skin that is dry and whitish colored
scale
tunnel or streak caused by a burrowing organism
burrow
What is the most common organism that causes burrows?
scabies
small elevated lesion less than 1/2 cm in depth and diameter
papule
blisters containing clear fluid less than 0.5 cm in diameter
vesicles
blisters containing clear fluid greater than 0.5 cm in diameter
bulla(e)
marblelike lesion greater than 0.5 cm in depth and diameter
nodule
Liquid debris dried on the skin’s surface, resulting from ruptured vesicles, pustules, or bullae
crust
a thin tear
fissure
a wide but shallow fissure
erosion
tear that involves the epidermis and dermis
ulcer
a lesion of acne
comedo
inflammatory condition of the sebacious (oil) glands
seborrheic dermatitis
known as cradle cap in an infant
seborrheic dermatitis
What is the cause of seborrheic dermatitis?
idiopathic though heredity and emotional stress may be precipitating factors
How is seborrheic dermatitis treated?
low strength cortisone/hydrocortisone cream
acute inflammation response of the skin triggered by an exogenous chemical or substance
contact dermatitis
What causes contact dermatitis?
many possible causes (poison plants, dyes, latex, preservatives, detergents, etc.)
How is contact dermatitis treated?
cleansing the skin and corticosteroid creams; some cases may require oral steroids
chronic inflammation of the skin that tends to occur in patients with a family history of allergic conditions
atopic dermatitis or eczema
What causes eczema?
is idiopathic but there is an inherited tendency and an allergic connection is assumed
How is eczema treated?
cortisone ointments and antibiotics if a secondary infection develops from scratching
severe itching followed by the appearance of redness and an area swelling in a localized area of skin
urticaria or hives
What is the swollen area called in urticaria?
wheal
What causes urticaria?
caused by acute hypersensitivity and the release of histamine; can sometimes be idiopathic; other factors (sunlight, heat, cold, etc)
How is urticaria treated?
remove the antigenic factor (if known) and manage with antihistamines and epinephrine for severe cases
chronic skin condition/systemic disease marked by thick, flaky, red patches of various sizes, covered with characteristic white, silvery scales
psoriasis
What causes psoriasis?
unknown; seems to be genetically determined; may be autoimmune
How is psoriasis treated?
UV light, steroid creams, coal tar preparations, retinoid creams, chemotherapy and drug treatment when serious
chronic inflammatory disorder of the facial skin, causing redness, primarily in the areas where individuals blush or flush
rosacea
What causes rosacea?
unknown; possible correlation with the frequency of one’s blushing; may be inherited
How is rosacea treated?
creams and lifestyle changes to avoid triggers that cause blushing
inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles
acne vulgaris
What causes acne vulgaris?
unknown; linked to hormonal changes in adoloscence
T or F. Food causes acne.
False
What are other precipitating factors that cause acne?
hormonal changes, heredity, dirt, bacteria
How is acne treated?
topical and/or systemic antibiotics and tretinoin creams, and accutane (isotretinoin) can be prescribed in severe cases (with caution)
Benign growths originating in the epidermis
seborrheic keratosis
Clinically appear as tan-brown, greasy papules or plaques that look to be pasted onto the skin
seborrheic keratosis
T or F. Cause of seborrheic keratosis is unknown.
True
How is seborrheic keratosis treated?
Treated with cryosurgery and curettage
Benign, asymptomatic growths that can be found anywhere on the body
dermatofibroma
What causes dermatofibroma?
fibrous reactions to viral infections, insect bites, and trauma
How is dermatofibroma treated?
surgical excision if symptomatic
Benign epithelial growth that appears as a smooth, red, dome-shaped papule with a central crust that usually appears singly, but may occur in multiple numbers
keratoacanthoma
What causes keratoacanthoma?
virus
How are keratoacanthoma treated?
Treated with surgical excision, topical adrenocorticosteroids, and/or oral isotretinoin and etretinate for multiple lesions
Overgrowth of skin that occurs secondary to trauma or surgery
keloids and hypertrophic scars
How are keloids treated?
corticosteroid injections and possibly excision
Develops when a sebaceous gland slowly fills with a thick fluid
epidermal sebaceous cyst
What causes sebaceous cysts?
Caused by blockage, sometimes with infection, of a sebaceous gland
How are sebaceous cysts treated?
surgical excision
Common benign skin growths or tags
acrochordon (skin tag)
What causes skin tags?
friction
How are skin tags treated?
surgical excision or chemical removal (freezing/burning)
Common premalignant lesions found on sun-exposed areas of the body
actinic keratosis
What causes actinic keratosis?
Caused by long-term exposure to the ultraviolet portion of sunlight
How is actinic keratosis treated?
topical tretinoin, possibly in combination with fluorouracil or desiccation and curettage
What are two common non-melanoma skin cancers?
BCC and SCC
BCC
basal cell carcinoma
SCC
squamous cell carcinoma
What distinguishes SCC from BCC?
SCC has hyperkeratosis
T or F. Non-melanoma skin cancers rarely metastasize.
True.
What causes non-melanoma skin cancers
sun exposure, radiation treatment, immunosuppression, chronic exposure to arsenic
Actinic keratosis or chronically inflamed skin from scar tissue and burns (SCC), smoking
How are non-melanoma skin cancers treated?
conventional or MOHS surgery, cryosurgery, electrodessication and curettage, drug therapy
What are the ABCs of malignant melanoma
asymmetry, border, color, diameter, evolving
Rare, inherited condition in which the melanocytes are unable to produce melanin
albinism
Pale, irregular patches of skin, often evenly located on one side of the body
vitiligo
What causes vitiligo?
Possibly autoimmune; often follows a stressful incident
What are treatment options for vitiligo?
cosmetics to cover the affected skin area, non-prescription de-pigmenting creams for dark areas, UV light treatment for lightened areas
Patches of dark skin that develop on the face, especially over the cheeks
melasma or chloasma
What causes melasma?
Caused by hormonal changes in pregnancy or with oral contraceptive use in some women
Benign lesions of proliferating blood vessels in the dermis that produce a red, blue, or purple colour
hemangioma
Small dark areas of skin composed of dense collections of melanocytes
moles or nevi
What causes moles?
Caused by melanocytes that grow in a cluster instead of spreading throughout the skin
Fungal infection that causes patches of flaky, light, or dark skin to develop on the trunk
pityriasis
How is pityriasis treated?
Treated with antifungal medications (oral and/or creams)
Unspecified adverse effect resulting from a drug, medicinal, or biologic substance that was properly administered
abnormal suntan
Loss or absence of hair, especially on the scalp
alopecia
Male pattern baldness
androgenetic alopecia
Loss of hair in oval patches
alopecia areata
What drugs can treat alopecia?
Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride)
Inflammatory reaction of the hair follicle that produces erythemic, pustular lesions
folliculitis
What causes folliculitis?
staphylococcus aureus
How is folliculitis treated?
topical antiseptic cleanser (Betadine) and systemic antibiotics
Common, localized hyperplastic areas of the stratum corneum layer of the epidermis
corns and calluses
What’s the difference between corns and calluses?
Corns have a glassy core and are smaller and more painful than calluses, calluses are larger and develop on pressure points
Elevated growths of the epidermis that result from hyperplasia
verrucae or warts
What causes verrucae?
viruses
How are verrucae treated?
chemical treatment (burning or freezing), surgican excision, cryotherapy, electrodessication
Nails with unusual thickening, shape, or color that deviates from normal
deformed or discolored nails
Infection of the skin around a nail
paronychia
A blister of pus beside the nail that forms if the nail fold is affected
whitlow
What causes paronychia?
Caused by a bacterial/fungal infection
How is paronychia treated?
antibiotics or antifungals
Acute inflammatory dermatomal eruption of extremely painful vesicles
herpes zoster (shingles)
What causes shingles?
herpes varicella-zoster virus (VZV) or chickenpox in childhood
VZV lies dormat in the ______ and reactivates, often by stress event
dorsal root ganglia
How are shingles treated?
acyclovir (Zovirax) antivial
T or F. There is now a vaccine for shingles prevention.
True
Common, contagious, superficial skin infection typically on face: pus, yellow crusty sores
impetigo
This impetigo presents as a blister
bullous impetigo
This impetigo presents as a rash
non-bullous impetigo
What causes impetigo?
streptococcus or staphylococcus aureus bacteria
How is impetigo treated?
systemic pills/IV that goes through the whole body, topical antibiotics, proper cleaning, and prevention of spreading
Large pus containing lesion that has been infected. The pus containing abscess involves the entire hair follicle and adjacent subcutaneous tissue
furuncle (boil)
Unusually large furuncle or a group of furuncles connected by drainage canals; multiple drainage points
carbuncle
What causes furuncles and carbuncles?
Bacterial infection, usually staphylococcus aureus
How do we treat boils and carbuncles?
hot compresses, surgical I&D in some cases, Keflex (cephalexin) or dicloxacillin antibiotic treatments
Acute, diffuse, bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue that causes skin to look red and swollen underneath skin – typically no rash associated
cellulitis
What causes cellulitis?
streptococcus or staph bacteria entering the skin surface via small cut or lesion
What is the key diagnostic symptom for cellulitis?
pitting edema - leaves indent from fingerprint
How is cellulitis treated?
systemic antibiotics; may require IV drug therapy or hospitalization if severe
Chronic superficial fungal infection of the skin
dermatophytoses (tinea)
What causes tinea?
Caused by several species of fungi that can invade the skin or nails
How is tinea treated?
Topical and/or oral antifungal medications
This type of tinea affects the scalp and can cause hair loss
tinea capitis
This type of tinea affects anywhere on the body
tinea corporis
This type of tinea affects the nail
tinea unguium
This type of tinea affects the foot; also called athlete’s foot
tinea pedis
This type of tinea affects the crotch; also called jock itch
tinea cruris
Localized area of dead skin that can affect the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layer and in some cases affect muscle and bones
decubitus ulcers (pressure/bed sores)
What causes decubitus ulcers?
Impairment or lack of blood supply to the affected area of skin
T or F. Decubitus ulcers are a result of constant pressure against surface of skin
True
How are decubitus ulcers treated?
prevention easier than treatment’ body position changes every 2 hours, special pads or mattresses to alleviate pressure on bony prominences
Two most common parasitic insects to infect humans
scabies and pediculosis (lice)
What causes scabies?
sarcoptes scabiei itch mite
What causes head lice?
Pediculus humanus capitis
What causes body lice?
Pediculus humanus corporis
What causes public lice or crabs?
Phthirus pubis
