pathology Flashcards
dermatology
study of skin; branch of medicine involving diagnosis and treatment of conditions and diseases of the integumentary system
physician is dermatologist
plastic surgery
surgical specialty involved in repair, reconstruction, or improvement of body structures such as damaged or misshapen skin
physician is plastic surgeon
abrasion
a scraping-away of skin surface by friction
anhidrosis
abnormal condition of being without (having no) sweat
comedo
collection of hardened sebum in hair follicle; blackhead
contusion
injury caused by a blow to the body; causes swelling, pain, and bruising; skin is NOT broken
cyst
fluid-filled sac under skin
depigmentation
without normal skin color or pigment
diaphoresis
profuse sweating
ecchymosis
abnormal condition of skin discoloration caused by blood collecting under the skin following blunt trauma to skin; commonly called a bruise
erythema
redness or flushing of skin
erythroderma
condition of having reddened or flushed skin
eschar
thick layer of dead tissue and tissue fluid that develops over deep bum area
fissure
cracklike lesion or groove on skin
hirsutism
excessive hair growth over body
hyperemia
blood condition resulting in redness of skin due to increased (excessive) blood flow
hyperhidrosis
abnormal condition of excessive sweat
hyperpigmentation
abnormal, excessive amount of pigmentation in skin
lesion
general term for wound, injury, or abnormality
leukoderma
skin condition that appears white because normal skin pigment is absent; may be all of the skin or just in some areas
lipoma
fatty mass
macule
flat, small, discolored flush with skin surface
example: freckle or birthmark
necrosis
abnormal condition of death
nevus
pigmented skin blemish, birthmark, or mole; usually benign but may become cancerous
nodule
small, firm, solid mass of cells in skin larger than 0.5 cm in diameter
onychomalacia
abnormal softening of nails
pallor
abnormal paleness of skin
papule
small, solid, circular raised spot on surface of skin less than 0.5 cm in diameter
petechiae
pinpoint purple or red spots from minute hemorrhages under skin; singular is petechia
photosensitivity
condition in which skin reacts abnormally when exposed to light, such as UV rays of the sun
pruritus
severe itching
purpura
hemorrhages into skin due to fragile blood vessels that appear dark brown/purplish; commonly seen in older adults
purulent
containing pus or infection that is producing pus; pus consists of dead bacteria, white blood cells, and tissue debris
pustule
small, raised spot on skin containing pus
pyoderma
condition of presence of pus on or in layers of skin; sign of bacterial infection
scleroderma
condition in which skin has lost its elasticity and become hardened
seborrhea
oily discharge
suppurative
containing or producing pus
ulcer
open sore or lesion in skin or mucous membrane
urticaria
skin condition with eruptions that are pale reddish wheals with severe itching; usually associated with food allergy, stress, or drug reactions; also called hives
vesicle
small fluid-filled sac on skin; commonly called a blister
wheal
small, round, swollen area on skin; typically seen in allergic skin reactions such as hives and usually accompanied by urticaria
xeroderma
condition in which skin is abnormally dry
abscess
collection of pus in skin
acne rosacea
chronic form of acne seen in adults involving redness, tiny pimples, and broken blood vessels, primarily on nose and cheeks
acne vulgaris
common form of acne seen in teenagers; characterized by comedos, papules, and pustules
actinic keratosis
abnormal condition of hard, horny, wartlike lesion that develops on sun-damaged skin; may become cancerous
albinism
genetic condition in which body is unable to make melanin; characterized by white hair and skin and red pupils due to lack of pigment
basal cell carcinoma
cancerous tumor of basal call layer of epidermis; frequent type of skin cancer that rarely metasizes or spreads( these cancers can arise on sun-exposed skin
burn
damage to skin that can result from exposure to open fire, electricity, UV light from the sun, or caustic chemicals; seriousness depends on amount of body surface involved and depth of burn as determined by amount of damage to each layer; skin and burns are categorized as first degree (also called superficial) second degree (also called partial thickness) or third degree (full thickness); extent of burn is estimated using Rule of Nines
cellulitis
diffuse, acute infection and inflammation of connective tissue found in skin
cicatrix
a scar
decubitus ulcer
open sore caused by pressure over bony prominences cutting off blood flow overlying skin; can appear in bedridden patients who lie in one position too long and can be difficult to heal; also called bedsore or pressure sore
dermatitis
inflammation of skin
dermatosis
general term indicating presence of abnormal skin condition
dry gangrene
late stages of gangrene characterized by affected area becoming dried, blackened, and shriveled; referred to as mummified
eczema
superficial dermatitis of unknown cause accompanied by redness, vesicles, itching, and crusting
gangrene
tissue necrosis usually due to deficient blood supply
ichthyosis
abnormal condition in which skin becomes dry, scaly, and keratinized
impetigo
highly infectious bacterial infection of skin with pustules that rupture and become crusted over
kaposi sarcoma
a cancerous tumor of the connective tissue (flesh) of skin; frequently seen in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients; consists of brownish-purple papules that spread from skin and metastasize to internal organs
keloid
formation of raised and thickened hypertrophic scar after injury or surgery
keratosis
term for any abnormal skin condition involving hard, horny, overgrowth and thickening of epidermis layer
laceration
torn of jagged wound; incorrectly used to describe a cut
malignant melanoma
dangerous form of skin cancer caused by uncontrolled growth of melanocytes; may quickly metastasize or spread to internal organs; the tumor had the characteristic dark brown to black color of melanin
monkeypox
contagious viral infection that causes flu-like symptoms and a rash with pustules or blisters
pediculosis
abnormal condition of infestation with lice; eggs laid by lice are called nits and cling tightly to hair
pediculosis
abnormal condition of infestation with lice; eggs laid by lice are called nits and cling tightly to hair
psoriasis
chronic inflammatory condition consisting of papules forming “silvery scales” patches with circular borders
rubella
contagious viral skin infection; commonly called German measles
scabies
contagious skin disease caused by egg-laying mite that burrows through skin and causes redness and intense itching; often seen in children
sebaceous cyst
sac under skin filled with sebum or oil from sebaceous gland; can grow to large size and may need to be excised
seborrheic keratosis
benign hard, wartlike skin growth; often appears waxy, which originally led to thinking they involved sebaceous glands, but they do not
squamous cell carcinoma
cancerous tumor of epidermis layer of skin that may invade deeper tissue and metastasize; often begins as sore that does not heal
strawberry hemangioma
congenital collection (or mass) of dilated blood vessels causing red birthmark that fades a few months after birth
systemic lupus erythematosus
chronic disease of connective tissue that injures skin, joints, kidneys, nervous system, and mucous membrane; autoimmune condition meaning that’s body’s own immune system attacks normal tissue of body; may produce characteristic red, scaly butterfly rash across cheeks and nose
tinea
fungal skin disease resulting in itching, scaling lesions, commonly called ringworm due to its tendency to form raised circular lesions
tinea capitis
fungal infection of scalp
tinea pedis
fungal infection of foot; commonly called athlete’s foot
varicella
contagious viral skin infection; commonly called chickenpox
verruca
benign growth caused by virus; has rough surface; removed by chemicals and/or laser therapy; commonly called warts
vitiligo
disappearance of pigment from skin in patches, causing milk-white appearance; also called leukoderma
wet gangrene
area of gangrene that becomes secondarily infected by pus-producing bacteria
