Wound Care Vocabulary

Question 0

Anaerobic bacteria

Answer 0

Bacteria that thrive in an oxygen free environment

Question 1

Aerobic bacteria

Answer 1

Bacteria that thrive in an oxygen rich environment.

Question 2

Acute wound

Answer 2

A recently inflicted wound that will usually heal without problems.

Question 3

Alginate

Answer 3

Dressing derived from seaweed

Question 4

Autolysis

Answer 4

The body’s natural capacity for breaking down necrotic tissue.

Question 5

Cellulitis

Answer 5

Inflammation and infection of the cells, associated with heat, redness, swelling and pain.

Question 6

Chronic wound

Answer 6

Wound that has remained unhealed for more than 6 weeks.

Question 7

Collagen

Answer 7

Most abundant protein in the body and is responsible for holding the body together.
Collagen is laid down and modified during the proliferation and maturation phase of wound healing.

Question 8

Debridement

Answer 8

Removal of devitalised tissue through surgery, larval therapy, autolysis or occlusive dressings.

Question 9

Dehiscence (dehisced)

Answer 9

Separation of the opposed edges of a surgical wound. (When a wound that has been closed up splits open!)

Question 10

Devitalised tissue

Answer 10

Tissue that is no longer viable

Question 11

Epithelialisation

Answer 11

Wound bed level with the surface, epithelial cells will migrate over the wound bed to complete healing.

Question 12

Eschar

Answer 12

Hard necrotic tissue

Question 13

Erythema

Answer 13

Redness as seen in inflammation surrounding wounds.

Question 14

Excoriation

Answer 14

Skin has been traumatised, worn away or eroded as a result of incontinence or inappropriate dressing.

Question 15

Exudate

Answer 15

Serous fluid that has passed through the walls of a damaged or overextended vein.

Question 16

Fibroblast

Answer 16

In wound healing, fibroblasts stimulate cell migration, angiogenesis, embryonic development and healing.

Question 17

Film dressing

Answer 17

Transparent film that can be used as a primary or secondary dressing

Question 18

Gangrene

Answer 18

Devitalised, dead tissue caused by failure of the blood supply.

Question 19

Granulation

Answer 19

Combination of newly formed vascular tissue and fibroblasts, which lay down a matrix of cellular tissues during wound healing.

Question 20

Guluronic acid

Answer 20

Present in alginates, maintains the structure making removal in one piece possible.

Question 21

Haematoma

Answer 21

A bruise or collection of blood in the tissues.

Question 22

Haemostasis

Answer 22

Control of bleeding

Question 23

Homeostasis

Answer 23

The body’s natural mechanism for maintaining health constancy and ensuring survival. Includes blood pressure and thermoregulation.

Question 24

Hydrogel

Answer 24

Water based product for rehydrating necrotic tissue.

Question 25

Hydrophilic dressing

Answer 25

A water loving, absorbent dressing.

Question 26

Hydrophobic dressing

Answer 26

A water hating, non absorbent dressing

Question 27

Hyper-granulation (overgranulation)

Answer 27

Excessive production of granulation tissue

Question 28

Infection

Answer 28

Caused by micro-organisms which evade the immunological defences, enter and establish themselves within the tissues

Question 29

Inflammation

Answer 29

Natural defence against bacterial invasion, stimulates wound healing

Question 30

Ischaemia

Answer 30

Localised deficiency of arterial blood

Question 31

Keratinised

Answer 31

The process whereby epidermal cells differentiate to form the stratum Corneum

Question 32

Leg ulcer

Answer 32

Wound of the lower limb that is chronic in nature

Question 33

Maceration

Answer 33

Softening of tissue that has remained moist or wet for a long period. The skin becomes white and soggy and less resilient. Can predispose to tissue breakdown

Question 34

Malnutrition

Answer 34

Poor nutritional status from impaired absorption,

Question 35

Mannurotic acid

Answer 35

Present in alginates, form a soft flexible gel, breaks down in the presence of sodium and rinses away

Question 36

Moisture vapour transfer rate (MVTR)

Answer 36

The rate at which moisture (mainly from wound exudate) passes through a dressing and evaporates into the atmosphere

Question 37

Necrosis

Answer 37

Death of tissue or organ in response to injury, disease or occlusion of blood flow

Question 38

Oedema

Answer 38

An unnatural accumulation of fluid in the interstitial spaces

Question 39

Pressure ulcer

Answer 39

An area of localised damage to skin and underlying tissue caused by pressure, shear and friction.

Question 40

Proliferation phase

Answer 40

Third phase of wound healing, intense proliferation of fibroblasts and endothelial cells.

Question 41

Pus

Answer 41

A production of inflammation usually caused by infection containing used cells, debris and tissue elements

Question 42

Sharp Debridement

Answer 42

Method of Debridement using scalpel or scissors to remove necrotic tissue.

Question 43

Sinus

Answer 43

An epithelial cell lined tube from the outside of the body to the inside.

Question 44

Slough

Answer 44

A mixture of dead white cells, dead bacteria, rehydrated necrotic tissue and fibrous tissue.

Question 45

Tissue Viability

Answer 45

The ability if tissue to perform it’s function optimally.

Question 46

Vapour permeable

Answer 46

Gases and water vapour can pass through e.g. Dressing surface.

Question 47

Vasoconstriction

Answer 47

The arteries and arterioles constrict under the influence of drugs, hormones or cold.

Question 48

Vascularity

Answer 48

Blood supply to an area of tissue

Question 49

Vascular response

Answer 49

May be dilation or contraction, in a response to a variety of stimuli e.g. Temperature, inflammatory state and blood volume.

Question 50

Vasodilation

Answer 50

The lumen of blood vessels opens and becomes wider. Blood flow slows and oxygen reaches the tissues.

Question 51

Wound

Answer 51

A breakdown in the epidermis that can be related to trauma or pathological changes within the skin.