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HM 120- Med Term-Ch1
Chapter 2
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| integumentary system | The structures of the integumentary system consist of the skin (and its structures and glands), the nails, and the subcutaneous tissue. This body system covers most of the surface of the body and is the body’s first line of defense against injury and infe |
| adipose tissue | Fatty tissue that is part of the subcutaneous tissue. It contains lipocytes that store fat as an energy reserve. |
| collagen | Firm, white protein fibers in the dermis |
| cutaneous | Pertaining to the skin |
| cuticle | Layer of dead cells that lie along the proximal edge of the nail. The cuticle keeps microorganisms from entering the deeper tissues. |
| dermis | Layer of skin beneath the epidermis. It contains collagen and elastin fibers. It also contains arteries, veins, and nerves, as well as sebaceous glands, sudoriferous glands, and hair follicles. |
| diaphoresis | The process of sweating. The sweat itself is perspiration. Sweat is secreted by the sudoriferous glands. Bacteria on the skin that digest sweat produce its characteristic odor. |
| elastin | Yellow elastic fibers in the dermis |
| epidermis | Thin, outermost layer of the skin. The most superficial part or squamous layer of the epidermis consists of dead cells filled with keratin. The deepest part or basal layer contains constantly dividing cells that are moving toward the surface. |
| epithelium | Type of tissue that includes the epidermis, as well as mucous membranes that line internal cavities that connect to the outside of the body. Also known as epithelial tissue. |
| exfoliation | Normal process of the constant shedding of dead cells from the most superficial part of the epidermis |
| exocrine gland | Type of gland that secretes substances through a duct. The sebaceous (oil) glands and sudoriferous (sweat) glands in the dermis are both exocrine glands. |
| follicle | Structure in the dermis in which each hair forms |
| hair | Structure that grows as a shaft from a follicle in the dermis. Hair cells are filled with keratin. |
| keratin | Hard, fibrous protein in the outermost cells of the epidermis. Keratin is also in the hair and nails. |
| lipocyte | Cell in the adipose tissue of the subcutaneous tissue; it stores fat as an energy reserve. |
| lunula | Whitish half-moon shape that is the visible part of the nail root |
| melanin | Dark brown or black pigment that gives color to the skin and hair. |
| melanocyte | Pigment cell in the epidermis. Melanocyte-stimulating hormone in the anterior pituitary gland in the brain causes melanocytes to produce melanin. |
| nail bed | Layer of living tissue beneath the nail plate. It contains nerves and blood vessels. Also known as the quick. |
| nail plate | Hard, translucent protective covering over the distal end of each finger and toe. It is composed of dead cells that contain keratin. Also known as the nail. |
| nail root | Located beneath the skin of the finger or toe. It produces cells that form the lunula and nail plate. |
| piloerection | Process in which body hairs become erect when the skin is cold. |
| sebaceous gland | Exocrine gland in the dermis that secretes sebum (oil) through a duct. Sebum coats the hair and moisturizes the skin. Also known as an oil gland. |
| skin | The skin is a major part of the integumentary system. The skin consists of two layers—the epidermis and the dermis. |
| subcutaneous tissue | Tissue layer beneath the dermis. It is composed of connective tissue and adipose tissue. |
| sudoriferous gland | Exocrine gland in the dermis. It secretes sweat through a duct that ends at a pore on the surface of the skin. Also known as a sweat gland. |
| dermatome | Area of the skin that sends sensory information through a nerve to the spinal cord |
| healthcare–associated infection (HAI) | Infection that occurs in hospitals and other healthcare facilities when caregivers do not wash their hands. Previously known as a nosocomial infection. |
| homeostasis | Balance, equilibrium, and stability of all body systems and functions |
| normal skin flora | Bacteria that live on the skin and inhibit the growth of disease-causing microorganisms |
| protection | The integumentary system is the body’s first line of defense and protection against injury and infection. |
| sensation | Sensory receptors in the dermis respond to light touch, pressure, vibration, pain, or temperature. The nervous system then relays and interprets skin sensations. |
| synthesis | Process of putting together sunlight and the skin to create vitamin D |
| thermoregulation | Actions of the integumentary system to help control body temperature: the subcutaneous layer conserves body heat, the skin creates heat with goosebumps and piloerection, and the sudoriferous glands secrete sweat to evaporate and cool the body. |
| CO | carbon monoxide |
| CO2 | carbon dioxide |
| HAI | healthcare–associated infection |
| integument/o- | skin |
| adip/o- | fat |
| coll.a- | fibers that hold together |
| cutane.o- | skin |
| cuti/- | skin |
| derm/o- | skin |
| phor/o- | bear; carry; range |
| spir/o- | brathe; coil |
| elast/o- | flexing; stretching |
| squam/o- | scale-like cell |
| bas/o- | alkaline; base of a structure |
| theli/o- | cellular layer |
| folio/o- | leaf |
| ex/o- | away from; external; outward |
| folli/o- | sac-like structure |
| follicul/o- | follicle |
| pil/o- | hair |
| trich/o- | hair |
| kerat/o- | cornea; hard, fibrous protein |
| lip/o- | fat; lipid |
| lun/o- | moon |
| melan/o- | black |
| onycho/o- | fingernail; toenail |
| ungu/o- | fingernail; toenail |
| erect/o- | stand up |
| sebace/o- | oil; sebum |
| seb/o- | oil; sebum |
| cut/i- | skin |
| sudor/i- | sweat |
| fer/o- | bear |
| hidr/o- | sweat |
| nosocomi/o- | hospital |
| home/o | same |
| protect/o- | defend; protect |
| sens/o- | feeling |
| synth/o- | put together |
| therm/o- | heat |
| regulat/o- | control |
| -itis | infection of; inflammation of |
| dermatitis | Infection or inflammation of the skin. This can be due to injury to the skin itself or to a disease within the body that manifests itself on the skin. |
| edema | Excessive amounts of fluid move from the blood into the dermis or subcutaneous tissue and cause swelling. Local areas of edema on the skin can be caused by inflammation, an allergic reaction, or an infection. Large areas of edema on the skin are associate |
| hemorrhage | An injury to the blood vessels releases blood into the skin; this process is known as extravasation. |
| Petechiae | are pinpoint areas of blood caused by small ruptured blood vessels. |
| Contusion | is a hemorrhage of a larger amount of blood into the skin. |
| ecchymosis | is a hemorrhage that is 3 cm in diameter or larger. A contusion or an ecchymosis is commonly known as a bruise. |
| Hematoma | is an elevated, localized collection of blood under the skin. |
| hem/o- | blood |
| -rrhage | excessive discharge; excessive flow |
| extra- | outside |
| vas/o- | blood vessel; vas deferens |
| -ation | being; having; process |
| contus/o- | bruising |
| -ion | action; condition |
| ecchym/o- | blood in the tissue |
| -osis | abnormal condition; process |
| lesion | Any visible damage or variation from normal skin, whether from disease or injury. |
| fiss/o- | splitting |
| -ure | result of; system |
| vesic/o- | bladder; fluid-filled sace |
| -cle | small thing |
| vesicul/o- | fluid-filled sac |
| -ar | pertaining to |
| neoplasm | Any new growth that occurs on the skin. A neoplasm can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Note: Malignant neoplasms are described later in the chapter. |
| -plasm | formed substance; growth |
| malign/o- | cancer |
| -ant | pertaining to |
| pruritus | Pruritus is caused by the release of histamine as part of an allergic reaction of the skin. Also known as itching. |
| prurit/o- | itching |
| rash | Any type of skin lesion that is pink to red, flat or raised, itchy or not itchy. Certain diseases (chickenpox, measles) have characteristic rashes. |
| xeroderma | Excessive dryness of the skin. It is caused by aging, cold weather with low humidity, vitamin A deficiency, or dehydration. |
| xer/o- | dry |
| -derma | skin |
| albinism | Genetic mutation that causes a lack of pigment in the skin, hair, and iris of the eye. There is a normal number of melanocytes, but they produce insufficient or no melanin. |
| cyanosis | Bluish-purple discoloration of the skin and nails due to a decreased level of oxygen in the blood. It is caused by cardiac or respiratory disease. The patient is said to be cyanotic. In healthy persons, areas of skin exposed to the cold can temporarily ex |
| erythema | Reddish discoloration of the skin. It can be confined to a local area of infection or inflammation, or it can affect large areas of the skin, as in sunburn. The area is said to be erythematous. |
| erythemat/o- | redness |
| jaundice | Yellowish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes, as well as the whites of the eyes. It is associated with liver disease. The patient’s diseased liver cannot process (conjugate) bilirubin, and so unconjugated bilirubin in the blood moves into the |
| icter/o- | jaundice |
| necrosis | Gray-to-black discoloration of the skin in areas where the tissue has died. Necrotic tissue can develop in a burn, pressure injury, wound, or any tissue with a poor blood supply. Necrosis with subsequent bacterial invasion and infection is gangrene, and t |
| necr/o- | dead body; dead tissue |
| gangren/o- | gangrene |
| vitiligo | Autoimmune disorder in which melanocytes are slowly destroyed. There are white patches of depigmentation interspersed with areas of normally pigmented skin. |
| pigment/o- | pigment |
| abrasion | A sliding or scraping injury that mechanically removes the epidermis. Also known as a brush burn. |
| abras/o- | scrape off |
| blister | Fluid-filled sac with a thin, transparent covering of epidermal cells. It occurs when a repetitive rubbing injury separates the epidermis from the dermis, releasing tissue fluid and creating a fluid-filled sac. Blisters often form on the heel from walking |
| burns | Heat (fire, hot objects, steam, boiling water), electrical current (lightning, electrical outlets or cords), chemicals, and radiation or x-rays (sunshine or prescribed radiation therapy) can create a burn of the epidermis or dermis. |
| superficial burn | Involves only the epidermis. There is erythema, pain, and swelling, but not blisters. Also known as a first-degree burn. |
| partial- thickness burn | Involves the epidermis and the upper part of the dermis. There is erythema, pain, and swelling, but also a blister or a larger bulla that forms as the epidermis detaches from the dermis and the space between fills with tissue fluid . Also known as a secon |
| full-thickness burn | Involves the epidermis, dermis, and sometimes the subcutaneous tissue and muscle layer beneath it. If nerves in the dermis are destroyed, there is local anesthesia with loss of sensation of pain. Also known as a third-degree burn. Eschar is a thick scar o |
| callus | Repetitive rubbing injury that causes the epidermis to gradually thicken into a wide, elevated pad. A corn is a callus with a hard central area with a pointed tip that causes pain. |
| cicatrix | Fibrous tissue composed of collagen; it forms as an injury heals. Also known as a scar. |
| excoriation | Superficial injury with a sharp object (such as a fingernail, animal claw, or thorn) that creates a linear scratch on the skin. |
| excori/o- | take out skin |
| keloid | A very firm, abnormally large scar. It grows larger than the original injury because of an overproduction of collagen as the injury heals. Unlike a scar, a keloid does not decrease in size over time. |
| kel/o- | tumor |
| -oid | resembling |
| laceration | Linear penetrating wound. It can have clean-cut or torn, ragged skin edges |
| lacer/o- | tearing |
| -ation | being; having; process |
| pressure injury | Epidermis and dermis break down, resulting in a shallow or deep ulcer. This occurs because constant pressure on the skin decreases blood flow to that area. Also known as a pressure ulcer, bedsore, or decubitus ulcer. |
| abscess | Localized, pus-containing pocket under the skin from a bacterial infection. It is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus, a common bacterium on the skin. |
| Furuncle. | Localized, elevated abscess around a hair follicle. Also known as a boil. |
| carbuncle. | Several furuncles connected by channels through the subcutaneous tissue or to the skin surface. |
| cellulitis | Infection and inflammation that spreads through the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscle. It develops from a superficial cut, scratch, insect bite, blister, or splinter that becomes infected. The infecting bacteria produce enzymes that allow the infectio |
| herpes | Infection caused by the herpes virus. There are clusters of vesicles, erythema, edema, and pain. The vesicles rupture, releasing clear fluid that forms crusts. |
| Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 | causes vesicles on the lips. These tend to recur during illness and stress. Also known as cold sores or fever blisters. |
| Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 | is a sexually transmitted disease that causes vesicles in the genital area. These tend to recur during illness and stress. Also known as genital herpes. |
| Herpes whitlow | is infection at the distal fingernail because of contact with either herpes simplex type 1 or type 2. The virus enters through a small tear in the cuticle. |
| Herpes varicella-zoster | the skin rash of chickenpox during childhood. The virus then remains dormant in the nerves until it is activated in later life by illness or stress. Then it forms vesicles and crusts along a dermatome and is very painful. Also known as shingles |
| tinea | Skin infection caused by a fungus that feeds on epidermal cells. There is severe itching and burning with red, scaly lesions. Because some lesions are round, it was thought to be caused by a worm, and so it was (and still is) called ringworm. Tinea is nam |
| Tinea capitis | occurs on the scalp and causes hair loss |
| Tinea corporis | occurs on the trunk and extremities |
| Tinea cruris | occurs on the groin and genital areas. Also known as jock itch |
| Tinea pedis | occurs on the feet. Also known as athlete's foot |
| verruca | Irregular, rough skin lesion caused by the human papillomavirus. It usually occurs on the hands, fingers, or the soles of the feet (plantar wart). Also known as a wart. |
| pediculosis | Infestation of parasitic lice and their eggs (nits) in the scalp, hair, eyelashes, or genital hair. Lice are easily transmitted from one person to another by combs or hats. |
| pedicul/o- | lice |
| scabies | Infestation of parasitic mites that tunnel under the skin and produce vesicles that are itchy. |
| contact dermatitis | Local reaction from contact with a substance that is an allergen or irritant. Examples: Chemicals (deodorant, soap, detergent, makeup, urine), metals, synthetic products (latex gloves, Spandex bathing suit or girdle), plants (poison ivy), or animals. The |
| urticaria | Local allergic reaction due to food, plants, animals, insect bites, or drugs. There are raised areas of redness and edema that appear suddenly. Itching causes the areas to enlarge. Also known as hives. Each individual area is known as a wheal. A large whe |
| actinic keratosis | Benign (not cancerous) neoplasm. This raised, irregular, rough area of skin is dry and feels like sandpaper. It develops in middle-aged persons in areas exposed to the sun. The area can become cancerous. Also known as solar keratosis. |
| actin/o- | rays of the sun |
| sol/o- | sun |
| hemangioma | Benign mass of superficial, dilated blood vessels that is present at birth. Most disappear without treatment by age 3. |
| andi/o- | blood vessel; lymphatic vessel |
| lipoma | Benign growth of adipose tissue in the subcutaneous layer. It makes a soft, rounded, fatty elevation in the skin. |
| nevus | Benign skin lesion that is present at birth and has a variety of colors and shapes |
| Mole | a raised and round nevus |
| Port-wine stain | A flat, red-to-purple, and irregularly shaped nevus. It can be over a large area, often on the head and neck. Also known as a birthmark. |
| papilloma | Soft, flesh-colored growth that protrudes outwardly from the skin as a flap or a polyp on a stalk. Also known as a skin tag. |
| papill/o- | elevated structure |
| syndactyly | Congenital abnormality in which the skin and soft tissues are joined between the fingers or toes. In some cases, the nails are also joined. |
| polydactyly | is a congenital abnormality in which there are extra fingers or toes. |
| cancer of the skin | A cancerous lesion or malignancy in areas of the skin that are chronically exposed to ultraviolet light radiation from the sun. Skin cancer is more common in older adults (because of a lifetime of sun exposure) and in fair-skinned persons (because there i |
| cancer/o- | cancer |
| malign/o- | cancer |
| basal cell carcinoma | Skin cancer that begins in the basal (bottom) layer of the epidermis. It appears as a raised, pearly bump. It is the most common type of skin cancer, but it is a slow-growing cancer that does not metastasize to other parts of the body. |
| carcino/o- | cancer |
| Kaposi sarcoma | Cancer of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. It is an elevated, irregular, dark reddish-blue tumor. It also involves the mucous membranes and internal organs. This previously rare cancer is now commonly seen in patients with AIDS because of their impaired |
| sarc/o- | connective tissue |
| malignant melanoma | Skin cancer of the melanocytes in the epidermis. It grows quickly and can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body (see the Clinical Connections box on the next page). |
| squamous cell carcinoma | Skin cancer that begins in the superficial (squamous cell) layer of the epidermis. It appears as a red bump or an ulcer. It often develops from an actinic keratosis. It is the second most common type of skin cancer, but it grows slowly. |
| psoriasis | Autoimmune disorder that produces an excessive number of abnormal epidermal cells. The skin is itchy, red, and covered with silvery scales and plaques on the scalp, elbows, hands, and knees. Illness and stress can cause a flareup, and psoriasis has a here |
| scleroderma | Autoimmune disorder that causes the skin and internal organs to harden over time due to abnormal deposits of collagen. |
| scler/o- | hard; sclera |
| systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) | Autoimmune disorder in which collagen in the skin and connective tissue deteriorates. There is joint pain, sensitivity to sunlight, and fatigue. Often there is a characteristic butterfly-shaped, erythematous rash over the nose and cheeks and a red rash on |
| system/o- | body as a whole |
| acne vulgaris | Chronic skin condition of the face, shoulders, and back during adolescence. The sebaceous glands secrete excessive amounts of sebum. Excess sebum enlarges the pores and turns black as the oil is exposed to the air; this becomes a blackhead. Alternatively, |
| rosacea | Chronic skin condition of the face and neck in middle-aged patients. The sebaceous glands secrete excessive amounts of sebum. There is blotchy erythema (redness) and dilated superficial blood vessels; these are made worse by heat, cold, stress, emotions, |
| rhin/o- | nose |
| -phyma | growth; tumor |
| seborrhea | Overproduction of sebum that occurs at a time other than adolescence. Oily areas alternate with dry, scaly skin and dandruff. There can also be erythema and crusty, yellow deposits from leaking tissue fluids. In adults, it often occurs after illness or st |
| anhidrosis | Congenital absence of the sudoriferous glands and inability to sweat and tolerate heat. |
| diaphoresis | Diaphoresis is the normal process of sweating. Excessive sweating can point to an underlying serious condition, such as a myocardial infarction, hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia, or withdrawal from narcotic drugs. The patient is said to be diaphoretic. |
| dia- | complete; through |
| alopecia | Loss of hair from the scalp. Skin diseases such as tinea capitis can cause hair loss. Alopecia can also be caused by chemotherapy drugs that kill rapidly dividing cancer cells, but also kill rapidly dividing hair cells. Chronic hair loss usually begins in |
| alopec/o- | bald |
| hirsutism | Excessive, dark hair on the forearms and upper lip of a woman. It is caused by an increased level of male hormone, which is produced by a tumor in the woman’s adrenal gland cortex. |
| hirsut/o- | hairy |
| clubbing and cyanosis | Abnormal downward curved and bluish fingernails and stunted growth of the fingers associated with a chronic lack of oxygen in patients with cystic fibrosis |
| onychomycosis | Fungal infection of the fingernails or toenails. It infects the nail root and deforms the nail as it grows |
| allergy skin testing | Skin test in which allergens (animal dander, foods, plants, pollen, etc.) in a liquid form are given by intradermal injections into the skin. If the patient is allergic to a particular allergen, a wheal will form at the site of that injection. Alternately |
| culture and sensitivity (C&S) | Laboratory test in which a specimen of the exudate (oozing fluid or pus) from an ulcer, wound, burn, laceration, or skin infection is tested to identify the bacterium present and its sensitivity to specific antibiotic drugs (see the Clinical Connections b |
| sensitiv/o- | affected by; sensitive to |
| exudo/o- | oozing fluid |
| RAST | Blood test that measures the amount of immunoglobulin E (IgE) that is produced when the patient’s blood is mixed with a specific allergen. IgE is active during allergic reactions in the body. The test produces a computerized printout that shows which alle |
| skin scraping | Skin test in which a skin scraping is done with the edge of a scalpel to obtain cells from a skin lesion. The cells are examined under a microscope to make a diagnosis. Often used to diagnose tinea capitis (ringworm). |
| Tzanck test | Skin test in which a skin scraping is done to obtain fluid from a vesicle. The fluid is smeared on a slide, stained, and examined under a microscope. Herpes virus infections and shingles show characteristic giant cells with herpes viruses in them. |
| Wood lamp or light | Skin test that uses ultraviolet light to highlight areas of abnormal skin. In a darkened room, ultraviolet light makes vitiligo appear bright white and tinea capitis (ringworm) appear blue-green because the fungus fluoresces (glows). |
| Botox injections | Procedure in which the drug Botox is injected into the muscle to release deep wrinkle lines on the face. The drug keeps the muscle from contracting and creating wrinkles. This treatment is only effective for several months. |
| collagen injections | Procedure in which a liquid that contains collagen is injected into wrinkles or acne scars. This plumps the skin and decreases the depth of the wrinkle or scar. |
| cryolipolysis | Procedure (popularly known as CoolSculpting®) that is noninvasive and uses a device that is placed on the skin. The device is cold, and it targets and freezes fat cells, causing them to crystalize and die. It does not freeze skin cells or cause frostbite, |
| cry/o- | cold |
| -lysis | process of break down or destroy |
| cryosurgery | Procedure in which liquid nitrogen is sprayed or painted onto a wart, mole, or other benign lesion or onto a small malignant lesion. The liquid nitrogen freezes and destroys the lesion. |
| curettage | Procedure that uses a curet to scrape off a superficial skin lesion. A curet is a metal instrument that ends in a small ring with a sharp edge. Curettage is often combined with electrodesiccation for complete removal of a lesion. |
| debridement | Procedure in which necrotic tissue is removed (debrided) from a burn, wound, or ulcer. This is done to prevent infection from developing, to determine the depth of the wound, or to create a clean, raw surface that is ready to heal or receive a skin graft. |
| Mechanical debridement | consists of putting on a wet dressing, letting it dry, removing the dressing, and pulling off necrotic tissue with it. |
| Topical debridement | uses enzyme drugs to debride by chemically dissolving necrotic tissue. Medically sterilized maggots are used to eat necrotic tissue and the bacteria in it. |
| Surgical debridement | of a large area is done under anesthesia using a scalpel or a curet. |
| electrosurgery | Procedure that uses an electrical current to remove a nevus, wart, skin tag, or small malignant lesion. The electrical current passes through an electrode and evaporates the lesion. |
| Fulguration | The electrode is held away from the skin and transmits the electrical current to the skin lesion as a spark. |
| Electrodesiccation | The electrode is touched or inserted into the skin lesion to deliver the electrical current. |
| Electrosection | A special electrode is used that can cut and remove the lesion. |
| electr/o- | electricity |
| fulgur/o- | spark of electricity |
| desicc/o- | dry up |
| sect/o- | cut |
| incision and drainage (I&D) | Procedure to remove fluid or pus from a cyst or abscess. A scalpel is used to make an incision. Most of the fluid or pus is manually expressed (pushed out with gloved hands), and the remainder is allowed to drain out. |
| laser surgery | Procedure that uses pulses of laser light to remove birthmarks, tattoos, enlarged superficial blood vessels (rosacea), wrinkles, scars, or unwanted hair. A tunable laser has a specific wavelength of light that only reacts with certain colors (the red of a |
| skin examination | Procedure to examine the patient’s skin or just one skin lesion, rash, or tumor. The dermatologist uses a lens to magnify the area |
| skin resurfacing | Procedure that removes the epidermis. It is used to treat acne scars and skin tone irregularities, remove tattoos, and promote the regrowth of smoother skin. |
| chemical peel | uses a liquid acid to remove the epidermis. |
| dermabrasion | uses a rapidly spinning wire brush or diamond surface to mechanically scrape away (abrade) the epidermis. |
| laser skin resurfacing | uses a computer-controlled laser to vaporize the epidermis. Also known as a laser peel. |
| microdermabrasion | uses aluminium oxide crystals to abrade and remove the epidermis. |
| skin turgor assessment | Healthcare professionals assess a patient’s level of hydration by testing the skin turgor. A fold of skin pinched between the thumb and fingertips of the healthcare professional should flatten out immediately when released. Dehydration causes the fold of |
| suturing | suturing |
| Ultherapy® | Procedure that uses ultrasound waves directed to the dermis and subcutaneous tissues. It stimulates the production of new collagen to lift and tighten the skin of the face and neck. |
| anesthetic drug | Provides temporary numbness of the skin while injuries and skin diseases are treated or skin lesions are removed. Applied topically or injected. |
| antibiotic drug | Treats bacterial infections of the skin or acne vulgaris. Applied topically or given orally. |
| antifungal drug | Treats ringworm (tinea) when applied topically. Treats a fungal infection of the nail when applied topically or given orally. |
| antipruritic drug | Decreases itching. Applied topically or given orally. |
| antiviral drug | Treats herpes simplex virus infections. Applied topically or given orally. |
| coal tar drug | Treats psoriasis. Causes epidermal cells to multiply more slowly to decrease itching. Coal tar is a by-product of the processing of bituminous coal. It contains more than 10,000 different chemicals. Applied topically. |
| corticosteroid drug | Treats skin inflammation associated with many different skin diseases. Applied topically or given orally. |
| drug for alopecia | Improves blood flow to the skin to increase hair growth. Applied topically or given orally to block the production of DHT. |
| drug for infestations | Treats scabies (mites) and pediculosis (lice). Applied topically as a lotion and shampoo. |
| photodynamic therapy (PDT) | Treats cancer of the skin with laser light and a photosensitizing drug. |
| psoralen drug | Treats psoriasis. Psoralen sensitizes the skin to the ultraviolet light therapy, damages cellular DNA, and decreases the rate of cell division. This combination is known as PUVA (psoralen drug and ultraviolet A light) |
| vitamin A–type drug | Treats acne vulgaris or severe cystic acne. Causes epidermal cells to multiply rapidly to keep the pores from becoming clogged. Applied topically or given orally. |
| biopsy (Bx) | Procedure done to remove all or part of a skin lesion or tumor. The biopsy specimen is sent to the pathology department of the hospital for examination under a microscope to obtain a diagnosis. |
| excisional biopsy | uses a scalpel to remove the entire skin lesion or tumor. |
| incisional biopsy | uses a scalpel to make an incision to remove just a portion of the skin lesion or tumor |
| punch biopsy | uses a circular metal cutter to remove a core of tissue from the skin lesion or tumor |
| Shave biopsy | uses a scalpel to shave off a superficial skin lesion in the epidermis |
| dermatoplasty | Procedure of any type that involves plastic surgery to the skin, such as skin grafting, removal of a keloid, facelift, etc. |
| liposuction | Procedure to remove excessive adipose tissue deposits from the breasts, abdomen, hips, legs, or buttocks. A cannula inserted through a small incision is used to suction out the subcutaneous tissue. Ultrasonic-assisted liposuction uses ultrasonic waves to |
| Mohs surgery | Procedure to remove skin cancer, particularly tumors with irregular shapes and depths. An operating microscope is used during the surgery to examine each layer of excised tissue. If it still shows cancerous cells, more tissue is removed until no cancer ce |
| rhytidectomy | Procedure to remove wrinkles and tighten loose, aging skin on the face and neck. Also known as a facelift. A blepharoplasty, the removal of fat and drooping skin from around the eyelids, is often done at the same time. |
| skin grafting | Procedure that uses human or artificial skin to provide a temporary covering or permanent layer of skin over a burn or wound. A dermatome makes a shallow, continuous cut to remove (harvest) skin to be used as a graft. A split-thickness skin graft contains |
| allograft | is a skin graft taken from a dead body (cadaver). It is frozen and stored in a skin bank. This is used as a temporary skin graft to protect the patient’s skin and prevent infection and fluid loss. |
| autograft | is a skin graft taken from another area (donor site) of the patient's own body. This is a permanent skin graft. |
| synthetic skin graft | is a skin graft made of collagen fibers arranged in a lattice pattern. The patient's own healing skin grows into this as the graft gradually resolves. |
| dermatome | a specific area of the skin that sends sensory information through a spinal nerve to the spinal cord |
| dermatome | a surgical instrument used to make a shallow, continuous cut to form a skin graft |
| Bx | biopsy |
| C&S | culture and sensitivity |
| Derm | dermatology (short form) |
| HAI | healthcare–associated infection |
| HSV | herpes simplex virus |
| I&D | incision and drainage |
| IgE | immunoglobulin E |
| PDT | photodynamic therapy |
| PUVA | psoralen (drug and) ultraviolet A (light therapy) |
| SLE | systemic lupus erythematosus |
| SQ | subcutaneous |
| subcu | subcutaneous (short form) |
| subQ | subcutaneous (short form) |
| UVB | ultraviolet light B |
| Physician’s assistants | are physician extenders who are licensed to perform basic medical care under the supervision of a physician. They perform physical examinations, diagnose, prescribe drugs, and perform minor surgery. They can assist the physician during more extensive surg |
| Dermatologists | are physicians who practice in the medical specialty of dermatology. They diagnose and treat patients with diseases of the skin. Physicians can take additional training and become board certified in the subspecialty of pediatric dermatology. Malignancies |
| Plastic surgeons | are physicians who perform plastic and reconstructive surgery to reshape the body. They remove lesions and scars and perform liposuction and other procedures that reshape the skin and subcutaneous tissue. |
| Oncologists | are physicians who specialize in treating cancer with chemotherapy drugs. Surgeons perform surgery to remove cancerous tumors. |
Created by:
Keke_xcv
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