primary lesions
are physical changes of the skin of pathological origin
vascular lesions
related to blood vessels and include the escape of blood into the tissues
lesion
visible change in tissue resulting from injury or disease
cyst
closed sac containing fluid or semi-solid material
macule
flat, colored spot on the skin; freckle
nevus
circumscribed malformation of the skin, usually brown or black; mole
nodule
small, knotlike mass that can be felt by touch (lipoma)
papule
small, solid skin elevation
pustule
elevation of skin containing pus (impetigo, acne)
vesicle
small elevation of the epidermis containing liquid
wheal
transitory, itchy elevation of the skin with a white center and red surrounding (hive)
ulcer
erosion of the skin or mucous membrane
verucca
circumscribed cutaneous elevation caused by a virus (wart)
abscess
localized collection of pus, bacteria, and other material; can occur on the skin (cutaneous) or within the body (internal)
induration
abnormal hard spots or area of skin; may include underlying tissue
ecchymosis
large, flat, blue-purple lesion (more than 1 cm) caused by escape of blood into deeper areas of the skin; may occur when blood is drawn
petechia
tiny (0.3 cm or smaller), pinpoint, bright red lesions that result from escape of blood into skin and mucous membranes
purpura
small (between 0.3 and 1 cm) reddish purple lesions caused b escape of blood into skin and mucous membranes
alopecia
loss of hair
diaphoresis
sweating
edema
puffy swelling of tissue from accumulation of fluid
jaundice
condition characterized by yellow coloring of the skin and mucous membranes and whites of eyes
leukoplakia
white spots or patches on mucous membrane (may be pre-cancerous)
pallor
paleness
pruritus
itching
dermatitis
inflammation of the skin
dermatofibroma
fibrous tumor of the skin
hidradenitis
inflammation of a sweat gland
keratosis
abnormal condition (growth) of horny tissue (keratin)
onychocryptosis
abnormal condition of a hidden nail (ingrown nail)
onychomalacia
softening of the nails
onychomycosis
abnormal condition of a fungus in the nails
onychophagia
eating the nails (nail biting)
pachyderma
thickening of the skin
paronychia
diseased state around the nail
scleroderma
"hard skin". a chronic connective tissue disorder associated with decreased mobility
seborrhea
discharge of sebum
xanthoma
yellow tumor (benign, primarily in the skin)
xeroderma
dry skin
abrasion
scraping of the skin by mechanical process or injury
acne
inflammatory disease of the skin involving the sebaceous glands and hair follicles
actinic keratosis
precancerous skin condition of horny tissue formation that results from excessive exposure to sunlight
albinism
congenital hereditary condition characterized by partial or total lack of pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes
basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
malignant epithelial tumor arising from the bottom layer of the epidermis called the basal layer; it seldom metastasizes, but invades local tissue and often recurs in the same location
candidiasis
infection of the skin, mouth (also called thrush), or vagina caused by the yeast-type fungus Candida albicans. Candida is normally present in the mucous membranes; overgrowth causes an infection. Esophageal candidiasis is often seen in patients with AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
carbuncle
infection of skin and subcutaneous tissue composed of a cluster of boils caused by staphylococcal bacteria
cellulitis
inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by infection, characterized by redness, swelling, and fever
contusion
injury with no break in the skin, characterized by pain, swelling, and discoloration (bruise)
eczema
noninfectious, inflammatory skin disease characterized by redness, blisters, scabs, and itching
fissure
slit or cracklike sore in the skin
furuncle
painful skin nodule caused by staphylococcal bacteria in a hair follicle
gangrene
death of tissue caused by loss of blood supply followed by bacterial invasion
herpes
inflammatory skin disease caused by herpes virus characterized by small blisters in clusters
impetigo
superficial skin infection characterized by pustules and caused by either staphylococci or streptococci
Kaposi's sarcoma
cancerous condition starting as purple or brown papules on the lower extremities and spreading through skin to the lymph nodes and internal organs, often in AIDS patients
keloid
overgrowth of scar tissue
laceration
torn, ragged-edged wound
measles
highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever and rash covering the body
MRSA infection
invasion of body tissue by methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus
pediculosis
invasion into the skin and hair by lice
pilonidal cyst
abnormal pocket in the skin that contains hair and skin debris
psoriasis
chronic skin condition producing red lesions covered with silvery scales
rosacia
chronic disorder of the skin that produces erythema, papules, and abnormal dilation of tiny blood vessels, usually occurring on the central area of the face in people older than 30 years
scabies
skin infection caused by the itch mite, characterized by papule eruptions that are caused by the female burrowing into the outer layer of the skin and laying eggs
squamous cell carcinoma
malignant growth developing from scalelike epithelial tissue of the surface layer of the epidermis
systemic lupus erythematosus
chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease of collagen in skin, joints, and internal organs
epidermis
Outer layer of skin
keratin
scleroprotein component of the horny, or cornified, layer of the epidermis. It is also contained in the hair and nails.
melanin
dark pigment produced by melanocytes; amount present determines skin color
hair
compressed, keratinized cells that arise from hair follicles, the sacs that enclose the hair fibers
nails
horny plates made from flattened epithelial cells; found on the dorsal surface of the ends of the fingers and toes
sebaceous glands
secrete sebum (oil) into the hair follicles where the hair shafts pass through the dermis
sudoriferous glands
tiny, coiled, tubular structures that emerge through pores on the skin's surface and secrete sweat
Dermis
inner layer of skin; responsible for its flexibility and mechanical strength
hypodermis
layer between the dermis and the underlying tissues and organs; contains adipose tissue (fat), connective tissue, nerves and blood vessels (also called subcutaneous layer)
cutane/o
skin
derm/o
skin
dermat/o
skin
hidr/o
sweat
kerat/o
horny tissue (keratin), hard
onchy/o
nail
seb/o
sebum (oil)
trich/o
hair
crypt/o
hidden
myc/o
fungus
pachy/o
thick
rhytid/o
wrinkle
scler/o
hard
staphyl/o
grapelike clusters
strept/o
twisted chains
xer/o
dry
epi-
on, upon, over
intra-
within
para-
beside, beyond, around, abnormal
per-
through
sub-
under, below
trans-
through, across, beyond
-a
noun suffix, no meaning
-coccus
berry shaped
-ectomy
excision, surgical removal