Chapter 4

primary lesions

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