Chapter 4-Dermatology

Dermatology terms

epidermis

top layer of skin

keratinocytes

cells that produce keratin

stratum corneum

layer of epidermis with dead cells

stratum lucidum

layer of epidermis found in palms and soles

stratum granulosum

layer of epidermis that waterproofs skin

stratum spinosum

lower layer of epidermis

stratum basale

lowest layer of epidermis containing melanocytes

melanocytes

cells that produce melanin

medulla

core of hair

cortex

middle layer of hair

cuticle

outer layer of hair, contains pigment and dead keratin cells

eccrine sweat glands

produce sweat

apocrine sweat glands

secretion causes release of phermones

cerumen

earwax

ceruminous glands

produce earwax

metastasize

spread

nevus

congenital lesion of the skin

decubitus ulcer

sore caused by lying down in same position for long periods

carcinoma

malignant epithelial tumor

atopic

hypersensitivity, allergic

excoriate

to scratch

ichthyosis

scaling and dryness of the skin

serous fluid

thick, cloudy fluid

carbuncle

infected furuncles in a small area

furuncle

infected hair follicle

impetigo

infection of skin with yellow crust

scabies

skin disease caused by mites

tinea

skin infection caused by fungi

psoriasis

rash with red, silver, scaly patches

scleroderma

hardening of skin due to collagen

comedo

whitehead or blackhead caused by excess sebum/keratin

acne

inflammatory disease of sebaceous glands and hair follicles

cyst

fluid-containing sac

papule

small bump on skin

pustule

small bump on skin that contains pus

seborrhea

excessive amount of sebum

onchomycosis

fungal infection in a nail

paronchyia

infection alongside the nail

debridement

removal of injured or necrotic tissue

eschar

burned, dead tissue

autograft

graft taken from same patient

allograft/homograft

graft taken from other patient

xenograft/heterograft

graft taken from another species

macrophages

cells that clean up tissue debris

granulation tissue

tissue that forms to pull the wound together

keloid

scar caused by excessive fibrosis

diascopy

procedure where lesion is pressed

melasma

patchy pigmentation of skin

actinic

pertaining to the sun

keratosis

lesion caused by overgrowth of stratum spinosum

antipruritics

products that relieve itching

biologics

agents that block immune system reactions

keratolytics

topical agents that peel away stratum corneum

parasiticides

topical agents that kill parasites