Medical Vocabularies

Abrasion

a scraping away of skin

Abscess

a localized collection of pus in the body

Acne vulgaris

an inflammation of the skin follicles (common acne)

Actinic dermatitis

inflammation of the skin caused by sun exposure

Actinic keratosis

horny skin condition caused by sun exposure

Adipocele

a hernia filled with fatty tissue

Albinism

lack of pigment in skin causing patient to look white

Albino

a person afflicted with albinism

Alopecia

baldness

Anesthetic

a drug that temporarily blocks sensation

Anhidrosis

lack of sweating

Antibiotic

a drug that destroys or opposes the growth of microorganisms

Antihistamine

a drug that opposes the effects of histamine

Antipruritic

a drug that prevents or relieves itching

Antiseptic

a drug that prevents sepsis (rotting of flesh) by killing microorganisms

Atopic dermatitis

an unusual inflammation of the skin (atopic usually means “not in the right place”)

Autograft

skin transplant taken from a different place on the patient’s body

Basal cell carcinoma

cancerous tumor of basal skin cells

Biopsy

removal of tissue in order to examine it

Bulla

a larger blister

Chemosurgery

removal of tissue that has been destroyed using chemicals

Chemotherapy

treatment using chemicals

Cherry angioma

a small blood vessel tumor

Cicatrix

a scar

Comedo

a hair follicle plugged with sebum (black head, white head)

Crust

dried substance (i.e., blood, pus) on the skin

Cryosurgery

destruction of tissue through freezing

Culture & sensitivity

growing microorganisms in isolation in order to determine which drugs they might respond to

Cyanhidrosis

blue sweat

Decubitus ulcer

bed sore

Depigmentation

loss of skin pigmentation

Dermabrasion

rubbing or scraping away the outer surface of skin

Dermatitis

inflammation of the skin

Dermatofibroma

a fibrous skin tumor

Dermatolysis

loss of skin

Dermatomycosis

a fungal skin condition

Dermatoscope

instrument used to look at the skin

Dermatosis

skin condition

Dermopathy

skin disease

Dermoscopy

procedure for looking at the skin

Dysplastic nevus

a mole with bad changes/formations (often precancerous)

Ecchymosis

a larger bruise

Eczema

a red, itchy rash that may weep or ooze, then become crusted and scaly

Electrocauterization

using electricity to destroy tissue by burning it

Electrodesiccation

using electricity to destroy tissue by drying it

Epidermal

pertaining to the skin

Epidermal tumor

tumors on the skin

Erosion

loss of skin

Erythema

redness

Erythrocyanosis

a red and/or blue discoloration of the skin

Erythroderma

red skin

Excisional biopsy

removal of an entire lesion for examination (to cut it out)

Excoriation

a scratch

First-degree burn

a burn affecting only the epidermis or superficial layer of the skin

Fissure

a crack in the skin

Fourth-degree burn

a deep burn affecting all layers of the skin and underlying tissues like muscle, fascia, or bone

Hemathidrosis

sweating blood

Heterograft (xenograft)

skin transplant taken from a species other than the patient’s

Hidradenitis

inflammation of the sweat glands

Hidradenoma

tumor of the sweat gland

Hidropoiesis

the formation of sweat

Homograft (allograft)

skin transplant taken from another member of the patient’s species

Hyperhidrosis

excessive sweating

Hyperkeratosis

excessive growth of horny skin

Hypermelanosis

excessive melanin in the skin

Hyperpigmentation

excessive pigment in the skin

Hypodermia

pertaining to beneath the skin

Hypohidrosis

diminished sweating

Hypomelanosis

diminished melanin in the skin

Hypopigmentation

diminished pigment in the skin

Ichthyosis

a condition in the skin that is dry and scaly resembling fish scales

Impetigo

a highly contagious bacterial infection of the skin

Incision and drainage (I&D)

to cut into a wound to allow trapped infected liquid to drain

Incisional biopsy

removal of a portion of a lesion for examination (to cut into)

Intradermal

pertaining to inside the skin

Keloid

overgrowth of scar tissue

Keratogenic

causing horny tissue development

Keratosis

horny tissue condition

Leukoderma

white skin

Lipectomy

removal of fatty tissue

Liposuction

removal of fatty tissue using a vacuum

Macerate

to soften the skin

Macule

small, flat, discolored area (freckle)

Malignant cutaneous neoplasm

a harmful new formation of the skin tissue (skin cancer)

Malignant melanoma

a harmful tumor of melanin cell

Mycodermatitis

inflammation of the skin caused by fungus

Mycosis

fungus condition

Necrosis

tissue death

Nevus

a mole

Nodule

a solid mass that extends deeper into the skin

Onychectomy

remove a nail

Onychia

a nail condition

Onychocryptosis

an ingrown nail

Onychodystrophy

poor nourishment (and development) of the nail

Onycholysis

the loss of a nail

Onychomalacia

abnormal softening of a nail

Onychomycosis

a fungal condition of the nail

Onychopathy

nail disease

Onychophagia

eating (biting) the nail

Onychotomy

incision into a nail