Unit One - Integumentary System

integumentary

The integumentary system forms the barrier between the external environment and the
internal systems of the body. In humans, this system consists of skin, hair, nails, and related
glands. The main functions are to protect, regulate temperature, and provide sensory function.

-ary
pertaining to
integument/o
-skin

cutaneous

pertaining to the skin

-ous
pertaining to
cutane/o
-skin

subcutaneous (subcut)

Located or placed just beneath the skin.

-ous
pertaining to
sub-
below
cutane/o
-skin

dermatology

the branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its diseases.

-logy
study of
dermat/o
skin

epidermis

The outer or top layer of skin, consisting of a layer of dead cells that perform a protective
function and a second layer of dividing cells.

dermis
-skin
epi-
upon; outside

dermis

The thickest layer of skin located below the epidermis. The dermis contains blood and
lymphatic vessels, nerves, glands, and hair follicles.

avascular

a lack of blood supply.

-ar pertaining to
-a
not, without
vascul/o
blood vessel

intradermal (ID)

Within the skin. Intradermal injections (ID) are injections administered into the dermis,
just below the epidermis.

-al
pertaining to
intra-
within
derm/o
skin

transdermal (TD)

Through or across the unbroken skin.

-al
pertaining to
trans-
across, through
across
derm/o
skin

dermatitis

A general term for conditions thats cause inflammation of the skin.

-itis: inflammation

dermat/o: skin

eczema

A common skin condition that causes itchiness, rashes, dry patches, and infection. It is not contagious.

petachiae

Tiny red, flat spots that appear on your skin. Petachiae are a sign of blood leaking from capillaries under your skin.

contusion

Another word for bruise. A contusion (bruise) is an injury to the soft tissue often produces by a blunt force such as a kick, fall, or blow. It does not break th eskin. The immediate result will be pain, swelling, and discoloration.

ecchymosis

A type of bruise where the mark is ½ inch long or bigger.

-osis: condition

hematoma

An abnormal collection of blood outside of a blood vessel. It occurs becuase the wall of a blood vessel wall, artery, vein, or capillary has been damaged and blood has leaked into tissues where it does not belong. Hematomas may cause symptoms of inflammation including pain, swelling, and redness.

-oma: tumor; mass; fluid collection

hemat/o: blood

necrosis

The death of body tissue. It occurs when too little blood flows to the tissue. This can be from injury, radiationo, or chemicals. Necrosis cannot be reversed.

-osis: condition

necr/o: death

pruritus

Itching. Pruritus is symptom for other conditions.

-itis: inflammation

pruit/o: itching

rhinophyma

A skin disorder affecting your nose. It causes your nose to grow larger and appear red, bumpy, and rounded.

-phyma: a swelling, tumor, equivalent.

rhin/o = nose

xeroderma

Dry skin

-derma: skin

xer/o: dry; dryness

hemangioma

A common vascular birthmark, made of extra blood vessels in the skin. It is a benign growth.

-oma: tumor; mass; fluid collection

hem/o: blood

angi/o: blood vessel

papilloma

A small wart like growth on the skin or on a mucous membrane, derived from the epidermis and usually benign.

-oma: tumor; mass; fluid collection

papil/o: nipple-like; optic disc

syndactyly

Fingers or toes (digits) are fused together (syndactyly) webbed feet or hands.

syn-: together

dactyl/o: digit (finger or toe)

polydactyly

extra fingers or toes

-y: noun ending

poly-: many, excessive

dactyl/o: digit (finger or toe)

verruca

warts, can be viral or fungal.

albinism

Born with little or no pigment in your hair, eyes, and skin. The missing pigment is called melanin. Albinism usually makes your coloring lighter than is typical for your family or ethnic background.

-ism: condition

albin/o: white

cyanosis

Bluish discoloration of the skin usually due to a lack of oxygen in the blood.

-osis: condition

cyan/o: blue

erythroderma

reddening of the skin

-a: noun ending

erythr-: red

derm/o: skin

leukoderma

A clinical sign describing a localized area of white spots on the skin. Usually has an accidental cause.

-a: noun ending

leuk-: white

derm/o: skin

vitiligo

A long-term condition where pale white patches develop on the skin. It’s caused by the lack of melanin, which is the pigment in skin. Often due to an autoimmune response.

benign

not cancerous does not spread

metastasize

cancer that spreads

neoplasm

New growth distinct from the tissue in which it occurs, may or may not be cancerous.

ne/o - new

basal cell carcinoma (BCC)

The most common type of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma begins in the basal cells of the epidermis. It grows slowy and rarely spreads to other body parts.

-al: pertaining to

bas/o: base

-oma: tumor; mass; fluid collection

carin/o: cancer

malignant melanoma

A melanoma is a cancer characterized by the uncontrolled growth of melanocytes, the pigment producing cells in the epidermis.

-oma: tumor; mass; fluid collection

melan/o: black

squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)

A cancer that affects the keratinocytes of the stratum spinosum and presents as lesions commonly found on the scalp, ears, and hands.

-oma: tumor; mass; fluid collections

carcin/o: cancer

psoriasis

A skin disease marked by red, itchy, scaly patches.

-iasis: condition, formation of

psor/o: itching

scleroderma

A type of autoimmune disorder. In this condition, the immune system mistakenly attacks and damages healthy body tissue. It leads to hard thickened skin.

-derma: skin

scler/o: hardness

abcess

A localized collection of pus, usually caused by an infection.

acne

A skin condition that occurs when your pores become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. It causes pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads.

cellulitis

A common bacterial skin infection that causes redness, swelling, and pain in the infected area of the deeper layer of the skin. If untreated, it can spread and cause serious health problems.

folliculitis

Inflammation of the hair follicles, usually caused by infection or irritation.

-itis: inflammation

follicul/o: follicle

impetigo

A common and highly contagious skin infection that mainly affects infants and young children. Bacteria infects the skin, they cause sores. Symptoms include red, itchy sores that break open and leak a clear fluid or pus for a few days. The bacteria can spread to others if someone touches those sores or comes into contact with fluid from the sores.

dermatophytosis

A common fungal infection of the skin and nails that is caused by fungus known as dermatophytes. Dermatophytes belong to a group of organisms that are able to break down the keratin in tissues such as the epidermis, hair, nails, feathers, horns and hooves. Also known as ring worm.

-osis: condition; abnormal

dermat/o-: skin

combining form: phyt/o

tinea capitus

fungal infection or ringworm of the scalp

tinea corporis

Fungal infection or ringworm of the body.

corpor/o: body

tinea pedis

Fungal infection or ringworm of the feet. Commonly referred to as athlete’s foot.

ped/o: foot

tineua unguium

Fungal infection or ringworm of the toenails and fingernails. Also called onychomycosis

-um: structure

ungu/o: nail

pediculosis

lice

-osis: condition

pedicul/o: lice/louse

scabies

Human scabies is caused by an infestation of the skin by the human itch mite. It can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact.

abrasion

An abrasion is a scrape or graze of the skin. An abrasion can happen to a person, as in a
skinned knee, or to an object, as in what you get when you apply sandpaper to wood.

blister

A blister is fluid-filled bubble that forms on the upper layers of the skin after rubs or burns on the skin.

callus

A callus is a spot where your skin becomes rough and thick after repeated pressure or
friction.

decubitus ulcer

Also termed bedsores or pressure ulcers, are skin and soft tissue injuries that form as a result of constant or prolonged pressure exerted on the skin. These ulcers occur at bony areas of the body. They come when people are immobile and lay in one area for too long.

keloid

Overgrowth of scar tissue.

combining form: kel/o

tumor, fibrous growth

anhidrosis

Not being able to sweat normally.

-osis: condition

-an: without; lacking

hidr/o: sweat

diaphoresis

Excessive sweating without an obvious cause, such as heat or exercise.

-esis: state or condition

dia-: across, through

phor/o: to bear

alopecia

baldness

hirsutism

Condition where women have thick, dark hair on their face, neck, chest, tummy, locwer back, buttocks or thighs.

Onychomycosis

nail fungus.

-osis: condition

onych/o: nail

myc/o: fungus

allograft

Reconstructive surgery where tissue or an organ is taken from a donor.

-graft: any tissue or organ for implantation or transplantation

allo/o: other

autograft

Reconstructive surgery where tissue is removed from one part of the body and grafted on to another part of the body (same person).

-graft: any tissue or organ for implantation or transplantation

aut/o: self

biopsy (Bx)

A biopsy is a medical procedure that involves taking a small sample of body tissue so it can be examined under a microscope.

-opsy: visual examination

bi/o: life

cryosurgery

Procedure that uses freezing cold temperature to kill abnormal cells or small tumors.

-surgery: medical treatment of an operative nature

cry/o: cold

debridement

Removal of deal (necrotic) or infected skin tissue to help a wound heal. It’s also done to remove foreign material from tissue.

dermabrasion

A procedure used to exfoliatie the outer layer of the skin.

-ion: process

derm/o: skin

dermatoplasty

Plastic surgery or surgical reconstruction of the skin.

-plasty: surgical reconstruction

dermat/o: skin

xenograft

A graft in which the donor and recipient are of different species.

-graft: any tissue or organ for implantation or transplantation

xen/o: stranger, foreigner

anesthetic

Type of drug that removes feeling or sensation.

-ic: pertaining to

an-: without; lacking

esthesi/o: sensation

antifungal

Medication used to treat fungus

-al: pertaining to

anti-: against

fung/o: fungus

antipruritic

drug used to reduce itching.

-ic: pertaining to

anti-: against

prurit/o: itching

corticosteroid

drug that reduces inflammation.

-oid: resembling

ster/o: solid structure; steroid

dermatologist

A medical doctor with specialized training in treating diseases, disorders, and injuries related to the integumentary system and its accessory structure.

-logist: one who studies

combining form: dermat/o: skin

esthetician

A trained technician who specialized in skin beautification.

-ian: having a certain profession

Combining form: esthesio: sensation

plastic surgeon

Surgeon trained to surgically improve the function or appearence of parts of the body thorugh reconstructive or cosmetic surgery.

-ic: pertaining to

combining form: plast/o: formation; growth