Integumentary System (Skin) - Medical Terminology and Anatomy

Flashcards covering the anatomy, pathology, and medical terminology of the Integumentary System as outlined in the study guide.

Skin Fact

The largest organ in the body, also known as the integument or cutaneous membrane, weighing over $20$ lbs in an adult.

Epidermis

The thin, outer layer of the skin.

Dermis

The middle, fibrous connective tissue layer containing hair follicles, sweat/sebaceous glands, blood/lymph vessels, nerve fibers, sensory receptors, and muscle fibers.

Subcutaneous

The innermost, fatty layer of the skin.

Sebaceous glands

Glands that open into hair follicles and secrete sebum (oil) to lubricate the skin.

Sudoriferous glands

Also known as sweat glands; coiled glands in the dermis that exit at the sweat pore via a sweat duct.

cutane/o, derm/o, dermat/o

Prefixes or combining forms meaning skin.

melan/o

Combining form meaning black.

leuk/o, albin/o

Combining forms meaning white.

erythr/o

Combining form meaning red.

cyan/o

Combining form meaning blue.

diaphor/o

Combining form meaning profuse sweating.

hidr/o

Combining form meaning sweat.

seb/o

Combining form meaning oil.

py/o

Combining form meaning pus.

lip/o

Combining form meaning fat.

kerat/o

Combining form meaning hard or horny.

scler/o

Combining form meaning hard.

xer/o

Combining form meaning dry.

necr/o

Combining form meaning death.

myc/o

Combining form meaning fungus.

onych/o

Combining form meaning nail.

trich/o

Combining form meaning hair.

cry/o

Combining form meaning cold.

phot/o

Combining form meaning light.

vesic/o

Combining form meaning bladder.

angi/o

Combining form meaning vessel.

bas/o

Combining form meaning base.

carcin/o

Combining form meaning cancer.

chem/o

Combining form meaning chemical.

cis/o

Combining form meaning to cut.

cyt/o

Combining form meaning cell.

hem/o

Combining form meaning blood.

pedicul/o

Combining form meaning lice.

sarc/o

Combining form meaning flesh.

bi/o

Combining form meaning life.

-derma

Suffix meaning skin.

-opsy

Suffix meaning view.

-al, -ic, -ous, -tic

Suffixes meaning pertaining to.

-ectomy

Suffix meaning surgical removal.

-emia

Suffix meaning blood condition.

-ule

Suffix meaning small.

-phagia

Suffix meaning eating.

-ia, -ism

Suffixes meaning state or condition.

-itis

Suffix meaning inflammation.

-logy

Suffix meaning study of.

-oma

Suffix meaning tumor or mass.

-osis

Suffix meaning abnormal condition.

-plasty

Suffix meaning surgical repair.

-malacia

Suffix meaning softening.

-rrhea

Suffix meaning discharge.

an-, de-

Prefixes meaning without.

anti-

Prefix meaning against.

auto-

Prefix meaning self.

epi-

Prefix meaning upon.

hyper-

Prefix meaning excessive.

hypo-

Prefix meaning under.

intra-

Prefix meaning within.

para-

Prefix meaning beside.

sub-

Prefix meaning under.

Ungual

Pertaining to the nail.

Cyanosis

An abnormal condition of being blue, typically from deoxygenated blood.

Erythema

Redness or flushing of the skin.

Pallor

Abnormal paleness of the skin.

Ecchymosis

A bruise caused by blunt trauma.

Petechiae

Pinpoint hemorrhage spots.

Purpura

Hemorrhage into the skin from fragile blood vessels.

Xeroderma

Abnormally dry skin.

Scleroderma

Hardened skin.

Comedo

A blackhead, caused by hardened sebum in a hair follicle.

Nodule

A firm mass larger than $0.5\,\text{cm}$.

Nevus

A mole or birthmark.

Vesicle

A small fluid-filled blister.

Wheal

A swollen area often associated with an allergic reaction.

Urticaria

Hives.

Purulent / Suppurative

Containing or producing pus.

Pyoderma

The presence of pus on or in the skin.

Eschar

A dead tissue layer that forms over a deep burn.

Pruritus

Severe itching.

Albinism

A genetic condition where there is no melanin, resulting in white hair/skin and red eyes.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

A common skin cancer that rarely metastasizes.

Malignant Melanoma (MM)

A dangerous, fast-metastasizing skin cancer.

Rule of Nines

A system used to determine the severity of a burn.

Cellulitis

An acute infection of the connective tissue.

Cicatrix

A normal scar.

Decubitus ulcer

A pressure sore or open sore caused by blood flow loss over bony prominences.

Impetigo

A highly contagious bacterial infection characterized by pustules.

Kaposi’s sarcoma

A type of skin cancer frequently seen in AIDS patients.

Keloid

A thick, hypertrophic scar.

Psoriasis

A chronic inflammatory condition with silvery scale patches.

Alopecia

Hair loss or baldness.

Vitiligo

Patchy loss of skin pigment resulting in milk-white patches.

Onychomycosis

A fungal infection of the nail.

Paronychia

Infection of the skin around the nail.

Biopsy (BX)

The examination of a tissue sample under a microscope.

Culture & Sensitivity (C&S)

A lab test that grows bacteria to identify it and determined its antibiotic sensitivity.

Cauterization

The destruction of tissue using chemicals, electricity, heat, or cold.

Cryosurgery

The use of extreme cold to destroy tissue.