Med Terms Ch4: Integumentary System

epidermis

outer layer of the skin

keratin

scleroprotein component of the horny, or cornified, layer of the epidermis. It is also contained in the hair and nails.

melanin

color, or pigmentation, of the skin

dermis

inner layer of skin (also called the true skin)

sudoriferous glands (sweat glands)

tiny, coiled, tubular structures that emerge through pores on the skin's surface and secrete sweat

sebaceous glands

secrete sebum (oil) into the hair follicles where the hair shafts pass through the dermis

hair

compressed, keratinized cells that arise from hair follicles, the sacs that enclose the hair fibers

nails

originate from the epidermis; found on the upper surface of the ends of the fingers and toes; white area at the base of the nail is called the lunula/moon

cutane/o, derm/o, dermat/o

skin (combining form)

hidr/o

sweat (combining form)

kerat/o

horny tissue, hard (combining form)

onych/o, ungu/o

nail (combining form)

seb/o

sebum (oil) (combining form)

trich/o

hair (combining form)

aut/o

self (combining form)

bi/o

life (combining form)

coni/o

dust (combining form)

crypt/o

hidden (combining form)

heter/o

other (combining form)

myc/o

fungus (combining form)

necr/o

death (cells, body) (combining form)

pachy/o

thick (combining form)

rhytid/o

wrinkles (combining form)

staphyl/o

grapelike clusters (combining form)

strept/o

twisted chains (combining form)

xer/o

dry (combining form)

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 (pl. -cocci)

berry-shaped (form of bacterium)

-ectomy

excision or surgical removal

-ia

diseased or abnormal state, condition of

-itis

inflammation

-malacia

softening

-opsy

view of, viewing

-phagia

eating or swallowing

-plasty

surgical repair

-rrhea

flow, discharge

-tome

instrument used to cut

dermatitis

inflammation of the skin

dermatoconiosis

abnormal condition of the skin caused by dust

dermatofibroma

fibrous tumor of the skin

hidradenitis

inflammation of a sweat gland

leiodermia

condition of smooth skin

leukoderma

white skin (white patches caused by depigmentation)

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

seborrhea

discharge of sebum

trichomycosis

abnormal condition of a fungus in the hair

xeroderma

dry skin (a mild form of a cutaneous disorder characterized by keratinization and noninflammatory scaling)

abrasion

scraping away of the skin by mechanical process or injury

abscess

localized collection of pus

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; may evolve into squamous cell carcinoma

albinism

congenital hereditary condition characterized by partial or total lack of pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes

basal cell carcinoma (BCC)

epithelial tumor arising from the epidermis. It seldom metastasizes but invades local tissue. Common in individuals who have had excessive sun exposure.

candidiasis

infection of the skin, mouth (also called thrush), or vagina caused by the yeast-type fungus Candida albicans

carbuncle

skin infection 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 (also called a bruise)

eczema

noninfectious, inflammatory skin disease characterized by redness, blisters, scabs, and itching

fissure

slit or cracklike sore in the skin

furuncle

painful skin node caused by staphylococcal bacteria in the hair follicle (also called a boil)

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

infection

invasion of pathogens in body tissue

impetigo

bacterial infection

tinea

fungal infection of the skin; may infect keratin of the skin, hair, and nails; infections are classified by body regions such as tinea capitis (scalp), tinea corporis (body), and tinea pedis (foot); ringworm; athlete's foot

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

Herpes zoster (shingles)

viral infection

Kaposi sarcoma

cancerous condition starting as purple or brown papules on the lower extremities that spreads through the skin to the lymph nodes and internal organs; frequently seen with AIDS

laceration

torn, ragged-edged wound

lesion

any visible change in tissue resulting from injury or disease

MRSA infection

invasion of the body tissue by methicillin-resistant, a strain of common bacteria that has developed resistance to methicillin and other antibiotics.

pediculosis

invasion into the skin and hair by lice

psoriasis

chronic skin condition producing red lesions covered with silvery scales

rosacea

chronic disorder of the skin that produces erythema, papules, pustules, and broken blood vessels, usually occurring on the central area of the face in people older than 30 years

scleroderma

disease characterized by chronic hardening (induration) of the connective tissue of the skin and other body organs

squamous cell carcinoma (SqCCA)

malignant growth that develops from scalelike epithelial tissue. Unlike basal cell carcinoma, there is a significant potential for metastasis. The most frequent cause is chronic exposure to sunlight

systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

chronic inflammatory disease involving the skin, joints, kidneys, and nervous system, characterized by periods of remission and exacerbations, may affect other organs

urticaria

itchy skin eruption composed of wheals (an individual hive) of varying sizes and shapes; hives

vitiligo

white patches on the skin caused by the destruction of melanocytes associated with autoimmune disorders

biopsy (bx)

view of life (the removal of living tissue from the body to be viewed under the microscope)

dermatoautoplasty

surgical repair using one's own skin (skin graft) (also called autograft)

dermatoheteroplasty

surgical repair using skin from others (skin graft) (also called allograft)

dermatome

instrument used to cut skin (in thin slices for skin grafts)

dermatoplasty

surgical repair of the skin

onychectomy

excision of a nail

rhytidectomy

excision of wrinkles (also called facelift)

rhytidoplasty

surgical repair of wrinkles

cauterization

destruction of tissue with a hot or cold instrument, electric current, or caustic substance (also called cautery)