Flashcards Ch. 3 Diseases, Disorders, and General Terms

Abrasion

The scraping away of skin or mucous membrane surface.

Abscess

A collection of pus under the skin.

Acne

Inflammation of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles resulting in papules and pustules.

Albinism

A genetic disorder in which the body does not produce or produces very little melanin.

Alopecia

The absence or loss of hair; commonly called baldness.

Anhidrosis

A condition marked by reduced or absent sweat secretion.

Basal cell carcinoma

A type of skin cancer that affects the basal cell layer of the epidermis.

Blepharitis

A condition in which one or both eyelids are inflamed.

Bulla

A blister that is greater than 0.5 cm in diameter.

Burn

Damage to the skin occurring from contact with fire, electricity, chemicals, or extensive sunlight.

Carbuncle

A bacterial infection causing an abscess in multiple hair follicles.

Cellulitis

Inflammation caused by bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue.

Cicatrix

A scar.

Comedo

A small skin lesion associated with acne; commonly called a blackhead or whitehead.

Contusion

A closed wound usually caused by a blow to the body; commonly called a bruise.

Crust

An accumulation of dried blood and fluid that forms over an injury; commonly called a scab.

Cutaneous

Pertaining to the skin.

Cyanosis

A blue or gray discoloration of skin or mucous membranes caused by lack of oxygen.

Cyst

A sac under the skin filled with fluid or solid material.

Depigmentation

The abnormal loss of skin pigmentation.

Dermal

Pertaining to the skin.

Dermatitis

Inflammation of the skin.

Dermatologist

A medical doctor who diagnoses and treats skin conditions.

Dermatology

The medical specialty related to the diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions.

Dermatoscope

An instrument used to visually examine the skin.

Diaphoresis

Abnormally heavy sweating.

Ecchymosis

A lesion caused by superficial bleeding under the skin; also called a bruise.

Eczema

A type of dermatitis that causes superficial redness, vesicles, itching, and crusting.

Epidermal

Pertaining to the outer layer of skin.

Epidermis

The outer layer of the skin.

Erythema

A red discoloration of the skin, usually indicating irritation or inflammation.

Eschar

A hard, thick layer of dead tissue over a deep burn or pressure ulcer.

Excoriation

A wound caused by scratching the skin.

Exudate

Fluid released from the body; wound drainage.

Fissure

A crack or groove in the skin.

Furuncle

A bacterial infection causing an abscess in a hair follicle; commonly called a boil.

Gangrene

Tissue death resulting from insufficient blood flow.

Hematoma

A closed wound caused by blood accumulating after a break in a blood vessel.

Herpes simplex 1

A viral infection that causes oral lesions commonly called cold sores.

Herpes simplex 2

A sexually transmitted viral infection that causes painful sores to form on the genitals.

Herpes zoster

An illness caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus; marked by shingles.

Hirsutism

Excessive growth of hair on the body, especially in women.

Hordeolum

Inflammation of a sebaceous gland on the rim of the eyelid; also called a stye.

Hypodermic

Pertaining to something under or inserted under the skin.

Ichthyosis

An abnormal condition of dry, scaly skin.

Impetigo

A highly contagious bacterial infection causing pustules that rupture and crust.

Intradermal

Pertaining to the area within the dermis.

Jaundice

A condition in which the skin, whites of eyes, and mucous membranes appear yellow.

Kaposi sarcoma

A type of cancer causing brownish-purple papules; often seen in AIDS patients.

Keloid

An abnormally thick, raised scar that forms after injury or surgery.

Keratosis

A condition of overgrowth of horny tissue in the epidermal layer.

Laceration

A torn or jagged injury to the skin.

Lesion

A change to skin tissue, often due to disease or injury.

Lipocyte

A fat cell.

Lipoma

A benign tumor composed of fatty tissue.

Macule

A flat skin discoloration measuring less than 1 cm in diameter.

Measles

A highly contagious viral disease marked by a rash, fever, congestion, and cough.

Melanocyte

A cell that produces melanin, the substance that gives skin its color.

Melanoma

The most aggressive and dangerous form of skin cancer beginning in melanocytes.

MRSA

A strain of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin; causes skin abscesses and cellulitis.

Mycotic

An adjective to describe a condition caused by a fungus.

Necrotic

An adjective to describe dead tissue.

Nevus

A mole.

Nodule

A raised lesion measuring larger than 0.5 cm in diameter.

Onychia

Inflammation of a nail bed.

Onychoma

A tumor of the nail or nail bed.

Onychomycosis

A fungal infection of the nail, most commonly of the toenail.

Onychosis

A general term for a disease of the nails.

Pallor

Skin or mucous membranes lighter than normal for the patient's natural skin tone.

Papule

A small, raised red lesion measuring less than 0.5 cm in diameter.

Paronychia

An infection of the skin surrounding a nail.

Pediculosis

A lice infestation.

Percutaneous

Performed or occurring through the skin.

Petechiae

Pinpoint spots, red and purple in color, resulting from hemorrhages below the skin.

Plaque

A flat lesion with a scaly appearance.

Pressure injury

Injury or wound resulting from skin deterioration and shearing; also called bed sore.

Pruritus

Itching.

Psoriasis

An inflammatory condition marked by papules that form silvery scaling plaques.

Purpura

Dark brown and purple areas on the skin due to hemorrhages from leaking blood vessels.

Pustule

A small, circular lesion containing pus.

Pyogenic

Pertaining to the production of pus.

Pyorrhea

A discharge of pus.

Rosacea

A chronic inflammatory skin condition marked by redness and lesions on the face.

Rubella

A highly contagious viral skin infection; also known as German measles.

Scabies

A contagious skin infection caused by a tiny mite burrowing into the skin.

Scale

Extra epithelial cells built up and shed from the epidermis.

Scleroderma

A condition in which the skin hardens.

Sebaceous cyst

A sac under the skin filled with sebum from a blocked sebaceous gland.

Seborrhea

Increased sebum discharge.

Slough

Soft dead tissue separated from a pressure injury or other ulceration.

Squamous cell carcinoma

A type of skin cancer affecting squamous cells in the epidermis.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome

A severe, potentially fatal skin disease causing lesions that destroy skin and mucous membranes.

Subcutaneous

Pertaining to the area under the skin or fatty tissue beneath.

Tinea capitis

A fungal infection of the scalp.

Tinea corporis

A fungal infection of the skin; commonly called ringworm.

Tinea cruris

A fungal infection of the genital and surrounding areas; commonly called jock itch.

Tinea pedis

A fungal infection of the foot; commonly called athlete's foot.

Topical

Pertaining to a specific place or surface area; applied to the skin.

Transdermal

Pertaining to something passing through or across the skin, as in medicated patches.

Trichomycosis

An abnormal condition in which hair is infected by fungus.