Chapter 13: Skin, Hair, and Nails - Nursing Assessment Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated from lecture notes covering dermatological assessment, skin color determinants, nail/hair variations, primary/secondary skin lesions, exudate types, pressure ulcers, and clinical inspection rules.

Melanin

A brown pigment produced by melanocytes that determines prevailing skin color.

Carotene

A yellow-orange pigment that contributes to normal skin tone.

Vascular Bed

Subcutaneous blood vessel system providing red-purple tones in the underlying skin tissue.

Senile Purpura

Vascular bruises in aging adults resulting from capillary fragility.

Pallor

Pale skin appearance indicating a lack of perfusion, assessed in dark-skinned individuals at the mucous membranes.

Erythema

Redness of the skin caused by vascular congestion and systemic or localized inflammation.

Cyanosis

Bluish discoloration of the skin indicating ischemia or a loss of tissue perfusion.

Jaundice

Yellow skin discoloration typically caused by liver disease.

Turgor

An assessment of skin elasticity and hydration status, evaluated by pinching skin on the back of the hand or under the clavicle in elderly individuals.

COCA

An acronym used to assess and document skin lesion exudate or drainage: Color, Odor, Consistency, and Amount.

Wood's Lamp

A ultraviolet light tool used to detect fluorescing skin lesions, such as fungal ringworm infections.

Profile Sign

An assessment viewing the index finger in profile to observe the angle of the nail base, which should measure about $160^\circ$.

Capillary Refill

A peripheral circulation test performed by depressing the nail edge to blanch it; normal color return is $< 3\,\text{sec}$ in adults and $< 2\,\text{sec}$ in children.

Striae Gravidarum

Linear stretch marks occurring on the skin during pregnancy.

Linea Nigra

A dark, diffuse line extending vertically along the midline of the abdomen during pregnancy.

Chloasma

Hyperpigmented facial mask associated with pregnancy, also known as melasma.

Senile Lentigines

Hyperpigmented, sun-related macules commonly called liver spots found on aging skin.

Xerosis

The medical term for dry skin resulting from decreased sweat and oil gland production.

Annular Lesion

A circular skin lesion pattern that begins in the center and spreads to the edge with central clearing, typical of ringworm.

Confluent Lesions

Skin lesions that run together into merged patches.

Discrete Lesions

Skin lesions that remain individual, distinct, and separate from each other.

Grouped Lesions

A cluster of lesions, typically observed in herpes vesicle eruptions.

Gyrate Lesion

A skin lesion configuration that appears twisted, coiled, or snakelike.

Target Lesion

A skin lesion with concentric rings resembling the iris of an eye; also termed an iris lesion.

Zosteriform

A linear arrangement of skin lesions following a unilateral nerve route.

Macule

A primary flat lesion characterized solely by a color change measuring less than $1\,\text{cm}$ in diameter.

Papule

A primary elevated skin lesion caused by superficial thickening of the epidermis measuring less than $1\,\text{cm}$ in diameter.

Patch

A flat, primary skin color change larger than $1\,\text{cm}$ in diameter.

Plaque

An elevated, surface skin lesion wider than $1\,\text{cm}$, which may feature scaling.

Nodule

A solid, elevated, firm primary lesion extending into the dermis or subcutaneous tissue, such as a cyst, lipoma, or fibroma.

Wheal

A discrete, raised, transient primary skin lesion with surrounding erythema and edema.

Urticaria

An intensely pruritic (itchy) skin reaction formed by coalesced wheals, commonly called hives.

Vesicle

An elevated cavity containing clear fluid measuring less than $1\,\text{cm}$ in diameter (blister).

Bulla

A fluid-filled primary lesion larger than $1\,\text{cm}$ in diameter that is thin-walled and ruptures easily.

Pustule

A circumscribed, elevated skin cavity filled with purulent fluid (pus), often featuring a surrounding red ring in MRSA or Staph infections.

Exudate Types

Classification of wound drainage: Serous (clear watery plasma), Purulent (thick yellow, green, tan, or brown), Serosanguineous (pale pink watery mixture), and Sanguineous (bright red active bleeding).

Crust

A secondary skin lesion composed of dried-out exudate left when vesicles or pustules burst or dry up.

Scale

Compact flakes of dry skin resulting from the shedding of dead skin cells.

Fissure

A linear crack or split in the skin with abrupt edges extending into the dermis.

Erosion

A scooped-out, shallow depression in the skin that does not extend into the dermis and heals without a scar.

Ulcer

A deeper depression extending into the dermis with an irregular shape, which may bleed or leave a scar.

Excoriation

Self-inflicted superficial abrasion on the skin, commonly caused by intense scratching.

Keloid

A benign excess of scar tissue that grows beyond the site of original injury.

Lichenification

Thickened skin with tightly packed papules resulting from prolonged, intense scratching.

Pressure Ulcer Staging

A diagnostic classification ranging from Stage I (non-blanchable erythema), Stage II (partial-thickness skin loss), Stage III (full-thickness skin loss showing fat), to Stage IV (full-thickness skin loss through fat exposing muscle/bone).

Petechiae

Tiny, non-blanching red or purple capillary hemorrhages measuring less than $0.5\,\text{cm}$ (usually $1\text{--}2\,\text{mm}$).

Purpura

Confluent hemorrhages under the skin measuring between $0.5\,\text{cm}$ and $1\,\text{cm}$.

Ecchymosis

A hemorrhagic spot or bruise in the skin measuring greater than $1\,\text{cm}$ in diameter.

Hematoma

A swelling formed by a localized collection of extravasated blood under the skin.

Contact Dermatitis

An inflammatory skin reaction with erythema, swelling, and oozing caused by direct exposure to skin irritants like poison ivy.

Intertrigo

An inflammatory rash occurring in skin-to-skin folds (e.g., under belly or breast) exacerbated by sweating and friction.

Impetigo

A highly contagious bacterial skin infection (Staphylococcus aureus) characterized by crusty brown/honey-colored crusts with clear-to-orange exudate.

Psoriasis

An inflammatory skin condition producing scaly, raised reddish plaques that typically appear on extensor surfaces such as elbows and knees.

ABCDE Rule

A health assessment mnemonic for detecting suspicious cancerous skin lesions: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variations, Diameter greater than $6\,\text{mm}$, and Elevation or Evolution.