Tissue Integrity Lecture Review

This set covers vocabulary related to tissue integrity exemplars, skin lesion descriptions, stages of pressure ulcers, and clinical assessment tools.

Tissue Integrity

The ability of body tissues to regenerate and repair, essential for maintaining physiological processes and overall health.

Dermal Ulcers

Also known as pressure ulcers or bedsores; wounds that develop due to prolonged pressure on the skin, most common in elderly individuals and those with limited mobility.

Impetigo

A contagious skin infection characterized by red sores that turn into blisters and honey-colored crusts, commonly seen in children between the ages of $2$ and $5$.

Tinea Pedis

A fungal infection of the feet (athlete's foot) common in individuals who wear tight-fitting shoes or frequent damp environments like gym locker rooms.

Psoriasis

A chronic skin condition characterized by the rapid buildup of skin cells, leading to red, scaly, and itchy patches; it is often genetic.

Candida

A group of yeast-like fungi causing infections such as oral thrush and genital yeast infections, common in those with compromised immune systems or those taking antibiotics.

Pediculosis

An infestation caused by parasitic insects (lice) that affect the hair, body, or pubic area, commonly transmitted in group settings like schools.

Macule

A flat, circumscribed skin lesion.

Papule

A small, solid elevation of the skin.

Vesicle

A thin-walled, raised, fluid-filled blister.

Ulcer

A cavity in the body tissue.

Nodule

A firm, raised, and deep skin lesion.

Pustule

A raised lesion, often with a "head," filled with exudate or "pus."

Plaque

A slightly elevated, flat, "scale"-like lesion.

Fissure

A crack in the tissue.

Venous Ulcers

Typically shallow ulcers found on the legs due to poor blood flow and swelling.

Arterial Ulcers

Painful, deep sores resulting from insufficient blood supply, usually occurring on the feet or toes.

Diabetic (Neuropathic) Ulcers

Ulcers that develop on pressure points in individuals with diabetes due to reduced sensation and blood flow.

Ischemic Ulcers

Painful ulcers with a punched-out appearance found on lower extremities, caused by insufficient blood supply from vascular diseases.

Braden Scale

A standardized tool for predicting pressure injury risk by evaluating specific factors to create individualized care plans.

Stage I Pressure Ulcer

Intact skin with non-blanchable redness of a localized area, usually over a bony prominence.

Stage II Pressure Ulcer

Partial thickness loss of dermis presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red-pink wound bed or an intact/ruptured serum-filled blister.

Stage III Pressure Ulcer

Full thickness tissue loss where subcutaneous fat may be visible, but bone, tendon, or muscle are not exposed.

Stage IV Pressure Ulcer

Full thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle; often includes undermining and tunneling.

Un-stageable Ulcer

Full thickness tissue loss where the base is covered by slough (yellow, tan, gray, green, or brown) or eschar (tan, brown, or black).

Deep Tissue Injury

Purple or maroon localized area of discolored intact skin or a blood-filled blister due to damage of underlying soft tissue.

Slough

Necrotic tissue that is yellow, tan, gray, green, or brown, found in the wound bed of an un-stageable ulcer.

Eschar

Necrotic tissue that is tan, brown, or black; stable eschar on the heels serves as a natural biological cover.

Permethrin

A product used as a pediculicide for the treatment of Pediculosis (lice) infestations.