Anatomy, Physiology, and Medical Terminology for Skin and Digestive System

androgen

Generic term for an agent (usually a hormone, such as testosterone or androsterone) that stimulates development of male characteristics

ductule

Very small duct

homeostasis

State of equilibrium of the internal environment of the body despite changes in the external environment

synthesize

Forming a complex substance by the union of simpler compounds or elements

adip/o (fat)

adip/osis: abnormal condition of fat

lip/o (fat)

lip/oma: fatty tumor

steat/o (fat)

steat/it is: inflammation of fatty tissue

cutane/o (skin)

sub/cutane/ous: pertaining to under the skin

demat/o (skin)

dermat/o/plasty: surgical repair of the skin

derm/o (skin)

hypo/derm/ic: pertaining to under the skin

hidr/o (sweat)

hidr/aden/it is: inflammation of the sweat gland

sudor/o (sweat)

sudor/esis: physiological means to regulate body temperature

ichthy/o (dry, scaly)

ichthy/osis: skin is dry and hardened, resembling fish scales

kerat/o (horny tissue; hard; cornea)

kerat/osis: abnormal condition; thickened area of the epidermis or any horny growth on the skin

melan/o (black)

melan/oma: malignant tumor of melanocytes

myc/o (fungus)

dermat/o/myc/osis: abnormal fungal condition of the skin

onych/o (nail)

onych/o/malacia: softening of the nail

ungu/o (nail)

ungu/al: pertaining to the nail

pil/o (hair)

pil/o/nid/al: pertaining to a nest of hair

trich/o (hair)

trich/o/pathy: disease of the hair

scler/o (hardening; sclera)

scler/o/derma: hardening of the skin

seb/o (sebum, sebaceous)

seb/o/rrhea: overactivity of the sebaceous gland

squam/o (scale)

squam/ous: pertaining to scales

xen/o (foreign, strange)

xen/o/graft: temporary graft to protect patient against infection and fluid loss

xer/o (dry)

xer/o/derma: chronic dry skin

ichthyosis

Mild form of skin disorder characterized by dry, scaly skin.

cyte

Cell.

lip/o/cyte

Fat cell.

derma

Skin.

py/o/derma

Acute, inflammatory, purulent bacterial dermatitis.

logist

Specialist in the study of.

dermat/o/logist

Specialist in the study of skin.

logy

Study of.

dermat/o/logy

Study of the skin.

therapy

Treatment.

cry/o/therapy

Destroy tissue by freezing with liquid nitrogen.

an-

Without, not.

an/hidr/osis

Without an increase of sweat.

epi-

Above, upon.

epi/derm/is

Layer of skin laying upon the dermis.

homo-

Same.

homo/graft

Transplantation of healthy tissue from one person to another.

abscess

Localized collection of pus at the site of an infection.

acne

Inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles of the skin with characteristic lesions.

alopecia

Partial or complete loss of hair.

Bowen disease

Very early form of skin cancer characterized by a red, scaly patch on the skin.

cellulitis

Diffuse, acute infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue.

chloasma

Pigmentary skin discoloration usually occurring in yellowish-brown patches or spots.

comedo

Typical small skin lesion of acne vulgaris caused by accumulation of keratin, bacteria, and dried sebum.

decubitis ulcer

Inflammation, sore, or skin deterioration caused by prolonged pressure.

ecchymosis

Skin discoloration consisting of a large, irregularly formed hemorrhagic area.

eczema

Chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by erythema, papules, vesicles, pustules, scales, crusts, and scabs.

erythema

Redness of the skin caused by swelling of the capillaries.

eschar

Dead matter that is sloughed off from the surface of the skin.

impetigo

Bacterial skin infection characterized by isolated pustules that become crusted and rupture.

keratosis

Thickened area of the epidermis or any horny growth on the skin.

lentigo

Small brown macules, especially on the face and arms, brought on by sun exposure.

pallor

Unnatural paleness or absence of color in the skin.

pediculosis

Infestation with lice.

petechia

Minute, pinpoint hemorrhage under the skin.

pruritus

Intense itching.

psoriasis

Chronic skin disease characterized by itchy red patches covered by thick, dry, silvery scales.

purpura

Any of several bleeding disorders characterized by hemorrhage into the tissues.

scabies

Contagious skin disease transmitted by the itch mite.

tinea

Fungal skin infection whose name commonly indicates the body part affected.

urticaria

Allergic reactions of the skin characterized by the eruption of pale red, elevated patches.

verruca

Epidermal growth caused by a virus; also known as warts.

vitiligo

Localized loss of skin pigmentation characterized by milk-white patches.

allergy skin test

Any test to determine the patient's sensitivity to a suspected allergen.

intradermal

Skin test that identifies suspected allergens by subcutaneously injecting small amounts.

patch

Skin test that identifies allergic contact dermatitis by applying a suspected allergen to a patch.

scratch

Skin test that identifies suspected allergens by placing a small quantity on a scratched area.

culture and sensitivity (C&S)

Laboratory test to determine the presence of pathogens in patients with suspected wound infections.

biopsy (bx)

Representative tissue sample removed from a body site for microscopic examination.

frozen section

Ultrathin slice of tissue from a frozen specimen for immediate pathological examination.

needle

Removal of a small tissue sample using a hollow needle.

punch

Removal of a small core of tissue using a hollow punch.

shave

Removal of elevated lesions using a surgical blade.

Mohs

Procedure that involves progressive removal and examination of layers of cancer-containing skin.

skin graft

Transplantation of healthy tissue to an injured site.

allograft

Transplantation of healthy tissue from one person to another person.

autograft

Transplantation of healthy tissue from one site to another site in the same individual.

synthetic

Transplantation of artificial skin produced from collagen fibers.

xenograft

Transplantation from a foreign donor and transferred to a human.

chemical peel

Chemical removal of the outer layers of skin to treat acne scarring.

cryosurgery

Use of subfreezing temperature to destroy or eliminate abnormal tissue.

debridement

Removal of necrotized tissue from a wound.

dermabrasion

Rubbing using wire brushes or sandpaper to mechanically scrape away the epidermis.

fulguration

Tissue destruction by means of high-frequency electric current.

photodynamic therapy (PDT)

Procedure in which cells are treated with an agent and exposed to light to destroy the cells.

antiacne agents

Reduce acne through multiple mechanisms.

benzoyl peroxide

Antiacne medication that decreases bacteria in the follicles.

tretinoin

Antiacne medication that disrupts the stickiness of follicular skin cells.

antifungals

Alter the cell wall of fungi or disrupt enzyme activity, resulting in cell death.

itraconazole

(Sporanox) Antifungals help treat ringworm (tinea corporis), athlete's foot (tinea pedis), and fungal infections of the nail (onchomycosis). When topical antifungals are not effective, oral or IV drugs may be necessary.

terbinafine

(Lamisil)

fluconazole

(Diflucan)

antihistamines

Inhibit allergic reactions of inflammation, redness, and itching caused by the release of histamine.

diphenhydramine

(Benadryl) In a case of severe itching, antihistamines may be given orally. As a group, these drugs are also known as antipruritic.

hydroxyzine

(Vistaril)