Skin, Hair, & Nails Vocab

Health Assess Exam 2

Bulla

Fluid-filled sac or lesion that appears when fluid is trapped under a thin layer of skin

Clubbing

Condition affecting the fingers and toes in which proliferation of distal tissues, especially the nail beds, results in thickening and widening of the extremities of the digits; the nails are abnormally curved and shiny

Confluent

Skin lesions that become merged, forming a patch; disease characterized by lesions that are not discrete, or distinct one from another

Cyanosis

Bluish tone of the skin, mucous membranes, tongue, lips or nail beds due to an increased concentration of reduced hemoglobin (Hb)in the circulation

Ecchymosis

Subcutaneous extravasation of blood within the tissues, which results in discoloration of the skin from the seepage of blood in the tissues (bruising)

Erythema

A common but nonspecific sign of skin irritation, injury, or inflammation caused by dilation of superficial blood vessels in the skin; a reddening of the tissue

Jaundice

Condition that causes the skin and whites of the eye to turn yellow
ex. liver disease

Keloid

Excess growth of scar tissue where the skin has healed

Leukonychia

Abnormal nail matrix keratinization causing nail plate parakeratosis; also known as white nails

Linear

Abnormal lesions that form in a line

Macule

Small, flat, nonpalpable skin color change, less than 1 cm with a circumscribed border

ex. freckle

Nevi

Congenital, raised, pigmented growth

ex. mole

Nodule

A primary skin lesion that is elevated, firm, circumscribed; deeper in dermis than a papule; 1-2cm in diameter

Pallor

Loss of pinkish tones in the skin due to the lack of blood flow to the surface of the skin

Papule

A primary skin lesion that is elevated, firm, circumscribed area less than 1 cm in diameter

Patch

A flat, nonpalpable, irregular-shaped macule more than 1 cm in diameter; may have irregular border

Petechiae

Tiny, purple/reddish spots on the skin

Plaque

Elevated, firm, and rough lesion w/ flat top surface greater than 1 cm in diameter

Pustule

Vesicle-like filled w/ purulent fluid

Rash

Area of irritated or swollen skin; often itchy, red, painful, irritated

Scar

Area of fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin after an injury

Striae

Asymmetric, raised, red linear streaks (striae rubrae) that tend to flatten and lighten over time; commonly called stretch marks

Turgor

Skin’s elasticity; the ability of skin to change shape and return to normal

Vesicle

Small, fluid-filled sacks that can appear on skin; fluid may be clear, yellow, white, or mixed with blood

ex. blisters

Zosteriform

Distribution of cutaneous lesions; a unilateral girdle-like distribution restricted to the sensitive nerve territory of a dermatome

Resembling shingles