Chapter 4

Integumentary System

integumentary system

composed of skin, glands, hair, and nails

skin (cutaneous membrane)

organ covering the body; made up of layers

epidermis

outer layer of skin; protects the body from the external environment

keratin

scleroprotein component of the hornlike, or cornified, layer of the epidermis. Also the primary component of the hair and nails

melanin

dark pigment produced by melanocytes; amount present determines skin color

hair

compressed, keratinized cells that arise from hair follicles, the sacs that enclose the hair fibers

nails

hornlike plates made from flattened epithelial cells; found on the dorsal surface of the ends of the fingers and toes

sebaceous glands

secrete sebum (oil) into the hair follicles where the hair shafts pass through the dermis

sudoriferous glands (sweat glands)

tiny, coiled, tubular structures that emerge through pores on the skin’s surface and secrete sweet

dermis

inner layer of skin; responsible for its flexibility and mechanical strength

hypodermis (subcutaneous layer)

layer between the dermis and the underlying tissues and organs; contains adipose tissue (fat), connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels

cutane/o

skin

derm/o

skin

dermat/o

skin

hidr/o

sweat

kerat/o

hornlike tissue (keratin), scaly

aden/o

gland, glandular tissue

crypt/o

hidden

erythr/o

red

leuk/o

white

myc/o

fungus

pachy/o

thick

aut/o

self

bi/o

life

coni/o

dust

heter/o

other

necr/o

death (cells, body)

phag/o

swallowing, eating

rhytid/o

wrinkles

scler/o

hard

staphyl/o

grapelike clusters

strept/o

twisted chains

xanth/o

yellow

xer/o

dry, dryness

epi-

on, upon, over

hyper-

above, excessive

hypo-

below, incomplete, deficient, under

intra-

within

para-

beside, beyond, around, abnormal

per-

through

sub-

under, below

trans-

through, across, beyond

-a

noun suffix, no meaning

-al

pertaining to

-coccus (pl. -cocci)

berry-shaped (form of bacteium)

-ectomy

excision, surgical removal

-genic

producing, originating, causing

-ia

diseased or abnormal state, condition of

-itis

inflammation

-logist

one who studies and treats (specialist, physician)

-logy

study of

-malacia

softening

-oma

tumor, swelling

-ous

pertaining to

-opsy

view of, viewing

-phagia

eating or swallowing

-plasty

surgical repair

-rrhea

flow, discharge

-tome

instrument used to cut

dermatitis

inflammation of the skin

dermatofibroma

fibrous tumor of the skin

hidradenitis

inflammation of a sweat gland

keratosis

abnormal condition (growth) of hornlike tissue (keratin)

dermatoconiosis

an abnormal condition of the skin caused by contact with dust

onychocryptosis

abnormal condition of a hidden nail (ingrown nail)

onychomalacia

softening of the nails

onychomycosis

abnormal condition of a fungus in the nails

onychophagia

condition of eating the nails (nail biting)

leioderma

a condition of smooth skin

pachyderma

thickening of the skin

paronychia

diseased state around the nail

scleroderma

hard skin

seborrhea

discharge of sebum (excessive)

seborrheic

pertaining to excessive discharge of sebum

xanthoma

yellow tumor

xeroderma

dry skin

abrasion

scraping away of the skin by mechanical process or injury

abscess

localized collection of pus, bacteria, and other material; can occur in the skin (cutaneous abscess) or other locations within the body (internal abscess)

acne

inflammatory disease of the skin involving the sebaceous glands and hair follicles

actinic keratosis

precancerous skin condition of hornlike tissue formation that results from excessive exposure to sunlight. It may evolve into a squamous cell carcinoma

albinism

congenital hereditary condition characterized by partial or total lack of pigment (melanin) in the skin, hair, and eyes

basal cell carcinoma

malignant epithelial tumor arising from the bottom layer of the epidermis called the basal layer; it seldom metastasizes, but invades local tissue and may recur in the same location. Common in individuals who have had excessive sun exposure

candidiasis

infection of the skin, mouth (thrush), or vagina caused by the yeast-type fungus candida albicans

carbuncle

infection of skin and subcutaneous tissue composed of a cluster of boils caused by straphylococcal bacteria

cellulitis

inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by infection; characterized by redness, pain, heat, and swelling

contusion (bruise)

external injury with no break in the skin, characterized by pain, swelling, and discoloration

eczema

noninfectious, inflammatory skin disease characterized by redness, blisters, scabs, and itching

fissure

slit or crack-like sore in the skin

furuncle (boil)

painful skin nodule caused by straphylococcal bacteria in a hair follicle

gangrene

death of tissue caused by loss of blood supply followed by bacterial invasion

herpes

inflammatory skin disease caused by herpesvirus and characterized by small blisters in clusters

impetigo

superficial skin infection characterized by pustules and caused by either straphylococci or streptococci

kaposi sarcoma

cancerous condition starting as purple or brown papules that spreads through the skin to the lymph nodes and internal organs; frequently seen with AIDS

keloid

overgrowth of scar tissue

laceration

torn, ragged-edged wound

measles

highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever, runny nose, cough, and a spreading skin rash

MRSA infection

invasion of body tissue by methicillin-resistant

pediculosis

invasion into the skin and hair by lice

pilonidal cyst

abnormal pocket in the skin that contains hair and skin debris

pressure injury (pressure ulcers + bedsore- decubitus ulcer)

damage of the skin and the subcutaneous tissue caused by prolonged pressure, often occurring in bedridden patients; the injury, which may by painful, can present as intact skin or an open ulcer