Chapter Nine Hair, Skin, and Nails Vocabulary

Health Assessment

Bulla

The clinical term for a large vesicle or blister

Clubbing

Present when the nail base exceeds 180 degrees

Confluent

Lesions that merge and run together over large areas

Cyanosis

A bluish or purplish discoloration of the skin due to a lack of oxygen in the blood

Ecchymosis

The clinical term for a bruise

Erythema

Abnormal redness of the skin or mucous membrane due to inflammation

Jaundice

Yellowing pigmentation of the skin, tissues, and body fluids caused by the deposition of bile pigments

Keloid

A thick scar resulting from excessive growth of fibrous tissue

Leukonychia

White spots on the nails

Linear

A straight line

Macule

Patch of skin altered in color, but not usually elevated

Nevi

The clinical term for a mole

Nodule

A small mass that is rounded or irregular in shape

Pallor

The clinical term for paleness

Papule

A small solid elevation of the skin

Patch

A flat and nonpalpable-irregular shaped macule that is more than one centimeter in diameter

Petechiae

Small spots of reddish or purplish areas in skin or mucous membranes containing blood resulting from localized hemorrhage

Plaque

Elevated firm and rough lesion with flat top surface

Pustule

A small, circumscribed elevation of the skin containing pus and having an inflamed base

Rash

Irritating area of skin that may be visualized and felt with light palpation

Scar

A mark remaining on the skin after injured tissue has healed

Striae

The clinical term for stretch marks

Turgor

Checking the elasticity of the skin

Vesicle

Elevated, circumscribed, superficial, and filled with serous fluid

Zosteriform

Lesions following a nerve