Integumentary System - Medical Terminology (Chapter 3)

Integumentary System (Chapter 3) – Comprehensive Study Notes

  • Structure of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue

    • Epidermis
    • Stratum corneum
    • Basal layer
    • Dermis
    • Subcutaneous tissue
    • Binds dermis to underlying structures; stores fats; insulates and cushions the body; helps regulate temperature

  • Accessory Skin Structures

    • Sebaceous (oil) glands
    • Sudoriferous (sweat) glands
    • Hair
    • Nails

  • Structure of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (continued)

    • The skin and subcutaneous tissue include the accessory organs listed above

  • Function of the Integumentary System

    • Covers and protects the body from pathogens and other harmful substances
    • Sweat and oil glands produce secretions
    • Contains an intricate network of sensory receptors
    • Regulates body temperature, pain, and pressure
    • Synthesizes vitamin D
    • Melanocytes produced in the basal layer give color to the skin

  • Integument Meaning

    • The term integument refers to the skin

  • Accessory Structures of the Skin

    • Hair, nails, and glands (sweat and oil)

  • Subcutaneous Layer Functions

    • Binds the dermis to underlying structures
    • Stores fats, insulates and cushions the body
    • Regulates temperature

  • Basal Layer Special Cells

    • Melanocytes protect the skin from sun damage by producing melanin

  • Accessory Organs Producing Oil

    • Sebaceous glands

  • Skin Sensations

    • Nerve endings in the skin sense heat, cold, pressure, and touch

  • Define Combining Forms (Skin-related)

    • cutane/o, dermat/o, derm/o: skin
    • adip/o, lip/o, steat/o: fat
    • hidr/o, sudor/o: sweat
    • ichthy/o: dry, scaly

  • Define Combining Forms – Examples

    • cutane/o, dermat/o, derm/o: skin
    • adip/o, lip/o, steat/o: fat
    • hidr/o, sudor/o: sweat
    • ichthy/o: dry, scaly

  • Define Combining Forms – More Examples

    • cyan/o: blue
    • melan/o: black
    • kerat/o: horny tissue; hard; cornea
    • myc/o: fungus (fungi)

  • Define Combining Forms – Additional Sets

    • onych/o: nail
    • pil/o, trich/o: hair
    • scler/o: hardening; sclera (white of the eye)
    • seb/o: sebum, sebaceous
    • squam/o: scale
    • leuk/o: white
    • erythr/o: red

  • Define Suffixes

    • -derma: skin
    • -oid: resembling
    • -phoresis: carrying; transmission
    • -plasty: surgical repair

  • Build Medical Words – Practice (Examples)

    • softening of the nail(s): onych/o/malacia
    • treatment with cold: cry/o/therapy
    • discharge or flow of sebum: seb/o/rrhea
    • pertaining to under the skin: sub/cutane/ous

  • Build Medical Words – More Examples

    • abnormal condition of blue (skin): cyan/osis
    • condition of sweat: sudor/esis
    • tumor of the nail or nail bed: onych/oma
    • blue; white cell; black cell; skin that is dry; transplantation of same (species)
    • blue: cyan/o; white cell: leuk/o/cyte; black cell: melan/o/cyte; dry skin: xer/o/derma; homograft/allo/graft: allograft
    • tumor (cancer) vs skin with pus: carcin/oma vs py/o/derma; discharge/sebum flow: seb/o/rrhea; treatment with cold: cry/o/therapy

  • More Word-Building Examples

    • carcin/oma: tumor (consisting of) cancer
    • py/o/derma: skin condition associated with pus
    • seb/o/rrhea: discharge or flow of sebum
    • cry/o/therapy: treatment with cold

  • Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

    • Signs and Symptoms
    • Malignancy of the basal layer commonly caused by repeated overexposure to sun
    • Early stage shown in illustration; pearly, flesh-colored papule with depressed center and rolled edge
    • Characteristics
    • Locally invasive tumor but rarely metastasizes
    • Tumors grow slowly but commonly ulcerate
    • Predominant in fair-skinned men older than 6060 years
    • Treatment Options
    • Size, shape, location, and invasiveness determine therapy
    • Curettage and electrodessication
    • Cryotherapy and laser therapy
    • Chemotherapeutic drugs
    • Surgical excision (used in 90extextpercent90 ext{ extpercent} of cases)
    • Irradiation or chemosurgery
    • Clinically Related Exercise (Key Takeaways)
    • Metastasis = spread of cancer from one part of the body to another site
    • Most common site for BCC is the face
    • Differentiate benign versus malignant lesions; benign = noncancerous

  • Abscesses

    • Signs and Symptoms
    • Localized collection of pus at infection site (often due to Staphylococcus)
    • Furuncle (boil): abscess within a hair follicle and surrounding tissue
    • Carbuncle: cluster of furuncles in subcutaneous tissue
    • Skin may be extremely tender, swollen; may enlarge, soften, and discharge pus and necrotic material
    • Erythema and edema may persist for days/weeks; mild fever may occur
    • Treatment
    • Clean the infected area
    • Apply hot, wet compresses to promote drainage
    • Topical antibiotics
    • I&D (incision and drainage) may be necessary after maturation
    • Related Exercises
    • Redness and edema on the neck described as erythema/erythematous
    • Furuncle infection caused by bacterium; charted as abscess or carbuncle as appropriate

  • Psoriasis

    • Signs and Symptoms
    • Inflammatory chronic skin condition with thick, flaky red patches and silvery scales
    • Pruritus (itching) common
    • Affected areas: scalp, outer arms/legs, elbows, knees
    • Caused by excessive development of the basal layer of the epidermis
    • Treatments
    • Reduce inflammation and slow rapid skin-cell growth
    • Topical therapies: coal tar, vitamin D, corticosteroids; keep skin moist
    • Photochemotherapy (PUVA): UVA exposure to slow hyperkeratosis
    • UVB therapy or sunlight to slow cell production
    • Excimer laser (stronger UVB) directed to plaques
    • Clinically Related Exercise
    • Most common sites of psoriasis: scalp, knees, elbows, umbilicus, genitalia
    • UV therapy slows horny growth; overgrowth of the horny epidermal layer is hyperkeratosis

  • Acne Vulgaris

    • Signs and Symptoms
    • Inflammatory disease of sebaceous glands and hair follicles
    • Papules, pustules, comedones (pl)
    • More common in adolescents and young adults (ages 12−12{-}35)
    • Common sites: face, neck, shoulders, chest, back
    • Hormonal changes during puberty; genetic predisposition; contributing factors: stress, irritants
    • Treatments
    • Goals: reduce bacterial count, decrease sebaceous activity, prevent inflammation of follicles
    • Antibacterial solutions; oral/topical antibiotics or both
    • Retinoids (vitamin A derivatives) reduce natural oils and promote drying/peeling
    • Keep skin clean and dry
    • Clinical Scenarios
    • Blackheads/whiteheads = comedones (plural); avoid squeezing to reduce inflammation

  • Scabies

    • Signs and Symptoms
    • Contagious parasitic infection caused by itch mite; intense pruritus; crawling sensation
    • Rash is common; transmission via skin-to-skin contact
    • Lesions often between fingers, wrists, elbows, axilla, waist, nipples, buttocks, genitalia
    • Treatment
    • Topical scabicide (cream or lotion) applied over entire body, neck to feet, overnight; wash off in morning
    • Usually curative in 1–2 applications
    • Antipruritics and oral antihistamines to reduce itching
    • Clinical Exercises
    • Rash on hands and farm exposure suggests scabies; topical disinfectant to destroy the parasite
    • Itching term: pruritus

  • Impetigo

    • Signs and Symptoms
    • Contagious superficial skin infection; vesicles/pustules rupture to form thick yellow crusts
    • Often on legs; can appear on face, trunk, arms; pruritus common
    • Treatment
    • Systemic antibiotics; cleanse lesions 2–3 times daily; hygiene to prevent spread; avoid infected individuals
    • Clinically Related Exercise
    • Early pustular lesions form a yellow crust; pustules are called pustules

  • Vocabulary Challenge (Key Terms)

    • alopecia: absence or loss of hair (baldness)
    • débridement: removal of necrotized tissue from wound by surgical excision, enzymes, or chemicals
    • ecchymosis: skin discoloration due to a large hemorrhagic area (bruise)
    • hematoma: elevated, localized collection of blood under the skin from trauma
    • urticaria: allergic skin eruption of pale, red, itchy patches (hives)
    • vitiligo: localized loss of skin pigmentation (leukoderma)

  • Diagnostic Procedures

    • Allergy skin test: identify suspected allergens by applying or injecting extracts into the skin
    • Intradermal allergy test: subcutaneous injection of small allergen amounts; observe reaction
    • Scratch (prick) test: place allergen on lightly scratched skin
    • Biopsy: excision of tissue for microscopic examination; used to confirm diagnosis, estimate prognosis, or follow disease course

  • Build Medical Words – Quick Reference (Additional Terms)

    • inflammation of skin: dermatitis
    • instrument to cut skin: dermatome or dermatotome
    • tumor (consisting) of fat: adipoma, lipoma, steatoma
    • excision/removal of a nail: onychectomy
    • blue skin color: cyanoderma
    • surgical repair of the skin: dermatoplasty

  • Medical and Surgical Procedures

    • Débridement: removal of foreign material and dead/damaged tissue; I&D = incision and drainage
    • Mohs surgery: layers of cancer-containing skin excised and examined until cancer-free tissue remains
    • Skin grafts
    • Allograft (homograft): healthy tissue from another person
    • Autograft: tissue transplanted within the same individual
    • Synthetic graft: artificial skin from collagen; recipient does not reject; skin grows into graft and it gradually disintegrates
    • Xenograft (heterograft): dermis from a foreign donor (usually pig)

  • Clinical Scenarios – Procedures and Transplants

    • Wound debridement to prevent infection
    • Cryotherapy (treatment with cold) for lesions (e.g., verrucae)
    • I&D for abscesses
    • Mohs surgery for layer-by-layer excision of skin tumors
    • Transplants: homograft/allograft, xenograft, autograft

  • Pharmacology for Skin Conditions

    • Antibiotics: destroy bacteria causing skin infections
    • Antifungals: destroy fungi infecting skin
    • Antipruritics: reduce severe itching
    • Corticosteroids: anti-inflammatory drugs for skin inflammation

  • Clinically Related Exercises – Pharmacology and Treatments

    • Bacterial skin infection treatment: antibiotic (not antifungal) prescribed
    • Poison ivy dermatitis: topical corticosteroid to reduce inflammation and itching
    • Ringworm (tinea) treatment: antifungal topical or systemic
    • Athlete’s foot: antifungal agent

  • Quick Facts and Key Revisions

    • The basal layer houses melanocytes; sun exposure increases pigment production to protect skin
    • Basal cell carcinoma: most common skin cancer; grows slowly; rarely metastasizes; most common site is the face
    • Acne vulgaris involves sebaceous glands; comedones are blackheads/whiteheads; treatment targets oil production and bacterial activity
    • Psoriasis treatments include PUVA (A: UVA exposure), UVB therapy, excimer laser, and topical corticosteroids
    • Impetigo is highly contagious; hygiene and antibiotic therapy are essential

  • Connections to Foundational Principles

    • Structure-function relationships: epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue each contribute to protection, sensation, and metabolism (e.g., vitamin D synthesis)
    • Homeostasis: temperature regulation, barrier function, and immune defense
    • Pathology progression: from localized infections (abscess, impetigo) to systemic implications if untreated; cancer progression (BCC) highlights risk of sun exposure

  • Ethical and Practical Implications

    • Prevention of sun exposure and protection to minimize basal cell carcinoma risk
    • Infection control and hygiene to prevent spread of skin infections (impetigo, scabies)
    • Use of cosmetic and dermatologic treatments must consider patient skin type and potential side effects (e.g., corticosteroid thinning, infection risk)

  • Notation of Key Formulas and Numbers (LaTeX)

    • Surgical excision used in 90 ext{ extpercent} of basal cell carcinoma cases
    • Basal cell carcinoma predominantly affects fair-skinned men older than 60 years
    • Age references include 70$$-year-old man for common sites discussion
    • Various numerical therapy references: PUVA, UVB, and excimer laser details imply numerical treatment considerations (no explicit formula provided here)

  • Summary of Practical Takeaways

    • The integumentary system comprises skin layers, subcutaneous tissue, and accessory structures that work together for protection, sensation, temperature regulation, and metabolism
    • Medical terminology for skin conditions relies on combining forms and suffixes to build precise terms (e.g., onych/o/malacia, cyan/osis, seb/o/rrhea)
    • Common diseases (BCC, abscesses, psoriasis, acne, scabies, impetigo) each have distinctive signs, symptoms, and standard treatments
    • Diagnostic and treatment procedures (biopsy, allergy tests, I&D, Mohs surgery, grafts) are used to diagnose and manage skin diseases

  • Quick Reference: Key Terms List

    • Integument: skin
    • Melanocytes: pigment-producing cells in basal layer
    • Sebaceous glands: oil production
    • Sudoriferous glands: sweat production
    • Basal cell carcinoma: cancer of basal layer; face is a common site
    • Furuncle: boil; carbuncle: cluster of boils
    • Psoriasis: inflammatory skin disease with rapid epidermal turnover
    • Acne vulgaris: inflammatory acne with comedones
    • Scabies: infestation by itch mite
    • Impetigo: contagious superficial skin infection
    • Dermatitis: inflammation of the skin
    • Dermatome: instrument to cut skin for procedures
    • Onychectomy: nail removal
    • Grafts: autograft, allograft, xenograft, synthetic graft
    • I&D: incision and drainage
    • PUVA: psoralen + UVA light therapy
    • Cicatrization (dermatoplasty): surgical repair of the skin