adipocyte
Fat cell
albino
Person with skin deficient in pigment (melanin).
apocrine sweat gland
One of the large dermal exocrine glands located in the axilla and genital areas. It secretes sweat that, in action with bacteria, is responsible for human body odor.
basal layer
Deepest region of the epidermis; it gives rise to all the epidermal cells.
collagen
Structural protein found in the skin and connective tissue.
cuticle
Band of epidermis at the base and sides of the nail plate.
dermis
Middle layer of the skin.
eccrine sweat gland
Most numerous sweat-producing exocrine gland in the skin.
epidermis
Outermost layer of the skin
epithelium
Layer of skin cells forming the outer and inner surfaces of the body.
hair follicle
Sac within which each hair grows.
integumentary system
The skin and its accessory structures such as hair and nails.
keratin
Hard protein material found in the epidermis, hair and nails.
lunula
The half-moon-shaped, whitish area at the base of the nail
melanin
Major skin pigment. It is formed by melanocytes in the epidermis
paronychium
Soft tissue surrounding the nail border.
pore
Tiny opening on the surface of the skin.
sebaceous gland
Oil-secreting gland in the dermis that is associated with hair follicles.
sebum
Oily substance secreted by sebaceous glands.
squamous epithelium
Flat, scale-like cells composing the epidermis.
stratified
Arranged in layers
stratum (plural: strata)
A layer (of cells).
stratum corneum
Outermost layer of the epidermis, which consists of flattened, keratinized cells.
subcutaneous layer
Innermost layer of the skin, containing fat tissue.
adip/o
fat
albin/o
white
caus/o
burn, burning
cauter/o
heat, burn
cutane/o
skin
derm/o
skin
dermat/o
skin
diaphor/o
profuse sweating
erythem/o
redness
erythemat/o
redness
hidr/o
sweat
ichthy/o
dry, scaly (fish-like)
kerat/o
hard
leuk/o
white
lip/o
fat
melan/o
black
myc/o
fungus (fungi include yeasts, molds, and mushrooms)
onych/o
nail
phyt/o
plant
pil/o
hair, hair follicle
py/o
pus
rhytid/o
wrinkle
seb/o
sebum
squam/o
scale-like
steat/o
fat
trich/o
hair
ungu/o
nail
xanth/o
yellow
xer/o
dry
anthrac/o
black (as coal); ex: anthracosis
chlor/o
green; example: chlorophyll
cirrh/o
tawny yellow; example: cirrhosis
cyan/o
blue; example: cyanosis
eosin/o
rosy; example: eosinophil
erythr/o
red; example: erythrocyte
jaund/o
yellow; example: jaundice
lute/o
yellow; example: corpus luteum
poli/o
gray; example: poliomyelitis
lesion
An area of abnormal tissue anywhere on or in the body
crust
Collection of dried serum and cellular debris. A scab is a crust.
cyst
Thick-walled, closed sac or pouch containing fluid or semisolid material.
erosion
Wearing away or loss of epidermis.
fissure
Groove or crack-like sore
macule
Flat lesion measuring less than 1 cm in diameter.
nodule
Solid, round or oval elevated lesion 1 cm or more in diameter
polyp
Growth extending from the surface of mucous membrane.
pustule
Papule containing pus. A pustule is a small abscess on the skin.
ulcer
Open sore on the skin or mucous membranes (deeper than an erosion).
vesicle
Small collection (papule) of clear fluid (serum); blister.
wheal
Smooth, edematous (swollen) papule or plaque that is redder or paler than the surrounding skin.
alopecia
Absence of hair from areas where it normally grows.
ecchymosis; ecchymoses
Bluish-purplish mark (bruise) on the skin.
petechia; petechiae
Small, pinpoint hemorrhage.
pruritus
Itching
urticaria (hives)
Acute allergic reaction in which red, round wheals develop on the skin.
acne
Chronic papular and pustular eruption of the skin with increased production of sebum.
burns
Injury to tissues caused by heat contact.
first-degree burns
Superficial epidermal lesions, erythema, hyperesthesia, and no blisters.
second-degree burns
Epidermal and dermal lesions, erythema, blisters, and hyperesthesia.
third-degree burns
Epidermis and dermis are destroyed (necrosis of skin), and subcutaneous layer is damaged, leaving charred, white tissue.
cellulitis
Diffuse, acute infection of the skin marked by local heat, redness, pain and swelling.
eczema
Inflammatory skin disease with erythematous, papulovesicular lesions
exanthematous viral diseases
Rash (exanthem) of the skin due to a viral infection (examples would be rubella, measles, and chickenpox).
gangrene
Death of tissue associated with loss of blood supply.
impetigo
Bacterial inflammatory skin disease characterized by vesicles, pustules, and crusted-over lesions.
psoriasis
Chronic, recurrent dermatosis marked by itchy, scaly, red plaques covered by silvery gray scales.
scabies
Contagious, parasitic infection of the skin with intense pruritus.
scleroderma
Chronic progressive disease of the skin and internal organs with hardening and shrinking of connective tissue.
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease of collagen in skin, joints, and internal organs.
tinea
infection of the skin caused by a fungus.
vitiligo
Loss of pigment (depigmentation) in areas of the skin (milk-white patches).
callus
Increased growth of cells in the keratin layer of the epidermis caused by pressure or friction.
keloid
Hypertrophied, thickened scar developing after trauma or surgical incision.
keratosis
Thickened and rough lesion of the epidermis; associated with aging or skin damage.
leukoplakia
White, thickened patches on mucous membrane tissue of the tongue or cheek.
nevus; nevi
Pigmented lesion of the skin
verruca
Epidermal growth (wart) caused by a virus.
basal cell carcinoma
Malignant tumor of the basal cell layer of the epidermis.
squamous cell carcinoma
Malignant tumor of the squamous epithelial cells in the epidermis
malignant melanoma
Cancerous growth composed of melanocytes.
Kaposi sarcoma
Malignant, vascular, neoplastic growth characterized by cutaneous nodules.
bacterial analyses
Samples of skin are examined for presence of microorganisms.
fungal tests
Scrapings from skin lesions, hair specimens, or nail clippings are sent to a laboratory for culture and microscopic examination
cryosurgery
use of subfreezing temperature via liquid nitrogen application to destroy tissue.
curettage
use of a sharp dermal curette to scrape away a skin lesion
electrodesiccation
Tissue is destroyed by burning with an electric spark.
Mohs micrographic surgery
Thin layers of malignant tissue are removed, and each is examined under a microscope to check for adequate extent of the resection.
skin biopsy
Suspected malignant skin lesions are removed and examined microscopically by a pathologist.
skin test
Substances are injected intradermally or applied to the skin, and results are observed.