Term | Definition |
cutaneous | Pertaining to the skin (from Latin cutis, meaning "skin") |
derma | Skin (from Greek) |
dermis | The layer of the skin between the epidermis and the subcutaenous tissue; the true skin or corium |
epidermis | The outermost layer of the skin (from epi-, meaning "upon or over" and derm, meaning "skin") |
hair | A thread-like keratinized outgrowth from the skin (root: trich/o) |
hair follicle | The sheath in which a hair develops |
integumentary system | The skin and its associated glands, hair, and nails |
keratin | A protein that thickens and toughens the skin and makes up hair and nails (root: kerat/o) |
melanin | A dark pigment that gives color to the hair and skin and protects the skin against the sun's radiation (root: melan/o) |
nail | A plate-like keratinized outgrowth of the skin that covers the dorsal surface of the terminal phalanges (root: onych/o) |
sebaceous gland | A gland that produces sebum; usually associated with a hair follicle (root: seb/o) |
sebum | A fatty secretion of the sebaceous glands that lubricates the hair and skin (root: seb/o) |
skin | The tissue that covers the body; the integument (roots: derm/o, dermat/o) |
subcutaneous layer | The layer of tissue beneath the skin; also called hypodermis |
sudoriferous gland | A sweat gland (root: hidr/o) |
derm/o, dermat/o | skin |
kerat/o | keratin, horny layer of the skin |
melan/o | dark, black, melanin |
hidr/o | sweat, perspiration |
seb/o | sebum, sebaceous gland |
trich/o | hair |
onych/o | nail |
bulla | raised, fluid-filled lesion larger than a vesicle (plural: bullae) |
fissure | crack or break in the skin |
macule | flat, colored spot |
nodule | solid, raised lesion larger than a papule; often indicative of systemic disease |
papule | small, circular, raised lesion at the surface of the skin |
plaque | superficial, flat, or slightly raised differentiated patch more than 1 cm in diameter |
pustule | raised lesion containing pus; often in a hair follicle or sweat pore |
ulcer | lesion resulting from destruction of the skin and perhaps subcutaneous tissue |
vesicle | small, fluid-filled, raised lesion; a blister or bleb |
wheal | smooth, rounded, slightly raised area often associated with itching; seen in urticaria (hives), such as that resulting from allergy |
atopic dermatitis | Hereditary, allergic, chronic skin inflammation with pruritus (itching); eczema |
basal cell carcinoma | An epithelial tumor that rarely metastasizes and has a high cure rate with surgical removal |
cicatrization | The process of scar formation; a scar is a cicatrix |
debridement | Removal of dead or damaged tissue, as from a wound |
dehiscence | Splitting or bursting, as when the layers of a wound separate |
dermatitis | Inflammation of the skin, often associated with redness and itching; may be caused by allergy, irritants (contact dermatitis), or a variety of diseases |
dermatology | Study of the skin and diseases of the skin |
dermatome | Instrument for cutting thin skin sections for grafting |
eczema | A general term for skin inflammation with redness, lesions, and itching; atopic dermatitis |
erythema | Diffuse redness of the skin |
escharotomy | Removal of scab tissue resulting from burns or other skin injuries; a scab or crust is an eschar |
evisceration | Protrusion of internal organs (viscera) through an opening, as through a wound |
exudate | Material, which may include fluid, cells, pus, or blood, that escapes from damaged tissue |
Kaposi sarcoma | Cancerous lesion of the skin and other tissues seen most often in patients with AIDS |
keloid | A raised, thickened scar caused by tissue overgrowth during scar formation |
lupus erythematosus (LE) | A chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease of connective tissue that often involves the skin; types include the more widespread systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and a discoid form (DLE) that involves only the skin |
malignant melanoma | A metastasizing pigmented skin tumor |
pemphigus | An autoimmune disease of the skin characterized by sudden, intermittent formation of bullae (blisters); may be fatal if untreated |
pressure ulcer | An ulcer caused by pressure to an area of the body, as from a bed or chair; decubitus ulcer, bedsore, pressure sore |
pruritus | Severe itching |
psoriasis | A chronic hereditary dermatitis with red lesions covered by silvery scales |
rule of nines | A method for estimating the extent of body surface area involved in a burn by assigning percentages in multiples of nine to various body regions |
scleroderma | A chronic disease that is characterized by thickening and tightening of the skin and that often involves internal organs in a form called progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) |
squamous cell carcinoma | An epidermal cancer that may invade deeper tissues but tends not to metastasize |
acne | An inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles usually associated with excess sebum secretion; acne vulgaris |
actinic | Pertaining to the effects of radiant energy, such as sunlight, ultraviolet light, and x-rays |
albinism | A hereditary lack of pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes |
alopecia | Absence or loss of hair; baldness |
Beau lines | White lines across the fingernails; usually a sign of systemic disease or injury |
bromhidrosis | Sweat that has a foul odor because of bacterial decomposition; also spelled bromidrosis |
carbuncle | A localized infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, usually caused by staphylococcus, and associated with pain and discharge of pus |
comedo | A plug of sebum, often containing bacteria, in a hair follicle; a blackhead (plural: comedones) |
dermatophytosis | Fungal infection of the skin, especially between the toes; athlete's foot (root phyt/o means "plant") |
diaphoresis | Profuse sweating |
dyskeratosis | Any abnormality in keratin formation in epithelial cells |
ecchymosis | A collection of blood under the skin caused by leakage from small vessels |
erysipelas | An acute infectious skin disease with localized redness and swelling and systemic symptoms |
erythema nodosum | Inflammation of subcutaneous tissues resulting in tender, erythematous nodules; may be an abnormal immune response t a systemic disease, an infection, or a drug |
exanthema | Any cutaneous eruption that accompanies a disease, such as measles; a rash |
excoriation | Lesion caused by scratching or abrasion |
folliculitis | Inflammation of a hair follicle |
furuncle | A painful skin nodule caused by staphylococci that enter through a hair follicle; a boil |
hemangioma | A benign tumor of blood vessels; in the skin, called birthmarks or port wine stains |
herpes simplex | A group of acute infections caused by herpes simplex virus; type I herpes simplex virus produces fluid-filled vesicles, usually on the lips, after fever, sun exposure, injury, or stress; type II infections usually involve the genital organs |
hirsutism | Excessive growth of hair |
icthyosis | A dry, scaly condition of the skin (from the root ichthy/o, meaning "fish") |
impetigo | A bacterial skin infection with pustules that rupture and form crusts; most commonly seen in children, usually on the face |
keratosis | Any skin condition marked by thickened or horny growth; seborrheic keratosis is a benign tumor, yellow or light brown in color, that appears in the elderly; actinic keratosis is caused by exposure to sunlight and may lead to squamous cell carcinoma |
lichenification | Thickened marks caused by chronic rubbing, as seen in atopic dermatitis (a lichen is a flat, branching type of plant that grows on rocks and bark) |
mycosis fungoides | A rare malignant disease that originates in the skin and involves the internal organs and lymph nodes; there are large, painful, ulcerating tumors |
nevus | A defined discoloration of the skin; a congenital vascular skin tumor; a mole, birthmark |
paronychia | Infection around a nail caused by bacteria or fungi; may affect multiple nails |
pediculosis | Infestation with lice |
petechiae | Flat, pinpoint, purplish-red spots caused by bleeding within the skin or mucous membrane (singular: petechia) |
photosensitization | Sensitization of the skin to light, usually from the action of drugs, plant products, or other substances |
purpura | A condition characterized by hemorrhages into the skin and other tissues |
rosacea | A condition of unknown cause involving redness of the skin, pustules, and overactivity of sebaceous glands, mainly on the face |
scabies | A highly contagious skin disease caused by a mite |
senile lentigines | Brown macules that appear on sun-exposed skin in adults; liver spots |
shingles | An acute eruption of vesicles along the path of a nerve; herpes zoster; caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox |
tinea | A fungal skin infection; ringworm |
tinea versicolor | Superficial chronic fungal infection that causes varied skin pigmentation |
urticaria | A skin reaction marked by temporary, smooth, raised areas (wheals) associated with itching, hives; see also wheals |
venous stasis ulcer | Ulcer caused by venous insufficiency and stasis of venous blood; usually forms near the ankle |
verruca | An epidermal tumor; a wart |
vitiligo | Patchy disappearance of pigment in the skin; leukoderma |
xeroderma pigmentosum | A fatal hereditary disease that begin in childhood with skin discolorations and ulcers and muscle atrophy; there is increased sensitivity to the sun and increased susceptibility to cancer |
aloe | A gel from leaves of the plant Aloe vera that is used in treatment of burns and minor skin irritations |
antipruritic | Agent that prevents or relieves itching |
cautery | Destruction of tissue by physical or chemical means; cauterization; also the instrument or chemical used for this purpose |
dermabrasion | A plastic surgical procedure for removing scars or birthmarks by chemical or mechanical destruction of epidermal tissue |
dermatoplasty | Transplantation of human skin; skin grafting |
diascopy | Examination of skin lesions by pressing a glass plate against the skin |
fulguration | Destruction of tissue by high-frequency electric sparks |
skin turgor | Resistance of the skin to deformation; evidenced by the ability of the skin to return to position when pinched; skin turgor is a measure of the skin's elasticity and state of hydration |
Wood lamp | An ultraviolet light used to diagnose fungal infections |
BSA | Body surface area |
DLE | Discoid lupus erythematosus |
FTSG | Full-thickness skin graft |
LE | Lupus erythematosus |
PSS | Progressive systemic sclerosis |
PUVA | Psoralen ultraviolet A |
SCLE | Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus |
SLE | Systemic lupus erythematosus |
SPF | Sun protection factor |
STSG | Split-thickness skin graft |
UV | Ultraviolet |
UVA | Ultraviolet A |
UVB | Ultraviolet B |
VAC | Vacuum-assisted closure |