Term | Definition |
Abrasion | An injury in which superficial layers of the skin are scraped or rubbed away |
Acne vulgaris | Chronic disorder of sebaceous gland |
Alopecia | Loss of hair; baldness |
Arrector pili muscle | A smooth muscle on the side of each hair follicle; when cold, it stimulates the skin to pucker around the hair |
Athlete's foot | Fungal infection of the foot |
Avascular | Without blood vessels |
Basal cell carcinoma | Most common and least malignant type of skin cancer |
Boil | Bacterial infection of sebaceous gland |
Cortex | Outer part of an internal organ |
Cyanosis | Bluish color of the skin due to insufficient oxygen in the blood |
Decubitus ulcer | A deterioration of the skin due to constant pressure on the area |
Dermatitis | Inflammation of the skin |
Dermis | True skin; lying immediately beneath the epidermis |
Eczema | Acute or chronic non-contagious inflammation of the skin |
Epidermis | Outermost layer of skin |
Erythema | Redness of the skin due to dilation of the capillary Network |
Eschar | Black and skin that is usually a result of third-degree Burns |
First-degree (superficial) burn | Burn that affects only the epidermal layer |
Fissure | A groove or cracklike break in the skin |
Genital herpes | A sexually transmitted recurrent disease caused by a virus |
Hair follicle | Inpocketing of the epidermis that holds the hair root |
Herpes | Contagious viral infection in which small blisters appear |
Hyperthermia | Condition in which the body temperature rises above normal |
Hypothermia | A condition in which the body temperature drops below normal |
Impetigo | Acute and contagious skin disease |
Integumentary system | All organs and structures that make up the skin |
Jaundice | Yellowish coloring of the skin |
Keratin | Chemical belonging to albuminoid or scleroprotein Group found in horny tissue, hair, and nails |
Laceration | A tear or Jagged wound in the skin |
Lice | Parasitic insects found usually in the hair; highly contagious |
Malignant melanoma | A type of tumor that develops in the pigmented cells of the skin called melanocytes |
Medulla | Inner portion of an organ |
Melanin | Pigment that gives color to Hair, Skin, and eyes |
Melanocytes | Cells that make the protein melanin to protect against ultraviolet rays |
Moles | Benign growths that occur when melanocytes grow in a cluster with tissue surrounding them |
Papillae | Ridges formed in the lower edge of the stratum germinativum, they raise the skin into permanent ridges that form fingerprints |
Psoriasis | Chronic inflammatory skin disease with silvery patches |
Ringworm | Contagious fungal infection with raised circular patches |
Root | (1) the part of a tooth that is embedded into the alveolar process of the jaw; (2) the part of the hair that is implanted in the skin |
Rosacea | A common inflammatory disorder characterized by chronic redness and irritation to the face |
Rule of nines | Pertains to patients with Burns; measurement of the percentage of body burned: the body is divided into 11 areas, with each area accounting for 9% of the total body surface |
Sebaceous gland | Gland that secretes sebum, a fatty material |
Sebum | Secretion of sebaceous glands that lubricate the skin |
Second degree (partial-thickness) burn | Affects the epidermis and dermis layers |
Shaft | (1) the part of the hair that extends from the skin surface;(2)the diaphysis of a long bone |
Shingles(Herpes zoster) | Virus infection of the nerve endings |
Skin cancer | A tumor that develops on the skin |
Squamous cell carcinoma | Cancer of the epidermis |
Stratum corneum | The surface layer of the skin |
Stratum germinativum | The deepest epidermal layer of the skin |
Stratum granulosum | The epidermal layer where the keratinization process occurs when keratin cells change their shape, lose their nucleus, those most of their water, and become mainly hard protein or keratin |
Stratum lucidum | The epidermal layer found only in the palms of the hands or soles of the feet; the cells in this layer appear clear |
Stratus spinosum | The epidermal layer that under a microscope looks prickly, this layer contains melanocytes, keratinocytes, and Lambert and cells |
Sweat gland | Sudoriferous gland that produces sweat or perspiration |
Third-degree (full thickness) burn | Burn that involves complete destruction of the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layers of the skin |
Urticaria (hives) | |
| Skin condition characterized by itching wheals or welts and usually caused by an allergic reaction |