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Ch. 4 Terminology

Quiz yourself by thinking what should be in each of the black spaces below before clicking on it to display the answer.
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Question
Answer
cutane/o, derm/o, dermat/o   skin  
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hidr/o   sweat  
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kerat/o   horny tissue, hard  
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onych/o, ungu/o   nail  
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seb/o   sebum (oil)  
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trich/o   hair  
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aut/o   self  
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bi/o   life  
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coni/o   dust  
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crypt/o   hidden  
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heter/o   other  
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myc/o   fungus  
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necr/o   death (cells, body)  
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pachy/o   thick  
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rhytid/o   wrinkles  
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staphyl/o   grapelike clusters  
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strept/o   twisted chains  
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xer/o   dry  
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epi-   on, upon, over  
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intra-   within  
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para-   beside, beyond, around, abnormal  
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per-   through  
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sub-   under, below  
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trans-   through, across, beyond  
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-a   noun suffix, no meaning  
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-coccus (p. -cocci)   berry shaped (form of bacterium)  
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-ectomy   excision or surgical removal  
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-ia   diseased or abnormal state, condition of  
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-itis   inflammation  
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-malacia   softening  
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-opsy   view of, viewing  
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-phagia   eating or swallowing  
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-plasty   surgical repair  
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-rrhea   flow, discharge  
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-tome   instrument used to cut  
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integumentary system   composed of the skin, nails, and glands  
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epidermis   outer layer of skin  
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keratin   Horny, or cornified, layer composed of protein. It is contained in the hair, skin, and nails.  
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melanin   color, or pigmentation, of the skin  
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dermis   inner layer of skin (also called the TRUE SKIN)  
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sudoriferous (sweat) glands   tiny, coiled, tubular structures that emerge through pores on the skin's surface and secrete sweat  
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sebaceous glands   secrete sebum (oil) into the hair follicles where the hair shafts pass through the dermis  
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hair   compressed, keratinized cells that arise from hair follicles, the sacs that enclose the hair fibers  
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nails   originate in the epidermis. Nails are found on the upper surface of the ends of the fingers and toes. The white area at the base of the nail is called the LUNULA, or MOON.  
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dermatitis   inflammation of the skin  
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dermatoconiosis   abnormal condition of the skin caused by dust  
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dermatofibroma   fibrous tumor of the skin  
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hidradenitis   inflammation of a sweat gland  
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leiodermia   condition of smooth skin  
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onychocryptosis   abnormal condition of a hidden nail (also called INGROWN NAIL)  
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onychomalacia   softening of the nails  
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onychomycosis   abnormal condition of a fungus in the nails  
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onychophagia   eating the nails (nail biting)  
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pachyderma   thickening of the skin  
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paronychia   diseased state around the nail  
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seborrhea   discharge of sebum  
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trichomycosis   abnormal condition of a fungus in the hair  
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xeroderma   dry skin  
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abrasion   scraping away of the skin by mechanical process or injury  
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abscess   localized collection of pus  
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acne   inflammatory disease of the skin involving the sebaceous glands and hair follicles  
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actinic keratosis   a precancerous skin condition of horny tissue formation that results from excessive exposure to sunlight. It may evolve into a squamous cell carcinoma.  
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albinism   congenital hereditary condition characterized by partial or total lack of pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes  
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basal cell carcinoma (BCC)   epithelial tumor arising from the epidermis. It seldom metastasizes but invades local tissue. Common in individuals who have had excessive sun exposure.  
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candidiasis   an infection of the skin, mouth (also called THRUSH), or vagina caused by the yeast-type fungus, Candida albicans. Candida is normally present in the mucous membranes; overgrowth causes an infection.  
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carbuncle   skin infection composed of a cluster of boils caused by staphylococcal bacteria  
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cellulitis   inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by infection, leading to redness, swelling, and fever  
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contusion   injury with no break in the skin, characterized by pain, swelling, and discoloration (also called a BRUISE)  
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eczema   noninfectious, inflammatory skin disease characterized by redness, blisters, scabs, and itching  
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fissure   slit or cracklike sore in the skin  
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furuncle   painful skin node caused by staphylococcal bacteria n a hair follicle (also called a BOIL)  
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gangrene   death of tissue caused by loss of blood supply followed by bacterial invasion (a form of necrosis)  
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herpes   inflammatory skin disease caused by herpes virus characterized by small blisters in clusters. (Herpes simplex=fever blisters, herpes zoster=shingles)  
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impetigo   superficial skin infection characterized by pustules and cuased by either staphylococci or streptococci.  
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Kaposi sarcoma   a cancerous condition starting as purple or brown papules on the lower extremities that spreads through the skin to the lymph nodes and internal organs. Frequently seen w/AIDS.  
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lesion   any visible change in tissue resulting from injury or disease. It is a broad term that includes sores, wounds, ulcers, and tumors.  
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pediculosis   invasion into the skin and hair by lice  
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psoriasis   chronic skin condition producing red lesions covered with silvery scales  
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rosacea   chronic disorder of the skin that produces erythema, papules, pustules, and broken blood vessels, usually occurring on the central area of the face in people older than 30 years. Also called ACNE ROSACEA.  
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scabies   skin infection caused by the itch mite, characterized by papule eruptions that are caused by the female burrowing in the outer layer of the skin & laying eggs. This is accompanied by severe itching.  
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scleroderma   a disease characterized by chronic hardening (induration) of the connective tissue of the skin and other body organs.  
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shingles   development of painful, inflamed blisters that follow the nerve routes; caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox (also called HERPES ZOSTER)  
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squamous cell carcinoma (SqCCA)   a malignant growth that develops from scale-like epithelial tissue. Unlike basal cell carcinoma, there is a significant potential for metastasis. The most frequent cause is chronic exposure to sunlight.  
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systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)   a chronic inflammatory disease involving the skin, joints, kidneys, & nervous system. This autoimmune disease is characterized by periods of remission & exacerbations. It also may affect other organs.  
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tinea   fungal infection of the skin. The fungi may infect keratin of the skin, hair & nails. Infections are classified by body regions, such as tinea capitis (scalp), tinea corporis (body), & tinea pedis (foot)=ATHLETE'S FOOT. Tinea is also known as RINGWORM.  
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urticaria   an itching skin eruption composed of wheals of varying size & shape. It is usually related to an allergy (also called HIVES).  
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biopsy (bx)   view of life (the removal of living tissue from the body to be viewed under the microscope).  
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dermatoautoplasty   surgical repair using one's own skin (skin graft). Also called AUTOGRAFT.  
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dermatoheteroplasty   surgical repair using skin from others (skin graft). Also called ALLOGRAFT.  
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dermatome   instrument used to cut skin (in thin slices for skin grafts)  
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dermatoplasty   surgical repair of the skin  
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onychectomy   excision of a nail  
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rhytidectomy   excision of wrinkles (also called FACELIFT)  
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rhytidoplasty   surgical repair of wrinkles  
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excisional biopsy   removes the entire lesion along with a margin of surrounding tissue  
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punch biopsy   removes a cylindrical portion of tissue with a specifically designed round knife  
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shave biopsy   removes a sample of tissue with a cut parallel to the surrounding skin  
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cauterization   destruction of tissue with a hot or cold instrument, electric current, or caustic substance (also called CAUTERY)  
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cryosurgery   destruction of tissue by using extreme cold, often by using liquid nitrogen  
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debridement   removal of contaminated or dead tissue and foreign matter from an open wound  
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dermabrasion   procedure to remove skin scars with abrasive material, such as sandpaper  
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excision   removal by cutting  
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incision   surgical cut or wound produced by a sharp instrument  
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incision and drainage (I&D)   surgical cut made to allow the free flow or withdrawal of fluids from a lesion, wound, or cavity  
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laser surgery   procedure using an instrument that emits a high-powered beam of light used to cut, burn, vaporize, or destroy tissue  
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Mohs surgery   technique of microscopically controlled serial excisions of skin cancers  
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suturing   to stitch edges of a wound surgically  
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dermatologist   a physician who studies & treats skin (diseases)  
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dermatology (derm)   study of the skin (a branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis & treatment of skin diseases)  
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epidermal   pertaining to upon the skin  
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erythroderma   red skin (abnormal redness of the skin)  
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hypodermic   pertaining to under the skin  
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intradermal (ID)   pertaining to within the skin  
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keratogenic   originating in horny tissue  
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leukoderma   white skin (less color than normal)  
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necrosis   abnormal condition of death (cells & tissue die because of disease)  
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percutaneous   pertaining to through the skin  
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staphylococcus (pl. is STAPHYLOCOCCI) also known as STAPH   berry-shaped (bacteria) in grapelike clusters (these bacteria cause many skin diseases)  
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streptococcus (pl. is STREPTOCOCCI) also known as STREP   berry-shaped (bacteria) in twisted chains  
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subcutaneous (subcut)   pertaining to under the skin  
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transdermal (TD)   pertaining to through the skin  
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ungual   pertaining to the nail  
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xanthoderma   yellow skin (also called JAUNDICE)  
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MRSA (methicillin-resistant Stapylococcus aureus)   a strain of common bacteria that has developed resistance to penicillin & other antibiotics.  
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adipose   fat, fatty  
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allergy   hypersensitivity to a substance  
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alopecia   loss of hair  
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bacteria (s. bacterium)   single-celled microorganisms that reproduce by cell division and may cause infection by invading body tissue  
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cicatrix   scar  
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cyst   a closed sac containing fluid or semisolid material  
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cytomegalovirus (CMV)   a herpes-type virus that usually causes disease when the immune system is compromised  
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diaphoresis   profuse sweating  
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ecchymosis   escape of blood into the tissues, causing superficial discoloration; a "black & blue" mark (also called a bruise)  
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edema   puffy swelling of tissue from the accumulation of fluid  
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emollient   agent that softens or smooths the skin  
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erythema   redness  
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fungus (pl. fungi)   organism that feeds by absorbing organic molecules from its surroundings & may cause infection by invading body tissue; single-celled fungi (yeast) reproduce by budding; multicelled fungi (mold) reproduce by spore formation  
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induration   abnormal hard spot(s)  
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jaundice   condition characterized by a yellow tinge to the skin (also called xanthoderma)  
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keloid   overgrowth of scar tissue  
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leukoplakia   condition characterized by white spots or patches on mucous membrane, which may be precancerous  
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macule   flat, colored spot on the skin  
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nevus (pl. nevi)   circumscribed malformation of the skin, usually brown, black, or flesh colored. A congenital nevus is present at birth & is referred to as a birthmark (also called a mole).  
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nodule   a small knotlike mass that can be felt by touch  
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pallor   paleness  
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papule   small, solid skin elevation (also called a pimple)  
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petechia (pl. petechiae)   a pinpoint skin hemorrhage  
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pressure ulcer (decub)   eroded sore on the skin caused by prolonged pressure, often occurring in bed-ridden patients. (Also called a decubitus ulcer or bed sore.)  
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pruritus   severe itching  
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purpura   disorder characterized by hemorrhages into the tissue, giving the skin a purple-red discoloration  
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pustule   elevation of skin containing pus  
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ulcer   eroded sore on the skin or mucous membrane  
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verruca   circumscribed cutaneous elevation cuased by a virus (also called a wart)  
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vesicle   small elevation of the epidermis containing liquid (also called blister)  
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virus   minute microorganism, much smaller than bacterium, characterized by a lack of independent metabolism and the ability to replicate only within living host cells; may cause infection by invading body tissue  
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wheal   transitory, itchy elevation of the skin with a white center and a red surrounding area; a wheal is an individual urticaria (hive) lesion  
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