| Term | Definition |
|---|
| abrasion | scraping or rubbing away of a surface, such as skin or teeth, by friction; may be result of trauma, such as skinned knee; of therapy as in dermabrasion for the removal of scar tissue; or of normal function, such as wearing down of tooth by mastication |
| acanthosis nigricans | skin disease characterized by hyperpigmented, velvety thickening of skin, common in neck, axilla, and groin; there are benign and malignant forms; latter is most often associated with cancers of GI tract |
| asteatosis | dry skin condition caused by deficiency of sebaceous gland secretion; scales and fissure may result from dryness; condition is treated with creams and ointments that replace the missing skin oils |
| atrophy | wasting or decrease in size of physiologic activity of a part of the body because of disease or other influences; skeletal muscle may undergo atrophy as result of lack of physical exercise or neurologic or musculoskeletal disease; cells of the brain and central nervous system may atrophy in old age because of restricted blood flow to those areas |
| bulla | thin-walled blister of skin or mucous membranes greater than 1cm in diameter containing clear, serous fluid |
| cicatrix | scar tissue that is avascular, pale, contracted, and firm after the earlier phase of skin healing characterized by redness and softness |
| crust | solidified, hard outer layer formed by drying of body exudate, such as blood or pus, common in dermatologic conditions such as eczema, impetigo, seborrhea, and favus and during the healing of burns and lesions; a scab |
| cyst | closed sac in or under skin lined with epithelium and containing fluid or semisolid material |
| eczema | general superficial dermatitis of unknown cause; in the early stage it may be pruritic, erythematous, papulovesicular, edematous, and weeping; later it becomes crusted, scaly, thickened, or lichenified; exacerbating factors include sudden temperature changes, humidity, psychologic stress, illness, allergies, fibers, detergents, and perfumes |
| erosion | wearing away or gradual destruction of surface; for example, mucosal or epidermal surface may erode as result of inflammation, injury, or other causes, usually marked by appearance of an ulcer |
| excoriation | injury to surface of body caused by trauma, such as scratching, abrasion, or chemical or thermal burn |
| fissure | cleft or groove on surface of organ, often marking its division into parts, such as lobes of lung; cracklike lesion of skin, such as anal fissure; a lineal fault on bony surface that occurs during the development of part, such as fissure in enamel of tooth; usually deeper than sulcus |
| folliculitis | inflammation of hair follicles, caused by infection, such as sycosis barbae |
| furuncle | localized suppurative staphylococcal skin infection originating in gland or hair follicle and characterized by pain, redness, and swelling; necrosis deep in the center of inflamed area forms a core of dead tissue that is spontaneously extruded, eventually resorbed, or surgically removed; it is important to avoid irritating or squeezing the lesion to prevent spread of infection; treatment may include antibiotics, local moist heat, and, when there is definite fluctuation and the hard white core is evident, incision, and drainage |
| Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) | malignant, multifocal neoplasm of reticuloendothelial cells that begins as soft brownish or purple papules on feet or hard palate and slowly spreads in skin, metastasizing to lymph nodes and viscera; it occurs most often in men and is associated with diabetes, malignant lymphoma, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or other disorders; radiotherapy and chemotherapy are usually recommended |
| keloid | an overgrowth of collagenous scar tissue at the site of skin injury, particularly w wound of or surgical incision; new tissue is elevated, rounded, and firm; young women and African-Americans are particularly susceptible; types of therapy include solid carbon dioxide, liquid nitrogen, intralesional corticosteroid injections, radiation, silicon gel, and surgery; treatment may worsen the condition and should be performed only by skilled professionals |
| keratosis | any skin lesion in which there is overgrowth and thickening of cornefied epithelium; approximately 20% of theses skin lesions develop into squamous cell carcinoma; prevention includes use of sunscreen and avoidance of drugs known to cause photosensitivity reactions |
| hyperkeratosis | overgrowth of cornified epithelial layer of skin |
| lentigo/lentigines | a tan or brown macule on skin brought on by sun exposure, usually in a middle-aged or older person; it is benign and no treatment is necessary; however, in some cases it may mimic melanoma and should be biopsied |
| lesions | wound, injury, or pathologic change in body tissue; any visible local abnormality of the tissues of the skin, such as wound, sore, rash, or boil; may be described as benign, cancerous, gross, occult, or primary |
| lichenification | thickening or hardening of the skin, giving it a leathery, barklike appearance, often resulting from the irritation caused by repeated scratching of a pruritic lesions |
| macule | small, flat blemish or discoloration that is level with the skin surface less than 1cm; examples are freckles and some rashes |
| melanoma | any group of malignant neoplasms that originate in the skin and that are composed of melanocytes; a melanocytic nevus may be acquired or congenital |
| nodule | a small node; a small nodelike structure |
| papule | a small solid, raised skin lesion less than 1 cm in diameter, such as that found in lichen planus and nonpustular acne |
| patch | a small spot of surface tissue that differs from the surrounding area in color or texture or both and is not elevated above it, greater than 1cm |
| pemphigus | uncommon, severe disease of the skin and mucous membranes, characterized by thin-walled bullae arising from apparently normal skin or mucous membrane; bullae rupture readily, leaving raw patches; person loses weight, becomes weak, and is subject to major infections; treatment with corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive medication has changed the prognosis of this disease from almost certain fatality to a controllable problem compatible with a nearly normal life |
| plaque | flat, often raised patch greater than 1 cm on the skin or any other organ of the body; a patch of atherosclerosis;usually a thin film on the teeth; it is made of mucin and colloidal material found in saliva and often secondarily invaded by bacteria |
| psoriasis | chronic skin disorder characterized by circumscribed red patches covered by thick, dry silvery adherent scales; exacerbations and remissions are typical |
| seborrhea | any of several common skin conditions in which an overproduction of sebum results in excessive oiliness or scaling |
| shingles | an acute infection caused by reactivation of the latent varicella zoster virus, which mainly affects adults; the cause of reactivation is unknown, but it linked to stress, aging, and immune impairment; it is characterized by development of painful vesicular skin eruptions that follow the underlying route of cranial or spinal nerves inflamed by virus; prompt treatment with antivirals can speed healing and reduce risk of postherpetic neuralgia |
| tinea | group of fungal skin diseases caused by dermatophytes of several kinds; condition is characterized by itching, scaling, and sometimes painful lesions; spread by direct contact between humans and even domestic dogs or cats; diagnosis is made by demonstrating fungus or smear or by culture |
| tumor | swelling or enlargement occurring in inflammatory conditions; also called neoplasms; a new growth of tissue characterized by progressive; uncontrolled proliferation of cells; tumor may be named for its location, for its cellular makeup, or for the person who first identified it |
| ulcer | a circumscribed, craterlike lesion of the skin or mucous membrane resulting from necrosis that accompanies some inflammatory, infectious, or malignant processes; may be shallow, involving only the epidermis, as in pemphigus, or deep as in a rodent ulcer |
| vesicle | a small bladder or blister less than 1 cm, containing clear fluid |
| wheal | smooth, slightly elevated area on the skin that is redder or paler than the surrounding skin; usually itches and can change size or shape or disappear with in hours; it is typical lesion of uticaria |
| xanthoma | benign fatty fibrous yellowish plaque, nodule, or tumor that develops in subcutaneous layer of skin, often around tendons; lesion is characterized by intracellular accumulation of cholesterol and cholesterol esters; it is associated with high cholesterol and/or triglycerides |
| xanthelasma | planar xanthoma involving the eyelids |
| capillary hemangioma | blood-filled birthmark or benign tumor consisting of closely packed small blood vessels; commonly found during infancy, it grows, then may spontaneously disappear in early childhood without treatment; surgical removal is not usually attempted unless frequent trauma and bleeding are present; however, surgery may be performed later for cosmetic reasons |
| cavernous hemangioma | a benign, congenital red or purple tumor consisting of enlarged blood vessels; the scalp, face, and neck are the most common sites, but these tumors have been found in the liver and other organs; superficial ones are friable and easily infected if skin is broken; treatment includes observation, irradiation, sclerosing solutions, and laser surgery and excisional surgery |
| cherry angioma | a small, bright red, clearly circumscribed vascular tumor on the skin; it occurs most often on the trunk but may appear anywhere on the body; lesion is common; more than 85% of people over 45 years of age have several |
| ecchymosis | bluish discoloration of an area of skin or mucous membrane caused by extravasation of blood into subcutaneous tissues as result of trauma to underlying blood vessels or fragility of the vessel walls |
| petechia | numerous tiny purple or red spots appearing on the skin as a result of tiny hemorrhages within the dermal or submucosal layer; range from pinpoint to pinhead size and are flush with the surface |
| port wine | aka nevus flammeus; flat capillary hemangioma that is present at birth and that varies from pale red to deep reddish purple; mostly occurs on face |
| purpura | any of several bleeding disorders characterized by hemorrhage into tissues, particularly beneath the skin or mucous membranes, producing ecchymoses or petechiae |
| stork bites (telangiectatic nevus) | common skin condition of neonates, characterized by flat, deep-pink localized areas of capillary dilation that occur predominantly on the back of the neck, lower occiput, upper eyelids, upper lip, and bridge of the nose; areas disappear permanently by about 2 years of age |
| venous star | a small red nodule formed by a dilated vein in the skin; it is caused by increased vein pressure |
| acrocyanosis | intermittent attacks of ischemia of the extremities of the body especially the fingers, toes, ears, and nose, caused by exposure to cold or by emotional stimuli; attacks are characterized by severe blanching of the extremities, followed by cyanosis, then redness; they are usually accompanied by numbness, tingling, burning, and often pain; normal color and sensation are restored by heat |
| Addison's Disease | a life threatening condition caused by partial or complete failure of adrenocortical function, often resulting from autoimmune processes, infection (especially tubercular or fungal), neoplasm, or hemorrhage in the gland; all three general functions of the adrenal cortex (glucocorticoid, mineralcorticoid, and androgenic) are lost |
| albinism | a rare inherited disorder characterized by a lack of melanin in the skin; total albinos have pale skin that does not tan, white hair, pink eyes, nystagmus, astigmatism, and photophobia; are prone to sever sunburn, actinic dermatitis, and skin cancer |
| anemia | a decease in quality hemoglobin in the blood to levels below normal range of 12 to 16 g/dl for women and 13.5 to 18 g/dl for men or in circulating red blood cells; may be caused by a decrease in erythrocyte production, an increase in erythrocyte destruction, or a loss of blood |
| carotenemia | presence of high levels of carotene in the blood, resulting in an abnormal yellow appearance of the plasma and skin; it differs from jaundice in that conjuctivae are not discolored; it may be caused either by excessive consumption of carotene-containing foods or drinks, such as carrots or carrot juice, or from a decreased ability to convert carotenoids to vitamin A |
| chloasma | tan or brown pigmentation, particularly of the forehead, cheeks, and nose, commonly associated with pregnancy, the use of oral contraceptives, or hormone replacement therapy; hyperpigmentation may be permanent or may disappear only to recur with subsequent pregnancies or use of oral contraceptives, and is frequently treated with bleaching agents such as hydroquinone |
| circumoral | pertaining to the area of the face around the mouth |
| cyanosis | bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes caused by an excess of deoxygenated hemoglobin in the blood or a structural defect in the hemoglobin molecule, such as in methemoglobin |
| depigmentation | any abnormal increase or decrease in the production or distribution of skin pigment |
| edema | abnormal accumulation of fluid in interstitial spaces of tissues, such as in the pericardial sac, intrapleural space, peritoneal cavity or joint capsules |
| erythema | redness or inflammation of the skin or mucous membranes that is result of dilation and congestion of superficial capillaries; ex-nervous blushes and mild sunburn |
| intertrigo | an erythematous irritation of opposing skin surfaces caused by friction, moisture, warmth, or sweat retention; common sites are the axillae, the folds beneath large or pendulous breasts, and the inner aspects of the thighs; maceration and candidal infection may be complications if the area is also warm and moist; prevention is by weight reduction, powdering, cleansing, and use of antifungal topical medication when necessary |
| jaundice | a yellow discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes, and sclerae of the eyes caused by greater than normal amounts of bilirubin in the blood; because persons with dark skin sometimes have yellow-tinged sclerae, the hard palate of the mouth is often the best place to assess |
| linea alba | white part of the anterior abdominal aponeurosis in the middle line of the abdomen, made of connective tissue representing the fusion of three aponeuroses into a single tendinous band extending from the xiphoid process to the symphysis pubis; it contains the umbilicus |
| linea nigra | a dark line appearing longitudinally on the abdomen of a pregnant woman during the latter 24 weeks of term; it usually extends from the symphysis pubis midline to the umbilicus and sometimes as far as the sternum |
| milia | a minute white cyst of the epidermis caused by obstruction of hair follicles and eccrine sweat glands; one variety is seen in newborns and disappears within a few weeks; another type is found primarily on the faces of middle-aged women; may be treated with topical or oral retinoids or by extraction |
| Mongolian spots | a benign bluish-black macule, between 2 and 8 cm, occurring over the sacrum and on the buttocks of some newborns; it is especially common in African-Americans, Native Americans, southern Europeans, and Asian-Americans and usually disappears during early childhood |
| mottling | spotting with patches of color |
| pallor | an unnatural paleness or absence of color in the skin |
| piebald | having patches of white hair or skin caused by absence of melanocytes in those nonpigmented areas; it is hereditary condition |
| polycythemia | an increase in the number of erythrocytes in the blood that may be primary or secondary to pulmonary disease, heart disease, or prolonged exposure to high altitudes or may be idiopathic |
| rubor | redness, especially when accompanying inflammation |
| tinea versicolor | a fungal infection of the skin caused by Malassezia furfur and characterized by finely desquamating pale tan patches on the upper trunk and upper arms that may itch and do not tan; in dark-skinned people the lesions may be depigmented; the fungus fluoresces under Wood's light and may be easily identified in scrapings viewed under a microscope; topical and oral antifungal agents may be used, as well as repeated applications of selenium sulfide; the pale patches may persist for up to 1 year after successful treatment, and recurrence is common |
| turgor | expected resiliency of the skin caused by the outward pressure of the cells and interstitial fluid |
| vitiligo | a benign acquired skin disease of unknown cause, consisting or irregular patches of various sizes totally lacking in pigment and often having hyperpigmented borders; the hypopigmented area is caused by loss of melanocytes; exposed areas of skin are most often affected; treatment using 8 methoxypsoralen requires extreme care and carefully regulated sun exposure; some success has been achieved with the use of narrowband ultraviolet light and topical application of protopic; waterproof, sun protective cosmetics are often used to cover the patches |
| anonychia | an absence of a nail or nails |
| Beau's lines | transverse depressions that appear as white lines across the fingernails as a sign of an acute severe illness such as malnutrition, systematic disease, thyroid dysfunction, trauma, or coronary occlusion |
| clubbing | an abnormal enlargement of the distal phalanges with a flattening of the curvature of the nail margin at the cuticle, where the nail meets the cuticle; it usually is associated with cyanotic heart disease or advanced chronic pulmonary disease but sometimes occurs with biliary cirrhosis, colitis, chronic dysentery, thyrotoxicosis, and sickle cell anemia; occurs in all digits but is most easily seen in the fingers |
| hypertrophy | an increase in the size of an organ caused by an increase in the size of cells rather than the number of cells; cells of the heart and kidney are particularly prone |
| ingrown toenail | a toenail whose distal lateral margin grows or is pressed into the skin of the toe, causing an inflammatory reaction; granulation tissue may develop and secondary infection is common; treatment includes use of wider shoes, proper trimming of the nail, and various surgical procedures to narrow the nail or to reduce the size of the lateral nail fold |
| koilonychia | a condition in which nails are thin and concave from side to side; it is usually familial but may occur with trauma and iron deficiency anemia |
| leukonychia punctata | a benign condition in which white patches appear under the nails; trauma, infection, and many disorders can cause white spots or streaks on nails |
| onychocryptosis | ingrown nail |
| onychodystrophy | a condition of malformed or discolored fingernails or toenails |
| onychogryphosis | thickened, curved, clawlike overgrowth of fingernails or toenails |
| onycholysis | separation of a nail from its bed, beginning at free margin, associated with psoriasis, dermatitis of the hand, fungal infection, Psuedomanas infection, and many other conditions |
| paronychia | an infection of the fold of the skin at the margin of a nail; treatment includes hot compresses of soaks, antibiotics, and possibly surgical incision and drainage |
| splinter hemorrhage | linear bleeding under a fingernail or toenail resembling a splinter; its is seen after trauma and in bacterial endocarditis |
| spoon nail | a nail of the finger or toe that has a thin and concave outer surface |
| Terry's nail | physical finding in which fingernails and/or toenails appear white with a characteristic "ground glass" appearance with no lunula |
| alopecia | a partial or complete lack of hair resulting from normal aging, an endocrine disorder, a drug reaction, an anticancer medication, or a skin disease |
| hirsutism | excessive body hair in masculine distribution pattern as a result of heredity, hormonal dysfunction, porphyria, or medication |
| lanugo | soft, downy hair covering a normal fetus beginning in the fifth month of gestation and almost entirely shed by ninth month; the fine, soft hair covering all parts of the body except palms, soles, and areas where other types of hair are normally found; also called vellus hair |
| pediculosis | infestation with blood-sucking lice |
| phthiriasis | common eyelid infestation, caused by Phthirus pubis |
Combine with other sets
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