This site is 100% ad supported. Please add an exception to adblock for this site.

Medical Terminology

Quiz 2

Terms

undefined, object
copy deck
frozen section (FS)
a surgical method involving cutting a thin piece of tissue from a frozen specimen for immediate pathological examination
dermabrasion
surgical removal of frozen epidermis using wire brushes and emery papers to remove scars, tattoos, and/or wrinkles; aerosol spray is used to freeze the skin
nevus
a congenital malformation on the skin that can be epidermal or vascular -- also called a mole
malignant cutaneous neoplasm
skin cancer
bulla
a blister larger than 0.5 cm (e.g., a second-degree burn) (bulla = bubble)
psoriasis
an itching; a chronic, recurrent skin disease marked by silver-gray scales covering red patches on the skin that result from overproduction and thickening of skin cells -- elbows, knees, genitals, arms, legs, scalp, and nails are common sites of involvement
vesicle
little bladder; an elevated, fluid-filled sac (blister) within or under the epidermis up to 0.5 cm in diameter (e.g., a fever blister)
fulguration
to lighten; use of long, high-frequency, electric sparks to destroy tissue; the active electrode does not touch the skin
hypopigmentation
areas of skin lacking color due to deficient amounts of melanin
sudoriferous glands
sweat glands (sudor = sweat; ferre = to bear)
abscess
a localized collection of pus in a cavity formed by the inflammation of surrounding tissues that heals when drained or excised (abscessus = a going away)
rubeola
reddish; 14-day measles
excoriation
a scratch mark (e.g., from a cat scratch)
open comedo (blackhead)
open to the skin surface with a black center caused by the presence of melanin exposed to air
urticaria
hives; an eruption of wheals on the skin accompanied by itch (urtica = stinging nettle)
dermatosis
any disorder of the skin
homograft (allograft)
donor transfer between individuals of the same species such as human to human (homo = same; allo = other)
antibiotic
a drug that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms
carbuncle
a skin infection consisting of clusters of furuncles (carbo = small, glowing embers)
pediculosis capitis
head lice (capitis = head)
secondary lesions
lesions that result in changes in primary lesions
sclerotherapy
use of sclerosing agents in treating diseases (e.g., injecting of a saline solution into a dilated blood vessel tumor in the skin, resulting in hardening of the tissue within and eventual sloughing away of the lesion)
atopic dermatitis (atopic eczema)
a chronic skin inflammation characterized by the appearance of inflamed, swollen papules and vesicles that crust and scale, with severe itching and burning; most outbreaks begin in infancy and are marked by exacerbations and remissions that usually clear up before adulthood; occurs in persons with atopy (a genetic hypersensitivity to environmental irritants of allergens)
xer/o
dry
ichthy/o
fish
epidermal tumors
skin tumors arising from the epidermis
fissure
a linear crack in the skin
incision and drainage (I&D)
incision and drainage of an infected skin lesion (e.g., an abcess)
suppuration
production of purulent matter (pus)
autograft
transfer to a new position in the body of the same person (auto = self)
keratoses
thickened areas of epidermis
erythr/o
red
erythema
redness of skin
melan/o
black
scale
a thin flake of exfoliated epidermis (e.g., dandruff)
keloid
an abnormal overgrowth of scar tissue that is thick and irregular (klee = tumor)
ulcer
an open sore in the skin or mucous membrane that can bleed and scar and is sometimes accompanied by infection (e.g., decubitus ulcer)
adip/o, lip/o, steat/o
fat
basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
a malignant tumor of the basal layer of the epidermis [the most common type of skin cancer]
rash
a general term for skin eruption, most often associated with communicable
nodule
a solid mass greater than 1 cm, which extends deeper into the epidermis
cicatrix of the skin
a mark left by the healing of a sore or wound showing the replacement of destroyed tissue by fibrous tissue (cicatrix = scar)
comedo (pl. comedos, comedones)
a plug of sebum (oil) within the opening of a hair follicle
chemotherapy
treatment of malignancies, infections, and other diseases with chemical agents that destroy selected cells or impair their ability to reproduce
laser surgery
surgery using a laser in various dermatological procedures to remove lesions, scars, tattoos, etc.
ecchymosis
bruise; a black and blue mark -- large purpura (chymo = juice)
seborrhea
a skin condition marked by the hypersecretion of sebum from the sebaceous glands
hidr/o
sweat
Mohs surgery
a technique used to excise tumors of the skin by removing fresh tissue layer by layer until a tumor-free plane is reached
patch test
the substance is applied topically to the skin on a small piece of blotting paper or wet cloth
tumor
a solid mass larger than 1-2 cm
malignant melanoma
a malignant tumor composed of melanocytes -- most develop from a pigmented nevus over time
melanocyte
a cell found in the basal layer that gives color to the skin
epithelium
cells covering external and internal surfaces of the body
varicella
a tiny spot; chickenpox
rubella
reddish; German measles
lupus
a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of various parts of the body (lupus = wolf)
sebum
oily substance secreted by the sebaceous gland
antiseptic
an agent that inhibits the growth of infectious microorganism
xeroderma
dry skin
chemosurgery (chemical peel)
a technique for restoreing wrinkled, scarred, or blemished skin by application of an acid solution to "peel" away the top layers of the skin
macule (macula)
a flat, discolored spot on the skin up to 1 cm across (e.g., a freckle)
herpes zoster
a viral disease affecting the peripheral nerves characterized by painful blisters that spread over the skin following the affected nerves; usually unilateral -- also known as shingles (zoster = girdle)
purpur/o
purple
hist/o, histi/o
tissue
purpuric lesions
purpura; lesions as a result of hemorrhagic spot into the skin
spider angioma
most commonly seen on the face, neck, or chest (telos = end)
shave Bx
a technique using a surgical blade to "shave" tissue from the epidermis and upper dermis
skin pigmentation
skin color due to the presence of melanin
crust
dried residue of serum (body liquid), pus, or blood on the skin (e.g., an impetigo)
exanthematous viral disease
eruption of the skin caused by a viral disease (exanthema = eruption)
actinic keratoses (solar keratoses)
localized thickening of the skin caused by excessive exposure to sunlight; a known precursor to cancer (actinic = ray; solar = sun)
cherry angioma
a small, round, bright-red blood vessel tumor on the skin, often on the trunk of the elderly
dysplastic nevus
a mole with precancerous changes
seborrheic keratoses
benign wart-like lesions (seen especially on elderly skin)
derm/o, dermat/o, cutane/o
skin
electrosurgical procedures
use of electric currents to destroy tissue -- the type and strength of the current and method of application varies
electrocautery
use of an instrument heated by electric current (cautery) to coagulate bleeding areas by burning the tissue (e.g., to sear a blood vessel)
erosion
to gnaw away; loss of superficial epidermis leaving an area of moisture but no bleeding (e.g., area of moisture after ruptur of a vesicle)
papule
a solid mass on the skin up to 0.5 cm in diameter [e.g., a nevus (mole)]
melanin
dark brown pigment contained in melanocytes
albinism
a hereditary condition characterized by a partial or total lack of melanin pigment (particularly in the eyes, skin, and hair)
ichthyosis
a skin conduction caused by a gene defect that results in dry, thick, scaly skin; ichthyosis vulgaris is the most common of the many types (vulgaris is a Greek word meaning common)
sebaceous glands
oil glands in the skin
onychia
inflammation of the fingernail or toenail
keratin
hard protein material found in the epidermis, hair, and nails
antihistamine
a drug that blocks the effects of histamine in the body
cryosurgery
destruction of tissue by freezing -- involves application of an extremely cold chemical (e.g., liquid nitrogen)
excisional Bx
removal of an entire lesion
first-degree burn
a burn involving only the epidermis, characterized by erythema (redness) and hyperesthesia (excessive sensation)
paronychia
inflammation of the nail fold
pustule
a pus-filled sac (e.g., a pimple)
hyperpigmentation
darkened areas of skin caused by excessive amounts of melanin
squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
a malignant tumor of squamous epithelium
pediculosis
infestation with lice that causes itching and dermatitis (pediculo = louse)
plas/o
formation
kerat/o, scler/o
hard
impetigo
highly contagious, bacterial skin inflammation marked by pustules that rupture and become crusted -- most often occurs around the mouth and nostrils
verruca
an epidermal tumor caused by a papilloma virus -- also called a wart
alopecia
baldness; natural of unnatural deficiency of hair
debridement
removal of dead tissue from a wound or burn site to promote healing and prevent infection
curettage
to clean; scraping of a wound using a spoon-like cutting instrument called a curette; this technique is used in debridement
petechia
spot; a reddish-brown, minute hemorrhagic spot on the skin that indicates a bleeding tendency -- small purpura
primary lesions
lesions arising from previously normal skin
eruption
appearance of a skin lesion
ultraviolet therapy
use of ultraviolet light to promote healing of a skin lesion (e.g., an ulcer)
second-degree burn
a burn involving the epidermis and the dermis, characterized by erethema, hyperesthesia, and vesications (blisters)
epidermis
thin, cellular outer layer of the skin
xenograft (heterograft)
a graft transfer from one animal species (xeno - strange; hetero = different)
antifungal
a drug that kills or prevents the growth of fungi
skin tests
methods for determining the reaction of the body to a given substance by applying it to, or injecting it into, the skin -- commonly seen in treating allergy
Kaposi sarcoma
a malignant tumor of the walls of blood vessels appearing as painless, dark bluish-purple plaques on the skin; often spreads to lymph nodes and internal organs
acne
an inflammation of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles of the skin evidenced by comedones, pustules, or nodules on the skin (acne = point)
hair
outgrowth of the skin composed of keratin
myc/o
fungus
xanth/o
yellow
third-degree burn
a burn involving all layers of the skin, characterized by the destruction of the subcutaneous tissue
seb/o
sebum (oil)
furuncle
a boil; a painful nodule formed in the skin by inflammation originating in a hair follicle-- caused by staphylococcosis
squamous cell layer
flat, scale-like epithelial cells comprising the outermost layers of the epidermis
anti-inflammatory
a drug that reduces inflammation
scratch test
the substance is applied to the skin through a scratch
pediculosis pubis
lice that generally infect the pubic region, but hair of the axilla, eyebrows, lashes, beard, or other hairy body surfaces may also be involved -- also called crabs (pubis = groin)
eczema
to boil out; term is often used interchangeably with dermatitis to denote a skin condition characterized by the appearance of inflamed, swollen papules and vesicles that crust and scale, often with sensations of itching and burning
telangiectasia
a timy, red blood vessel lesion formed by the dilation of a group of blood vessels radiating from a central arteriole
tinea
a group of fungal skin diseases identified by the body part that is affected, including tinea corporis (body), commonly called ringworm, and tinea pedis (foot), also called athlete's foot
antipruritic
a drug that relieves itching
onych/o
nail
incisional Bx
removal of a selected portion of a lesion
plaque
a solid mass greater than 1 cm in diameter, limited to the surface of the skin
patch
a flat, discolored area on the skin larger than 1 cm (e.g., vitiligo)
closed comedo (whitehead)
below the skin surface with a white center
seborrheic dermatitis
redness of the skin covered by a yellow, oily, itchy scale mostly commonly at the hairline, forehead, and around the nose, ears, or eyelashes and developing at any age; referred to as "cradle cap" in infants
biopsy (Bx)
removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic pathological examination
radiation therapy
treatment of neoplastic disease disease by using ionizing radiation to deter proliferation of malignant cells
vascular lesions
lesions of a blood vessel
cutaneous lupus
limited to the skin; evidenced by a characteristic rash especially on the face, neck, and scalp
leuk/o
white
culture and sensitivity (C&S)
a technique of isolating and growing colonies of microorganisms to identify a pathogen and to determine which drugs might be effective in combating the infection it has caused
subcutaneous tissue
connective and adipose tissue layer just under the dermis
elestrodesiccation
use of short, high-frequency, eletric currents to destroy tissue by drying -- the active electrode makes direct contact with the skin lesion (desicco = to dry up)
systemic lupus erythematosus
a more severe form of lupus involving the skin, joints, and often the vital organs (e.g., lungs, kidneys)
depigmentation
loss of melanin pigment in the skin
anesthetic
a drug that temporarily blocks transmission of nerve conduction to produce a loss of sensations (e.g., pain)
contact dermatitis
an inflammation of the skin resulting from contact with a substance to which one is allergic (e.g., chemicals on dyes, preservatives, fragrances, rubber; allergic dermatitis); or one that is a known skin irritant (e.g., acid, solvent; irritant dermatitis)
skin graft
transfer of skin from one body site to another to replace skin lost through burns or injury
gangrene
an eating sore; death of tissue associated with loss of blood supply resulting from trauma of an inflammatory of infectious process such as seen in complications of frostbite, severe burns, and conditions that affect circulation (e.g., diabetes)
dermis
dense, fibrous connective tissue layer of the skin (also known as the corium)
wheal
an area of localized skin edema (swelling) (e.g., a hive)
dermatitis (eczema)
an inflammation of the skin characterized by redness, pruritus (itching), and various lesions
cellulitis
an acute inflammation of subcutaneous tissue resulting from a bacterial invasion through a break in the skin (cellula = small storeroom)
collagen
protein substance found in skin and connective tissue (koila = glue; gen = producing)
trich/o
hair
nail
outgrowth of the skin attached to the distal end of each finger and toe, composed of keratin
herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)
transient viral vesicles (e.g., cold sores, fever blisters) that infect the facial area, especially the mouth and nose (herpes = creeping skin disease)
laser
an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation; an instrument that concentrates high frequencies of light into a small, extremely intense beam that is precise in depth and diameter; it is applied to body tissues to destroy lesions or for dissection (cutting of parts for study)
squam/o
scale
burn
an injury to body tissue caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, radiation, or gases
pruritus
severe itching
herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)
sexually transmitted ulcer-like lesions of the genital and anorectal skin and mucosa; after initial infection, the virus lies dormant in the nerve cell root and many recur at times of stress
lesion
an area of pathologically altered tissue (two types: primary and secondary)
histamine
a regulation body substance released in excess during allergic reactions causing swelling and imflammation of tissue [e.g., in urticaria (hives), hay fever]
basal layer
deepest region of the epidermis
scabies
a contagious disease caused by a parasite (mite) that invades the skin, causing an intense itch -- most often found at articulations between the fingers or toes, elbow, etc. (scabo = to scratch)
vitiligo
a condition caused by the destruction of melanin that results in the appearance of white patches on the skin, commonly the face, hands, legs, and genital areas

Deck Info

165

permalink