Chapter 5: The Integumentary System

hemangioma

A benign (nonmalignant) tumor that consists of a mass of blood vessels and has a reddish-purple color.

melanin

A black or dark pigment (produced by melanocytes within the epidermis) that contributes color to the skin and helps to filter ultraviolet light.

bruise

A blueish-black discoloration of an area of the skin or mucous membrane caused by an escape of the blood into the tissues as a result of an injury to the area; see ecchymosis.

ecchymosis

A bluish-black discoloration of an area of the skin or mucous membrane caused by an escape of blood into the tissues as a result of injury to the area; also known as a bruise or a black-and-blue mark.

mast cell

A cell (found within the connective tissue) that contains heparin and histamine; these substances are released from the mast cell in response to injury and infection.

xeroderma

A chronic skin condition characterized by roughness and dryness.

ulcer

A circumscribed, open sore or lesion of the skin that is accompanied by inflammation.

wheal

A circumscribed, slightly elevated lesion of the skin that is paler in the center than its surrounding edges; hives.

whitehead

A closed comedy caused by accumulation of keratin and sebum within the opening of a hair follicle; the content within is not easily expressed.

cyst

A closed sac or pouch in or within the skin that contains fluid, semifluid, or solid material. Examples are hydrocele and sebaceous cyst.

subungual hematoma

A collection of blood beneath a nail bed, usually the result of trauma (injury).

hydrocele

A collection of fluid located in the area of the scrotal sac in the male.

cyanosis

A condition of a bluish discoloration of the skin.

hidrosis

A condition of sweating.

impetigo

A contagious, superficial skin lesion characterized by serous vesicles and pustules filled with staphylococcus or streptococcus bacteria, usually forming on the face.

fissure

A cracklike sore or groove in the skin or mucous membrane.

carbuncle

A curcumscribed inflammation of the skin and deeper tissues that contains pus, which eventually discharges to the skin surface.

epidermoid cyst

A cyst filled with a cheesy material composed of sebum and epithelial debris that has formed in the duct of a sebaceous gland; also known as a sebaceous cyst.

sebaceous cyst

A cyst filled with a cheesy material consisting of sebum and epithelial debris that has formed in the duct of a sebaceous gland; also known as an epidermoid cyst.

cellutitis

A diffuse acute infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Characterized by localized heat, deep redness, pain, and swelling.

lipocyte

A fat cell.

cuticle

A fold of skin that covers the root of the fingernail or toenail.

purpura

A group of bleeding disorders characterized by bleeding into the skin and mucous membranes; small, pinpoint hemorrhages are known as petechia and larger hemorrhagic areas are known as ecchymoses or bruises.

keratin

A hard fibrous protein found in the epidermis, hair, nails, enamel of the teeth, and horns of animals.

bulla

A large blister.

macrophage

A large phagocytic cell (cell that ingests microorganisms, other cells, and foreign particles) occurring in the walls of blood vessels and loose connective tissue.

abscess

A localized collection of pus in any part of the body.

furuncle

A localized pus-producing infection originating deep in a hair follicle; a boil.

boil

A localized pus-producing infection origination deep in a hair follicle; a furuncle.

carcinoma

A malignant (cancerous) tumor.

ceruminous gland

A modified sweat gland that lubricates the skin of the ear canal with a yellowish-brown way substance called cerumen(or ear wax).

heparin

A natural anticoagulant substance produced by the body tissues; heparin is also produced in laboratories for therapeutic use as heparin sodium.

cryosurgery

A noninvasive treatment that uses subfreezing temperature to freeze and destroy the tissue. Coolants such as liquid nitrogen are used in the metal probe.

callus

A painless thickening of the epidermis at sites of external pressure or thickening.

pimple

A papule or pustule of the skin.

dermatologist

A physician who specializes in the treatment of diseases and disorders of the skin.

urticaria

A reaction of the skin in which there is an appearance of smooth, slightly elevated patches (wheals) that are redder or paler than the surrounding skin and often accompanied by severe itching (pruritus).

cicatrix

A scar; the pale, firm tissue that forms in the healing of a wound.

abrasion

A scraping or rubbing away of skin or mucous membrane as a result of friction to the area.

vitiligo

A skin disorder characterized by non pigmented white patches of skin of varying sizes that are surrounded by skin with normal pigmentation.

skin tags

A small brownish or flesh-colored outgrowth of skin occurring frequently on the neck; also known as a cutaneous papilloma.

pustule

A small elevation of the skin filled with pus; a small abscess.

vesicle

A small thin-walled skin lesion containing clear fluid; a blister.

blister

A small thin-walled skin lesion containing clear fluid; a vesicle.

nodule

A small, circumscribed swelling protruding above the skin.

macule

A small, flat discoloration of the skin that is neither raised nor depressed.

papule

A small, solid, circumscribed elevation on the skin.

polyp

A small, stalklike growth that protrudes upward or outward from a mucous membrane surface, resembling a mushroom stalk.

histamine

A substance (found in all cells) that is released in allergic inflammatory reactions.

sudoriferous gland

A sweat gland.

laceration

A tear in the skin.

electrodesiccation

A technique that uses an electrical spark to burn and destroy tissue; used primarily for the removal of surface lesions.

electrodessication

A technology using electrical spark to burn or destroy tissue.

stratum

A uniformly thick sheet or layer of cells.

pachyderma

Abnormal thickening of the skin.

erythremia

An abnormal increase in the number of red blood cells; polycythemia vera.

fistula

An abnormal passageway between two tubular organs (e.g., rectum and vagina) or from an organ to the body surface.

keratolytic

An agent used to break down or loosen the horny (hardened) layer of the skin.

escharotomy

An incision made into the necrotic (dead) tissue resulting from a severe burn.

albino

An individual with a marked deficiency of pigment in the eyes, hair, and skin.

pressure ulcer

An inflammation, sore, or ulcer in the skin over a bony prominence of the body, resulting from loss of blood supply and oxygen to the area due to prolonged pressure on the body part; also known as a decubitus ulcer or pressure sore.

ichthyosis

An inherited dermatological condition in which the skin is dry, hyperkeratotic (hardened), and fissured-resembling fish scales.

contusion

An injury to a part of the body without a break in the skin

excoriation

An injury to the surface of the skin caused by trauma, such as scratching or abrasions.

sebaceous gland

An oil gland located in the dermis; its secretions provide oil to the hair and surrounding skin.

blackhead

An open comedo, caused by accumulation of keratin and sebum within the opening of a hair follicle.

tinea

Another name for ringworm.

onychomycosis

Any fungal infection of the nails.

lesion

Any visible damage to the tissues of the skin, such as a wound, sore, rash, or boil.

xanthoderma

Any yellow coloration of the skin.

melanocytes

Cells responsible for producing melanin.

hives

Circumscribed, slightly elevated lesions of the skin that are paler in the center than its surrounding edges.

circumscribed

Confined to a limited space or well defined area (as if a circle were drawn around it).

gangrene

Death of tissue, most often involving the extremities. Gangrene is usually the result of ischemia (loss of blood supply to an area), bacteria invasion, and subsequent putrefaction (decaying) of the tissue.

cerumen

Ear wax

hirsutism

Excessive body hair in an adult male distribution pattern, occurring in women.

seborrhea

Excessive secretion of sebum, resulting in excessive oiliness or dry scales.

squamous epithelial cells

Flat scalelike cells arranged in layers (strata).

pediculosis

Infestation with lice.

paronychia

Inflammation of the fold on skin surrounding the fingernails, also called runaround.

dermatitis

Inflammation of the skin.

pruritus

Itching

stratified

Layered; arranged in layers.

stretch marks

Linear tears in the dermis that result from overstitching from rapid growth. They begin as pinkish-blue streaks with jagged edges and may be accompanied by itching. As they heal and lose their color, they remain as silvery-white scar lines, also known as stria.

histiocyte

Macrophage; a large phagocytic cell (cell that ingests microorganisms, other cells, and foreign particles) occurring in the walls of blood vessels and loose connective tissue.

oil gland

One of the many small glands located in the dermis; its secretions provide oil to the hair and surrounding skin; see sebaceous gland.

sweat gland

One of the tiny structures within the dermis that produces sweat, which carries waste products to the surface of the skin for excretion; also known as a sudoriferous gland.

pores

Openings of the skin through which substances such as water, salts, and some fatty substances are excreted.

alopecia

Partial or complete loss of hair. Alopecia may result from normal aging, a reaction to a medication such as anticancer medications, and endocrine disorder, or some skin disease.

exfoliation

Peeling or sloughing off of tissue cells, as in peeling of the skin after a severe sunburn.

erythema

Redness of the skin due to capillary dilatation. An example of erythema is necroses blushing or a mild sunburn.

debridement

Removal of debris, foreign objects, and damaged or necrotic tissue from a wound in order to prevent infection and to promote healing.

onycholysis

Separation of a fingernail from its bed, beginning at the free margin. This condition is associated with dermatitis of the hand, psoriasis, and fungal infections.

petechia

Small, pinpoint hemorrhages of the skin.

lanugo

Soft, very fine hair that covers the body of the developing fetus; this hairy coating is almost completely gone by birth.

cutaneous membrane

The Skin.

integumentary system

The body system consisting of the skin, hair, nails, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands.

perspiration

The clear, watery fluid produced by the sweat glands.

sweat

The clear, watery fluid produced by the sweat glands; also known as perspiration.

lunula

The crescent-shaped pale area at the base of the fingernail or toenail.

basal layer

The deepest of the five layers of the epidermis.

corium

The dermis; the layer of the skin just under the epidermis.

subcutaneous tissue

The fatty layer of tissue located beneath the dermis.

onychophagia

The habit of biting the nails.

dermis

The layer of skin immediately beneath the epidermis, the corium.

stratum basale

The layer of skin where new cells are continually being reproduced, pushing older cells toward the outermost surface of the skin.

sebum

The oily secretions of the sebaceous glands.

stratum corneum

The outermost layer of the epidermis (consisting of dead cells that have converted to keratin), which continually sloughs off or flakes away; known as the keratinized (or "horny") cell layer (karat/0=horn)

epidermis

The outermost layer of the skin.

telangiectasia

The permanent dilation of groups of superficial capillaries venules. These dilated vessels may be visible through the skin as tiny red lines. Common causes include but are not limited to rosacea, elevated estrogen levels, and actinic damage.

hair root

The portion of a strand of hair that is embedded in the hair follicle.

curettage

The process of scraping material from the wall of a cavity or other surface for the purpose of removing abnormal tissue or unwanted material.

collagen

The protein substance that forms the glistening inelastic fibers of connective tissue such as tendons, ligaments, and fascia.

diaphoresis

The secretion of sweat.

squamous epithelium

The single layer of flattened platelike cells that cover internal and external body surfaces.

integument

The skin. See cutaneous membrane.

dermatology

The study of the skin.

amputation

The surgical removal of a part of the body or a limb or a part of a limb; performed to eat recurrent infections or gangrene of a limb.

hair follicle

The tiny tube within the dermis that contains the root of a hair shaft.

epithelium

The tissue that covers the internal and external surfaces of the body.

comedo

The typical lesion of acne vulgarism, caused by accumulation of keratin and sebum within the opening of a hair follicle (Closed comedo = whitehead; open comedo = blackhead).

hair shaft

The visible part of the hair.

nail body

The visible part of the nail.

scales

Thin flakes of hardened epithelium shed from the epidermis.