Integumentary System and Dermatology

Overview of Dermatology

Dermatology is the branch of medicine dedicated to diagnosing and treating conditions of the skin, hair, nails, and associated glands. Dermatologists manage a wide range of disorders, from infections and inflammatory diseases to tumors and cosmetic concerns. Plastic and reconstructive surgery often overlap with dermatology, focusing on restoring function and appearance or enhancing aesthetics.

• Protection: The skin acts as a barrier against pathogens and prevents dehydration.

• Temperature Regulation: Sweat and blood vessel adjustments help maintain body temperature.

• Sensation: Sensory receptors in the skin detect touch, pressure, temperature, and pain.

• Waste Disposal: Sweat glands excrete waste products such as salts.

Dermatology Medical Terminology

Combining Forms

Combining forms are root words with a vowel, used to build complex medical terms. Below are key combining forms relevant to dermatology:

• aden/o: gland

• adip/o, lip/o: fat

• cutane/o, derm/o, dermat/o: skin

• hidr/o: sweat

• kerat/o: hard, hornlike

• melan/o: black

• onych/o, ungu/o: nail

• py/o: pus

• seb/o: oil, sebum

• trich/o: hair

• Other forms: bi/o (life), carcin/o (cancer), chem/o (chemical), erythr/o (red), ichthy/o (scaly), myc/o (fungus), necr/o (death), pedicul/o (lice), scler/o (hard), vesic/o (sac), xanth/o (yellow), xer/o (dry)

Suffixes

• -al, -ic, -ous, -ose, -tic: Pertaining to

• -cle: Small

• -cyte: Cell

• -derma: Skin condition

• -ectomy: Surgical removal

• -genic: Producing

• -ia, -iasis, -osis: Condition/abnormal condition

• -itis: Inflammation

• -logist, -logy: Specialist/study of

• -malacia: Softening

• -megaly: Enlargement

• -oma: Tumor, mass

• -opsy: View of

• -pathy: Disease

• -phagia: Eating/swallowing

• -plasty: Surgical repair

• -rrhea: Discharge

• -tome: Instrument to cut

Prefixes

• an-: without

• epi-: above

• ex-: outward

• hyper-: excessive

• hypo-: below, insufficient

• in-: inward, not

• intra-: within

• pachy-: thick

• per-: through

• sub-: under

• trans-: across

Structures of the Integumentary System

Skin Layers

The skin is composed of three main layers, each with distinct functions:

• Epidermis: Outermost, thinnest layer; provides a protective barrier.

• Dermis: Middle, thickest layer; contains nerves, blood vessels, and glands.

• Subcutaneous (hypodermis): Deepest layer; composed mainly of fat (adipose tissue) for insulation and energy storage.

Accessory Structures

• Sensory Receptors: Located between the epidermis and dermis, detect environmental stimuli.

• Hair: Grows from follicles extending through the epidermis and dermis; the arrector pili muscle causes hair to stand up.

• Glands: Sebaceous glands secrete oil (sebum) into hair follicles; sweat glands produce sweat for cooling.

• Nails: Grow from the nail root at the cuticle, over the lunula and nail bed, supported by adipose tissue and bone.

Building Dermatology Terms

Examples of Medical Terms

• aden/o: adenectomy (removal of a gland), adenitis (gland inflammation), adenoma (gland tumor)

• adip/o: adipose (pertaining to fat), adipocyte (fat cell)

• cutane/o: cutaneous (pertaining to skin), subcutaneous (under the skin)

• derm/o, dermat/o: dermatitis (skin inflammation), dermatology (study of skin)

• hidr/o: hidrosis (abnormal sweating), hidradenitis (sweat gland inflammation)

• seb/o: seborrhea (discharge of oil)

• trich/o: trichomycosis (hair fungus), trichophagia (eating hair)

• onych/o, ungu/o: onychectomy (nail removal), ungual (pertaining to nail)

• kerat/o: keratoderma (hornlike skin condition)

• lip/o: lipectomy (fat removal), lipoma (fat tumor)

• melan/o: melanoma (black tumor), melanocyte (black cell)

• py/o: pyogenic (producing pus), pyorrhea (pus discharge)

Common Dermatology Vocabulary

Skin Lesions and Conditions

• Abrasion: Scraping away of skin surface.

• Abscess: Localized collection of pus.

• Acne: Inflammation of sebaceous glands and hair follicles, common in adolescents.

• Acne Rosacea: Chronic adult acne with redness and visible blood vessels.

• Alopecia: Hair loss or baldness.

• Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): Cancer of the basal cell layer, rarely metastasizes.

• Boil (Furuncle): Bacterial infection of a hair follicle.

• Burns:

  • First-degree: Only epidermis, redness, no blisters.

  • Second-degree: Epidermis and dermis, blisters, possible scarring.

  • Third-degree: Full thickness, may require grafts, scarring.

  • Fourth-degree: Extends to muscle/bone.

• Cellulitis: Inflammation of connective tissue in skin.

• Cicatrix: Scar.

• Contusion: Bruise from blunt trauma.

• Cyst: Fluid-filled sac under the skin.

• Diaphoresis: Excessive sweating.

• Ecchymosis: Bruise from blood under skin.

• Eczema: Red, itchy, vesicular skin condition.

• Erythema: Redness of the skin.

• Fissure: Cracklike break in skin.

• Gangrene: Tissue death from loss of blood supply.

• Herpes labialis: HSV infection causing cold sores.

• Impetigo: Inflammatory skin disease with pustules.

• Keloid: Thick, raised scar.

• Laceration: Jagged skin wound.

• Lesion: General term for tissue abnormality.

• Macule: Flat, discolored spot (e.g., freckle).

• Malignant Melanoma: Aggressive skin cancer from melanocytes.

• Measles: Viral infection with rash and fever.

• Necrosis: Tissue death.

• Nevus: Pigmented skin blemish or mole.

• Nodule: Solid, raised skin lesion.

• Onychia: Nail bed inflammation.

• Papule: Small, solid, raised lesion.

• Pallor: Paleness of skin.

• Pediculosis: Lice infestation.

• Petechiae: Pinpoint skin hemorrhages.

• Pressure Ulcer: Bedsore from prolonged pressure.

• Pruritus: Severe itching.

• Psoriasis: Chronic, crusty, circular papules.

• Purpura: Purple skin bruises.

• Pustule: Raised, pus-filled lesion (pimple).

• Scabies: Mite infestation causing itching.

• Shingles: Painful blisters from VZV infection.

• Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC): Epidermal cancer, may invade deeper tissue.

• Tinea: Fungal infection (ringworm).

• Ulcer: Open sore in skin or mucosa.

• Urticaria: Hives; itchy, raised wheals.

• Varicella: Chickenpox; VZV infection with rash.

• Verruca: Wart; viral skin growth.

• Vesicle: Small, fluid-filled blister.

• Vitiligo: Loss of skin pigment in patches.

• Wheal: Itchy, raised skin area (allergic reaction).

Dermatology Procedures and Tests

• Biopsy (BX, bx): Removal of tissue for microscopic examination.

• Culture and Sensitivity (C&S): Lab test to identify bacteria and antibiotic sensitivity.

• Cauterization: Destruction of tissue by chemicals, electricity, laser, or freezing.

• Chemabrasion: Chemical peel to remove superficial skin layers.

• Cryosurgery: Use of extreme cold to destroy tissue.

• Debridement: Removal of dead or damaged tissue from a wound.

• Dermabrasion: Mechanical removal of skin layers (e.g., for acne scars).

• Dermatome: Instrument for cutting thin skin slices for grafting.

• Excision: Cutting out tissue or organ.

• Incision: Cutting into tissue to open it.

• Incision and Drainage (I&D): Opening and draining an abscess.

• Laser Surgery: Removal of lesions using laser.

• Skin Graft (SG): Transplanting skin to cover damaged areas. FTSG includes full dermis; STSG is partial thickness.

Dermatology Abbreviations

Additional info:

• Medical terms are often constructed from a prefix, root (combining form), and suffix. Understanding these components aids in deciphering unfamiliar terminology.

• Skin cancers (BCC, SCC, MM) differ in their origin, risk of metastasis, and clinical management.

• Procedures such as biopsies and skin grafts are essential for diagnosis and treatment of severe skin conditions.