The Integumentary system is composed of the skin and its appendages including hair, nails, sweat glands and sebaceous glands. It protects the body from injury and helps regulate body temperature.

Anatomy

          Word                                        Meaning

Epidermis :  Thin, Cellular outer layer of the skin

• Basal layer :  Deepest region of epidermis
• Melanocyte:   cell found in the basal layer that gives color to the skin
• Melanin:   Dark brown to black pigment contained in melanocytes

Dermis:   Dense, fibrous connective tissue layer of the skin  (also known as corium)

• Sebaceous gland: Oil glands in the skin
• Sebum:  oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands
• Sudoriferous glands:   sweat glands

Subcutaneous layer:   connective tissue layer just under the dermis

• Lesion:   an area of pathologically altered tissue.
• Papule:   a solid mass on the skin up to to 0.5 cm in diameter
• Nodule:   a solid mass greater than 1 cm which extends  deeper into the epidermis
• Tumor:   solid mass larger than 1-2 cm
• Wheal:   an area of localized skin edema (swelling)
• Bulla:   a blister larger than 0.5 cm
• Pustule:   a pus filled sac
• alopecia:   natural or unnatural deficiency of hair
• pruritus:   severe itching
• erythema:   redness of skin
• xeroderma:   Dry skin

Burn:   Any injury to body tissue caused by heat, chemicals, radiation or gases

• First degree burn: Epidermis involved
• Second degree burn: Epidermis and dermis involved
• Third degree burn: Epidermis, dermis and hypodermis are involved.

Diagnostic Terms

• Dermatitis            Inflammation of the skin characterized by erythema
• Abscess               localized collection of pus in a cavity formed by the                                            inflammation of surrounding tissues  

   

• Gangrene:   Death of tissue associated with a loss of blood supply

• Onychia:   Inflammation of fingernail or toenail.

• Seborrhea:   a skin condition marked by the hypersecretion of sebum from                            the sebaceous glands

Operative Terms

             Word                                Meaning

• Cryosurgery:         Destruction of tissue by freezing with the help of nitrogen gas.
• Debridement:   Removal of dead tissue from a wound or burn site   to                                        promote healing and prevent infection
• Fulguration:    Burn out
• Mohs’ surgery:  a technique used to excise tumors of the skin by  removing fresh tissue layer by layer until a tumor free plan is reached
• Autograft:     transfer to a new position in the body of the same person
• Allograft:     donor transfer between person of the same species
• Xenograft:    Different species