Abscess
An enclosed collection of pus in tissues, organs, or confined spaces in the body.
Adipocyte
Fat cell.
Adipose tissue
Fat tissue.
Autonomic
Involuntary or unconscious.
Avascular
Without blood vessels.
Bacteria
Single-cell microorganisms that reproduce by cell division and may cause infection by invading body tissue.
Benign
Non-cancerous.
Biopsy
The removal of cells or tissues for examination by a pathologist.
Cancer
Abnormal cells in the body that divide uncontrollably.
Cauterize
To destroy tissue using a hot or cold instrument, an electrical current, or a chemical that burns or dissolves the tissue to kill tumors or stop bleeding.
Cellulitis
An infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, characterized by tenderness, fever, and blisters.
Contusion
Injury resulting in a bruise.
Cyanosis
A condition in which the oxygen supply is restricted, causing the skin to look blue.
Cyst
Closed sac containing fluid or semisolid material.
Debridement
Excision of damaged tissues and cell debris from a wound or burn to prevent infection and promote healing.
Dehydration
A net loss of water that results in insufficient water in blood and other tissues.
Dermabrasion
A procedure to remove superficial scars using sandpaper or revolving wire brushes.
Dermatitis
Inflammation of the skin.
Dermatofibroma
Fibrous tumor of the skin.
Dermatologist
Medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating skin disorders.
Dermatology
Study of disorders of the skin.
Dermis
The layer of skin that is made of dense, irregular connective tissue that houses blood vessels, hair follicles, sweat glands, and other structures.
Diaphoresis
Sweating.
Eczema
Non-infectious, inflammatory disease presenting as redness, blisters, scabs, and itching.
Edema
Swelling due to excessive liquid in the tissues.
Epidermis
The outer, protective layer of the skin.
Excisional skin surgery
A surgical procedure used to remove moles, cysts, skin cancer, and other skin growths using local anesthesia.
Exocytosis
A form of active transport in which a cell exports material using vesicular transport.
Fascia
Fibrous tissue.
Frostbite
A condition in which conservation of the body core heat results in the skin freezing.
Gangrene
Death of tissue due to blood supply loss.
Hidradenitis
Inflammation of a sweat gland.
Hypodermis
Also known as the subcutaneous layer; the layer of the skin below the dermis that is composed mainly of loose connective and fatty tissues.
Incision
A cut made in the body to perform surgery.
Infection
The invasion and growth of bacteria, viruses, yeast, fungi, or other microorganisms in the body.
Intradermal
Within the skin.
Intravenous
Into or within the vein.
Jaundiced
Yellow-colored.
Keloid
A raised or hypertrophic scar.
Keratinocytes
Cells that manufacture and store the protein keratin.
Keratosis
Any growth of horny tissue.
Laceration
Torn, ragged-edged wound.
Lesion
An area of abnormal tissue.
Meissner corpuscle
A specialized sensory nerve structure that responds to light touch.
Melanocyte
A cell that produces the pigment melanin.
Metastasis
The process in which cancer spreads from one part of the body to another.
Necrosis
Accidental cell death.
Nevus
A benign growth on the skin that is formed by a cluster of melanocytes.
Nodule
A growth or lump that may be malignant or benign.
Onychocryptosis
An ingrown nail.
Onychomycosis
A fungal infection of the nail.
Onychophagia
Nail-biting.
Osteomalacia
A softening of adult bones due to Vitamin D deficiency.
Pacinian corpuscle
A specialized sensory nerve structure that responds to vibration.
Pallor
Unnatural paleness of the skin.
Paronychia
Infection of the skin around the nail.
Pathogen
An organism that causes a disease.
Percutaneous
Passing through the skin, as an injection or a topical medicine.
Phagocytes
Cells that engulf and absorb bacteria and cell particles.
Pruritus
Itching.
Reticulated
Net like.
Rhytidoplasty
Excision of wrinkles of the skin.
Rickets
A painful condition in children where bones are misshapen due to a lack of calcium, causing bow-leggedness.
Scar
A collagen-rich skin formed after the process of wound healing that differs from normal skin.
Staphylococcus aureus
A bacteria that is commonly found in minor skin infections, as well as in the nose of some healthy people.
Stratum basale
The deepest layer of the epidermis.
Streptococcus
The bacteria that causes strep throat.
Subcutaneous
Beneath the skin.
Sympathetic nervous system
The division of the nervous system involved in our fight-or-flight responses. It continuously monitors body temperature and initiates appropriate motor responses.
Tinea
A group of fungal skin diseases of the hair, skin, and nail tissues.
Transdermal
Absorbed through the unbroken skin.
Vascularized
Tissue that has numerous blood vessels.
Virus
A simple microorganism that may cause infection by invading body tissue.