UNIT 1: “INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM”.

LESSON 1

TOPIC: ANATOMICAL TERMS. DIAGNOSTIC TERMS. OTHER DIAGNOSTIC TERMS.

The Integumentary System is the organ system that protects the body from various kinds of
damage, such as loss of water or abrasion from outside. The system comprises the skin and its
appendages (hair, nails, scales, feathers, and hooves).

FUNCTIONS

 Protects the body’s internal living tissues and organs.

 Protects against invasion by infectious organisms.
 Protects the body from dehydration.
 Protects the body against abrupt changes in temperature and maintains homeostasis.
 Helps excrete waste materials through perspiration.
 Acts as a receptor for touch, pressure, pain, heat, and cold.
 Protects the body against sunburns by secreting melanin.
 Generates vitamin D through exposure to UV light.
 Stores water, fat, glucose, vitamin d.
 Maintenance of the body form.
 Formation of new cells.

LAYERS

The human skin is composed of a minimum of three layers of tissue: The epidermis, dermis, and
hypodermis.

1. The epidermis forms the outermost layer, providing the initial barrier to the external
environment. (cells are producing constantly)
2. The dermis comprises two sections, the papillary and reticular layers, and contains
connective tissues, blood vessels, glands, hair follicles, sensory nerve endings and
muscular tissues.
3. The deepest layer is the hypodermis, which is basically made up of adipose tissue.

MELANIN

In humans, melanin is the primary determinant of skin color. It is also found in hair, the
pigmented tissue underlying the iris of the eye, and the stria vascularis of the inner ear.
 SIN GRAFTING

Skin grafting is a type of graft surgery involving the transplantation of skin. The
transplanted tissue is called a skin graft.

Skin grafting is often used to treat:

 Extensive wounding or trauma.

 Burns.
 Areas of extensive skin loss due to infection.
 Specific surgeries that may require skin graft for healing to occur- most
commonly removal of skin cancer.

ANATOMICAL TERMS

The skin:

1. Epidermis: Outer layer of the skin.

a. Keratin: Horny or cornified layer, composed of protein, it is contained in
the hair, skin, and nails.
b. Melanin: Color or pigmentation of the skin.
2. Dermis: Inner layer of skin. (also called the true skin)
a. Sweat glands: (also called sudoriferous glands) tiny coiled tubular
structures that emerge through pores on the skin’s surface.
b. Sebaceous glands: Secrete sebum (oil) into the hair follicles where the
hair shafts pass through the dermis.

Accessory Structures of the Skin:

1. Hair: Compressed, keratinized cells that arise from hair follicles.

2. Nails: Originate in the epidermis. Nails are found on the upper surface of the
ends of the fingers and toes. The white area at the base of the nail is called
the lunula or moon.
EXERCISE 1

Match the anatomical terms in the left column with the correct definition in the right.

____ dermis a) coiled, tubular structures.

____ epidermis b) responsible for skin color.

____ hair c) true skin.

____ melanin d) outermost layer of the skin.

____ nail e) white area at nail’s base.

____ sebaceous glands f) originate in the epidermis.

____ sweat glands g) composed of compressed, keratinized cells.

h) secrete sebum.

DIAGNOSTIC TERMS

1- Dermatitis: inflammation of the skin

2- Dermatoconiosis: abnormal condition of the skin caused by dust.
3- Dermatofibroma: fibrous tumor of the skin.
4- Hidradenitis: inflammation of sweat glands.
5- Leiodermia: condition of smooth skin.
6- Onychocryptosis: abnormal condition of a hidden nail (ingrown nail).
7- Onychomalacia: softening of the nail.
8- Onychomycosis: abnormal condition of a fungus in the nail.
9- Onychophagia: eating the nail or nail biting.
10- Pachyderma: thickening of the skin.
11- Paronychia: diseased state around the nail.
12- Seborrhea: excessive discharge of sebum.
13- Trichomycosis: abnormal condition of a fungus in the hair.
14- Xerotherma: dry skin.
EXERCISE 2

Define the following diagnostic terms.

1- Onychomycosis: ___________________________________________________________.
2- Dermatoconiosis: __________________________________________________________.
3- Hidradenitis: ______________________________________________________________.
4- Dermatitis: _______________________________________________________________.
5- Pachyderma: _____________________________________________________________.
6- Onychomalicia: ___________________________________________________________.
7- Trichomycosis: ___________________________________________________________.
8- Dermatofibroma: _________________________________________________________.
9- Onychocryptosis: __________________________________________________________.
10- Seborrhea: _______________________________________________________________.
11- Paronychia: ____________________________________________________________.
12- Onychophagia: _________________________________________________________.
13- Xeroderma: ____________________________________________________________.
14- Leiodermia: ____________________________________________________________.

EXERCISE 3

Write each of the diagnostic terms.

1- ______________________________
2- ______________________________
3- ______________________________
4- ______________________________
5- ______________________________
6- ______________________________
7- ______________________________
8- ______________________________
9- ______________________________
10- ______________________________
11- ______________________________
12- ______________________________
13- ______________________________
14- ______________________________
OTHER DIAGNOSTIC TERMS

1. Abrasion: scraping away of the skin by mechanical process or injury.

2. Abscess: localized collection of pus.
3. Acne: inflammatory disease of the skin involving the sebaceous glands and hair follicles.
4. Actinic Keratosis: a precancerous skin condition of horny tissue formation that results
from excessive exposure to sunlight.
5. Basal cell carcinoma: epithelial tumor arising from epidermis. Seldom metastasize but
invades local tissue. Common on face of elderly.
6. Carbuncle: skin infection composed of a cluster of boils caused by staphylococcal bacteria.
7. Cellulitis: inflammation of the connective tissue caused by infection, leading to redness,
swelling, and fever.
8. Contusion: injury with no break in the skin, characterized by pain, swelling and
discoloration. ( also called bruise)
9. Eczema: non-infectious, inflammatory skin disease characterized by redness, blisters,
scabs, and itching.
10. Fissure: slit or cracklike sore in the skin.
11. Furuncle: painful skin node caused by staphylococcal bacteria in a hair follicle. (boil)
12. Gangrene: death of tissue caused by loss of blood supply follow by bacteria invasion.
13. Herpes: inflammatory skin disease caused by herpes virus, and characterized by small
blisters in clusters. There are many types of herpes;
a. Herpes Simplex: causes fever blisters
b. Herpes Zoster: (also called shingles) painful skin eruptions that follow
nerves inflamed by the virus.
14. Impetigo: superficial skin infection characterized by pustules and caused by either
staphylococci or streptococci.
15. Kaposi’s sarcoma: a cancerous condition starting as purple or brown pimple on feet.
Spreads through skin to lymph nodes and internal organs. Frequently seen in AIDS.
16. Laceration: torn, ragged-edge wound.
17. Lesion: any pathological change in the structure or function of tissue owing to injury or
disease.
18. Pediculosis: invasion into the skin or hair by lice.
19. Psoriasis: chronic skin condition producing red lesions covered with silvery scales.
20. Scabies: skin infection caused by the itch mite, a minute animal whose relative is the tick.
The infection causes severe itching with red papules.
21. Scleroderma: a disease characterized by chronic hardening (induration) of the connective
tissue of the skin and other body organs.
22. Squamous cell carcinoma: a malignant growth that develop from scle-like epithelial tissue.
On the skin it appears like a firm, red, painless bump.
23. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): inflammatory disease of the joints and the protein in
the white fibers (collagen) of the connective tissue of the skin.
24. Tinea: fungus infection of the skin commonly called “ringworm”.
 25. Urticaria: an itching skin eruption composed of wheals of varying size and shape.

EXERCISE 4

Fill in the blanks with the correct terms.

1. An inflammatory disease affecting joints and the collagen of connective tissue is

_________________________________________________________.
2. A (n) ___________________ is a localized collection of pus.
3. A cracklike sore in the skin is called a _____________________.
4. The scraping away of the skin by mechanical process or injury is called a
(n)_______________________.
5. _______________________ is a chronic skin condition characterized by red
lesions covered with silvery scales.
6. An inflammatory skin disease characterized by small blisters in clusters is called
_______________________.
7. _______________________ is the name given to the invasion of the skin and hair
by lice.
8. A fungus infection of the skin, also known as a ringworm, is called
____________________.
9. An injury with no break in the skin and characterized by pain, swelling, and
discoloration is called a (n) ____________________________.
10. ________________________ is the name given to tissue death caused by a loss of
blood supply followed by bacterial invasion.
11. Any pathological change in the structure or function of tissue owing to injury or
disease is called __________________________.
12. _______________________________________ is a cancerous condition starting
as purple or brown pimples on the feet.
13. A horny tissue formation that results from excessive exposure to sunlight and is
precancerous is called _________________________________________.
14. A cluster of boil caused by staphylococcal bacteria is a ______________________.
15. An inflammatory skin disease that involves the oil glands and hair follicles is called
__________________________.
16. __________________________ is the name given to a torn, ragged-edge wound.
17. A painful skin node caused by staphylococcal bacteria in a hair follicle is called a
(n) ___________________________.
18. A malignant growth that develops from scale-like epithelial tissue is known as
_____________________________________________________.
19. Inflammation of the connective tissue caused by infection and creating redness,
swelling, and fever is called _____________________________________.
 20. _____________________________ is the name given to a superficial skin
infection characterized by pustules and caused by staphylococci or streptococci.
21. _____________________________ is a non-infection inflammatory skin disease
characterized by redness, blisters, scabs, and itching.
22. A skin infection caused by the itch mite is called _________________________.
23. ___________________________ is an itching skin eruption composed of wheals.
24. An epithelial tumor commonly found on the face of elderly is
___________________________________________________.
25. _________________________________ is a disease characterized by induration
of the connective tissue.

EXERCISE 5

Write each of the other diagnostic terms.

1. _________________________________________
2. _________________________________________
3. _________________________________________
4. _________________________________________
5. _________________________________________
6. _________________________________________
7. _________________________________________
8. _________________________________________
9. _________________________________________
10. _________________________________________
11. _________________________________________
12. _________________________________________
13. _________________________________________
14. _________________________________________
15. _________________________________________
16. _________________________________________
17. _________________________________________
18. _________________________________________
19. _________________________________________
20. _________________________________________
21. _________________________________________
22. _________________________________________
23. _________________________________________
24. _________________________________________
25. _________________________________________