Dermatology Anatomy and Terminology Flashcards

Which layer of the skin contains the sweat glands and hair follicle roots?

Answer: Dermis

The dermis contains sweat glands, sebaceous glands, hair follicle roots, blood vessels, and nerve endings.

The medical term 'xeroderma' refers to which skin condition?

Answer: Abnormal dryness

Xeroderma means abnormally dry skin, derived from the Greek 'xero' (dry) and 'derma' (skin).

What term describes a group of small vesicles clustered together, as seen in herpes zoster?

Answer: Herpetiform

Herpetiform describes lesions arranged in clusters resembling herpes simplex or zoster eruptions.

The arrector pili muscle is responsible for which skin response?

Answer: Goosebumps (cutis anserina)

Contraction of the arrector pili muscle causes hair to stand upright, producing goosebumps (cutis anserina).

Which term describes a skin lesion that is flat, non-palpable, and less than 1 cm in diameter?

Answer: Macule

A macule is a flat, non-palpable color change in the skin that is less than 1 cm in diameter.

The term 'onychomycosis' refers to a fungal infection of which structure?

Answer: Nail

Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail, derived from 'onycho' (nail) and 'mycosis' (fungal infection).

Langerhans cells found in the epidermis primarily function as which cell type?

Answer: Antigen-presenting immune cells

Langerhans cells are dendritic antigen-presenting cells of the immune system located in the epidermis.

What does the prefix 'erythro-' mean in dermatological terminology?

Answer: Red

Erythro- is a Greek prefix meaning red, used in terms like erythroderma (redness of the skin).

A comedo is a hallmark lesion of acne vulgaris. What is a comedo?

Answer: A plugged hair follicle filled with sebum and dead cells

A comedo is a clogged hair follicle (pore) filled with oxidized sebum and dead skin cells, appearing as blackheads or whiteheads.

The term 'telangiectasia' describes which vascular skin finding?

Answer: Dilated small superficial blood vessels

Telangiectasias are permanently dilated small blood vessels (capillaries, arterioles, venules) visible near the skin surface.

Which skin appendage is responsible for producing the oily substance that lubricates skin and hair?

Answer: Sebaceous gland

Sebaceous glands produce sebum, an oily substance that lubricates the skin and hair and is secreted into the hair follicle.

What is the correct term for a linear crack or groove in the skin that extends into the dermis?

Answer: Fissure

A fissure is a linear crack in the skin that extends through the epidermis into the dermis, often seen on the heels or lips.

Merkel cells in the epidermis are associated with which function?

Answer: Light touch sensation

Merkel cells are slow-adapting mechanoreceptors in the epidermis that detect sustained light touch and pressure.

The stratum granulosum is named for the granules it contains. What do these granules primarily contain?

Answer: Keratohyalin

The stratum granulosum contains keratohyalin granules that play a key role in the formation of the skin's barrier.

A patient presents with a raised, solid lesion greater than 1 cm in diameter with a flat top. This is best described as a:

Answer: Plaque

A plaque is a raised, flat-topped skin lesion greater than 1 cm in diameter, often formed by the coalescence of papules.

What is the term for the shedding or scaling of the outer layers of the epidermis?

Answer: Exfoliation (desquamation)

Desquamation (exfoliation) is the normal or pathological shedding of the outermost layers of the stratum corneum.

The Fitzpatrick skin type scale classifies skin based on which primary characteristic?

Answer: Response to UV radiation and tanning ability

The Fitzpatrick scale (Types I–VI) classifies skin by its response to UV exposure, ranging from always burns/never tans to never burns/always tans.

Which term describes an area of skin that has lost its epidermis but not its full dermis?

Answer: Erosion

An erosion is a superficial loss of epidermis that heals without scarring because the dermis remains intact.

The rete ridges (rete pegs) are epidermal projections that interdigitate with the dermis. What is their primary purpose?

Answer: Increasing surface area for nutrient exchange and structural adhesion

Rete ridges increase the surface area between the epidermis and dermis, improving nutrient diffusion and mechanical adhesion between the layers.

The term 'hyperhidrosis' refers to which condition?

Answer: Excessive sweating

Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating beyond what is needed for thermoregulation, from the prefix 'hyper-' (excessive) and 'hidrosis' (sweating).