Key terms
Albino
A person with an absence of color pigments is an albino. An albino's skin has a pinkish tint and the hair is pale yellow or white. The person's eyes also lack pigment and are red and very sensitive to light.
cyst
a closed sac with a distinct membrane that develops abnormally in a body structure; usually filled with a semisolid material
hypodermis
the innermost layer. It is made of elastic and fibrous connective tissue and adipose (fatty) tissue and connects the skin to underlying muscles.
papules
papular rash) firm, raised areas such as pimples and the eruptions seen in some stages of chickenpox and syphilis
ulcer
a deep loss of skin surface that may extend into the dermis; may cause periodic bleeding and the formation of scars
Alopecia
Due to genetics, male (and some female) individuals may experience alopecia or baldness, a loss of hair on the scalp
dermis
may cause periodic bleeding and the formation of scars
integumentary system
the integumentary system are the hair and nails. Each hair consists of a root (which grows in a hollow tube called a follicle) and a hair shaft. Hair helps protect the body and covers all body surfaces except for the palms of the hands and the soles of the foot.
pustules
pus-filled sacs such as those seen in acne, or pimples
vesicles
blisters, or fluid-filled sacs, such as those
constrict
When the blood vessels constrict (get smaller),the heat is retained in
dilate
The blood vessels in the skin help the body retain or lose heat. When the blood vessels dilate
jaundice
Jaundice, a yellow discoloration of the skin, can indicate bile in the blood as a result of liver or gallbladder disease. Jaundice also occurs in conjunction with certain diseases that involve the destruction of red blood cells.
sebaceous glands
The sebaceous glands are oil glands that usually open onto hair follicles.
wheals
itchy, elevated areas with an irregular shape; hives and insect bites are examples
crusts
areas of dried pus and blood, commonly called scabs
epidermis
the outermost layer of skin. This layer is actually made of five smaller layers but no blood vessels or nerve cells. Two main layers are the stratum corneum, the outermost layer, and the stratum germinativum, the innermost layer.
macules
(macular rash) flat spots on the skin, such as freckles
subcutaneous
the innermost layer. It is made of elastic and fibrous connective tissue and adipose (fatty) tissue and connects the skin to underlying muscles.
cyanosis
Cyanosis is a bluish discoloration of the skin caused by insufficient oxygen. It can be associated with heart, lung, and circulatory diseases or disorders. Chronic poisoning may cause gray or brown skin discoloration.
erythema
Erythema is a reddish color of the skin that can be caused by either burns or a congestion of blood in the vessels.
melanin
melanin, is produced in the epidermis by specialized cells called melanocytes. Even though everyone has the same number of melanocytes, genes present in each racial group determine the amount of melanin produced. Melanin can lead to a black, brown, or yellow skin tint, depending on the amount of melanin present and racial origin
sudoriferous glands
The sudoriferous glands (sweat glands) are coiled tubes that extend through the dermis and open on the surface of the skin at pores.