Dictionary of Dermatology
By Students’ Academy
Copyright@2011Students’ Academy
Smashwords Edition
Chapter 1: Introduction
Dermatology is a highly specialized and distinct branch of medical science that deals with skin and its diseases, a unique specialty with both medical and surgical aspects.
A dermatologist is the medical expert who takes care of diseases, in the widest sense, and some cosmetic problems of the skin, scalp, hair, and nails.
There are hundreds of medical terms which are often used by dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons and those words and terms are beyond the comprehension of a layman. It becomes easier for a person if he or she understands what doctors are talking about.
This concise dictionary will help you in this respect and you will be acquainted to hundreds of words and terms which are so frequently used by your doctor, dermatologist, or cosmetic surgeon.
All the best.
Chapter 2: A
Abscess
An abscess is a kind of skin ailment; it is a localized collection of pus.
Acral
Acral pertains to affecting a limb, especially fingers and other parts of a hand. Acral distribution of a dermatosis means it affects distal portions of limbs (hand, foot) and head (ears, nose).
Adipose cells
Adipose cells or lipocytes are groups of fat cells forming yellow lobules in subcutaneous tissue.
Anagen
Anagen is the growth phase of the hair cycle. Anagen hair has a pointed tip and grows over several years.
Annular
Annular distribution refers to lesions grouped in a circle.
Aplasia
Aplasia refers to tissue that has failed to grow, as in Aplasia cutis (illustrated).
Apocrine glands
Apocrine glands are scent glands found most profusely in armpits and groins. They become active after puberty. Apocrine sweat is thick and odourless; the smell derives from bacterial colonisation.
Appendages
The epidermal appendages include eccrine (sweat) glands, apocrine (scent) glands, pilosebaceous structures (hair and oil glands) and nails.
Arrector pili muscles
Arrector pili muscles originate near the basement membrane zone and attach to the hair follicle near its base. They cause erection of the hairs on exposure to cold or fear (goose bumps).
Atrophy
Atrophy occurs when some component of the skin has shrunk.
Chapter 3: B
Basal layer
The basal layer is the columnar or rectangular cells at the bottom of the epidermis from which new cells are continuously produced. Scattered melanocytes are normally found in this layer.
Basement membrane zone
The basement membrane zone separates the epidermis from the dermis. Its components include the selectively permeable basal cell membrane, lamina lucida containing anchoring filaments, lamina densa and sublamina densa (bound to the dermis).
Blaschko's lines
Blaschko's lines follow a roughly linear, segmental pattern described by Blaschko. Many birthmarks appear to be distributed within these segments.
Bulla
A bulla is a large fluid-filled blister. It may be a single compartment or multiloculated. The adjective is ‘bullous’.
Chapter 4: C
Carcinoma
Carcinoma refers to cancer made up of malignant epithelial cells (e.g. basal cell carcinoma, illustrated).
Catagen
Catagen is a short involutional phase of the hair cycle.
Collagen
Collagen is the structural protein making up the bulk of the dermis. It is produced by fibroblasts. It is composed of a triple helix of strong fibres.
Configuration
Configuration refers to the shape or outline of the skin lesions. Skin lesions are often grouped together. The pattern or shape may help in diagnosis as many skin conditions have characteristic configuration.
Connective tissue
Connective tissue of the skin refers to dermis and subcutaneous tissue.
Crusting
Crust occurs when plasma exudes through an eroded epidermis. It is rough on the surface and is yellow or brown in colour. Bloody crust appears red, purple or black.
Cyst
A cyst is a papule or nodule that contains fluid or semi-fluid material so is fluctuant.
Chapter 5: D
Dendritic cells