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Chemistry LibreTexts

12.6: Key Terms

  • Page ID
    485557
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    Example and Directions
    Words (or words that have the same definition)The definition is case sensitive(Optional) Image to display with the definition [Not displayed in Glossary, only in pop-up on pages](Optional) Caption for Image(Optional) External or Internal Link(Optional) Source for Definition
    (Eg. "Genetic, Hereditary, DNA ...")(Eg. "Relating to genes or heredity")The infamous double helix https://bio.libretexts.org/CC-BY-SA; Delmar Larsen
    Glossary Entries
    Word(s)DefinitionImageCaptionLinkSource
    acneskin condition due to infected sebaceous glands    
    albinismgenetic disorder that affects the skin, in which there is no melanin production    
    anagenactive phase of the hair growth cycle    
    apocrine sweat glandtype of sweat gland that is associated with hair follicles in the armpits and genital regions    
    arrector pilismooth muscle that is activated in response to external stimuli that pull on hair follicles and make the hair “stand up”    
    basal celltype of stem cell found in the stratum basale and in the hair matrix that continually undergoes cell division, producing the keratinocytes of the epidermis    
    basal cell carcinomacancer that originates from basal cells in the epidermis of the skin    
    bedsoresore on the skin that develops when regions of the body start necrotizing due to constant pressure and lack of blood supply; also called decubitis ulcers    
    callusthickened area of skin that arises due to constant abrasion    
    catagentransitional phase marking the end of the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle    
    corntype of callus that is named for its shape and the elliptical motion of the abrasive force    
    cortexin hair, the second or middle layer of keratinocytes originating from the hair matrix, as seen in a cross-section of the hair bulb    
    cuticlein hair, the outermost layer of keratinocytes originating from the hair matrix, as seen in a cross-section of the hair bulb    
    dermal papilla(plural = dermal papillae) extension of the papillary layer of the dermis that increases surface contact between the epidermis and dermis    
    dermislayer of skin between the epidermis and hypodermis, composed mainly of connective tissue and containing blood vessels, hair follicles, sweat glands, and other structures    
    desmosomestructure that forms an impermeable junction between cells    
    eccrine sweat glandtype of sweat gland that is common throughout the skin surface; it produces a hypotonic sweat for thermoregulation    
    eczemaskin condition due to an allergic reaction, which resembles a rash    
    elastin fibersfibers made of the protein elastin that increase the elasticity of the dermis    
    eleidenclear protein-bound lipid found in the stratum lucidum that is derived from keratohyalin and helps to prevent water loss    
    epidermisoutermost tissue layer of the skin    
    eponychiumnail fold that meets the proximal end of the nail body, also called the cuticle    
    external root sheathouter layer of the hair follicle that is an extension of the epidermis, which encloses the hair root    
    first-degree burnsuperficial burn that injures only the epidermis    
    fourth-degree burnburn in which full thickness of the skin and underlying muscle and bone is damaged    
    glassy membranelayer of connective tissue that surrounds the base of the hair follicle, connecting it to the dermis    
    hairkeratinous filament growing out of the epidermis    
    hair bulbstructure at the base of the hair root that surrounds the dermal papilla    
    hair folliclecavity or sac from which hair originates    
    hair matrixlayer of basal cells from which a strand of hair grows    
    hair papillamass of connective tissue, blood capillaries, and nerve endings at the base of the hair follicle    
    hair rootpart of hair that is below the epidermis anchored to the follicle    
    hair shaftpart of hair that is above the epidermis but is not anchored to the follicle    
    hypodermisconnective tissue connecting the integument to the underlying bone and muscle    
    hyponychiumthickened layer of stratum corneum that lies below the free edge of the nail    
    integumentary systemskin and its accessory structures    
    internal root sheathinnermost layer of keratinocytes in the hair follicle that surround the hair root up to the hair shaft    
    keloidtype of scar that has layers raised above the skin surface    
    keratintype of structural protein that gives skin, hair, and nails its hard, water-resistant properties    
    keratinocytecell that produces keratin and is the most predominant type of cell found in the epidermis    
    keratohyalingranulated protein found in the stratum granulosum    
    Langerhans cellspecialized dendritic cell found in the stratum spinosum that functions as a macrophage    
    lunulabasal part of the nail body that consists of a crescent-shaped layer of thick epithelium    
    medullain hair, the innermost layer of keratinocytes originating from the hair matrix    
    Meissner corpuscle(also, tactile corpuscle) receptor in the skin that responds to light touch    
    melaninpigment that determines the color of hair and skin    
    melanocytecell found in the stratum basale of the epidermis that produces the pigment melanin    
    melanomatype of skin cancer that originates from the melanocytes of the skin    
    melanosomeintercellular vesicle that transfers melanin from melanocytes into keratinocytes of the epidermis    
    Merkel cellreceptor cell in the stratum basale of the epidermis that responds to the sense of touch    
    metastasisspread of cancer cells from a source to other parts of the body    
    nail bedlayer of epidermis upon which the nail body forms    
    nail bodymain keratinous plate that forms the nail    
    nail cuticlefold of epithelium that extends over the nail bed, also called the eponychium    
    nail foldfold of epithelium at that extend over the sides of the nail body, holding it in place    
    nail rootpart of the nail that is lodged deep in the epidermis from which the nail grows    
    Pacinian corpuscle(also, lamellated corpuscle) receptor in the skin that responds to vibration    
    papillary layersuperficial layer of the dermis, made of loose, areolar connective tissue    
    reticular layerdeeper layer of the dermis; it has a reticulated appearance due to the presence of abundant collagen and elastin fibers    
    ricketsdisease in children caused by vitamin D deficiency, which leads to the weakening of bones    
    scarcollagen-rich skin formed after the process of wound healing that is different from normal skin    
    sebaceous glandtype of oil gland found in the dermis all over the body and helps to lubricate and waterproof the skin and hair by secreting sebum    
    sebumoily substance that is composed of a mixture of lipids that lubricates the skin and hair    
    second-degree burnpartial-thickness burn that injures the epidermis and a portion of the dermis    
    squamous cell carcinomatype of skin cancer that originates from the stratum spinosum of the epidermis    
    stratum basaledeepest layer of the epidermis, made of epidermal stem cells    
    stratum corneummost superficial layer of the epidermis    
    stratum granulosumlayer of the epidermis superficial to the stratum spinosum    
    stratum lucidumlayer of the epidermis between the stratum granulosum and stratum corneum, found only in thick skin covering the palms, soles of the feet, and digits    
    stratum spinosumlayer of the epidermis superficial to the stratum basale, characterized by the presence of desmosomes    
    stretch markmark formed on the skin due to a sudden growth spurt and expansion of the dermis beyond its elastic limits    
    sudoriferous glandsweat gland    
    telogenresting phase of the hair growth cycle initiated with catagen and terminated by the beginning of a new anagen phase of hair growth    
    third-degree burnburn that penetrates and destroys the full thickness of the skin (epidermis and dermis)    
    vitamin Dcompound that aids absorption of calcium and phosphates in the intestine to improve bone health    
    vitiligoskin condition in which melanocytes in certain areas lose the ability to produce melanin, possibly due an autoimmune reaction that leads to loss of color in patches    

    12.6: Key Terms is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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