Medical Terminology Simplified

3–2 The epi/derm/is forms the protective covering of the body and does not have a

blood or nerve supply. It is dependent on the dermis’s network of capillaries for nour-

ishment. As oxygen and nutrients flow out of the capillaries in the dermis, they pass

through tissue fluid, supplying nourishment to the deeper layers of the epidermis.

When you talk about the outer layer of skin, you are referring to the

__________ / __________ / _____.

When you talk about the deeper layer of skin, consisting of nerve and blood vessels,

you are talking about the __________ / _____.

3–3 The epi/derm/is is thick on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet,

but relatively thin over most other areas.

Identify the element in epi/derm/is that means

above or upon:__________

a part of speech (noun):_____.

3–4 The CF derm/orefers to the skin. Derm/o/pathy is a disease of the

__________.

3–5 Although the epidermis is composed of several layers, the (3) stratum

corneumand the (4) basal layerare of greatest importance.

The stratum corneum is composed of dead, flat cells. Its thickness is correlated with

normal wear of the area it covers. Only the basal layer is composed of living cells. It is

where new cells are continuously reproduced. Label these two structures in Figure 3–2.

3–6 As new cells form in the basal layer, they move toward the stratum corneum.

Eventually, they die and become filled with a hard protein material called keratin.

The relatively waterproof characteristic of keratin prevents body fluids from evapo-

rating and moisture from entering the body. These keratinized cells gradually flake

away and are replaced in a continuous cycle. The entire process by which a cell forms

in the basal layers, rises to the surface, becomes keratinized, and sloughs off takes

about 1 month.

Check the basal layer in Figure 3–1 to see the single row of newly formed cells in the

deepest layer of the epi/derm/is.

3–7 In addition toderm/o,two other CFs for skin are cutane/oand dermat/o.

Cutane/ous means pertaining to the __________.

Dermat/o/logy is the ____________________ of the __________.

3–8 A physician who specializes in treating skin diseases is called a

____________________ / _____ / __________.

3–9 Use dermatto build a word meaning inflammation of the skin.

____________________ / __________

68 CHAPTER 3• Integumentary System

Boldfaceindicates a word root or combining form. Blueindicates a suffix. Pinkindicates a prefix.

epi-

-is

skin

skin

study, skin

dermat/o/logist

dĕr-mă-TŎL-ō-jĭst

dermat/itis

dĕr-mă-TĪ-tĭs

epi/derm/is

ĕp-ĭ-DĔR-mĭs

derm/is

DĔR-mĭs