Medical Terminology Simplified

3–14 In the basal layer, specialized cells, called melan/o/cytes, produce a black

pigment called melanin.Production of melanin increases with exposure to strong ul-

traviolet light. This exposure creates a suntan that provides a protective barrier from

damaging effects of the sun.

The CF melan/orefers to the color black. Build a word that literally means

black cell: :____________________ / _____ / __________

black tumor: :____________________ / __________

3–15 Activity of melan/o/cytes is genetically regulated and inherited. Local accu-

mulations of melanin are seen in pigmented moles and freckles. Environmental and

physiological factors also play a role in skin color. Locate the basal layer in Figure 3–1.

3–16 Absence of pigment in the skin, eyes, and hair is most likely due to an inher-

ited inability to produce melanin. This lack of melanin results in the condition called

albin/ism. A person with this condition is called an albino.

Deficiency or absence of pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes due to an abnormality in

production of melanin is known as ____________________ / __________.

3–17 The number of melan/o/cytes is about the same in all races. Differences in

skin color are attributed to production of melanin. In people with dark skin,

melan/o/cytes continuously produce large amounts of melanin. In people with light

skin, melan/o/cytes produce less ____________________.

When defining a medical word, first define the suffix. Second, define the beginning of the word; finally, define

the middle of the word. Below is an example of a term, which is translated as abnormal condition of a skin fungus.

dermat / o / myc / osis

(2) (3) (1)

3–18 The term derm/is is a noun that means pertaining to the skin.Identify the

part of speech in

derm/ic:____________________

derm/al:____________________

3–19 Label Figure 3–2 as you learn about the parts of the dermis. The second

layer of skin, the derm/is, contains the (5) hair follicle,(6) sebaceous (oil) gland,

and (7) sudoriferous (sweat) gland.

3–20 Dermat/itis is an ____________________ of the __________.

3–21 Derm/o/pathy is a disease of the skin; dermat/o/pathy is also a

____________________ of the __________.

70 CHAPTER 3• Integumentary System

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

melan/o/cyte

MĔL-ăn-ō-sīt

melan/oma

mĕl-ă-NŌ-mă

albin/ism

ĂL-bĭn-ĭzm

melanin

MĔL-ă-nĭn

adjective

adjective

inflammation, skin

disease, skin

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