Medical, Surgical, & Viewing Terms and Abbreviations
Medical Careers & Professional Terminology
aesthetician: a medical specialist who performs only clinical skincare
dermatologist: physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the skin
dermatology: the study of the skin and diseases affecting the skin
dermatopathology: the study of skin diseases
esthetician: a professional who performs manicures, pedicures, waxing, and other body/skin treatments
Imaging Techniques/Treatments for the Organ System
antibiotics: medicines that kill bacteria
antifungals: medicines that kill fungi
anti-inflammatories: medicines that reduce swelling/edema
antipruritics: medicines that reduce itching
antipyretics: medicines that reduce fever
antiseptic: agents/chemicals that inhibit (prevent) bacterial growth
keratogenic: agent causing growth of horny tissue
scabicides: medicine that kills mites
Surgical Techniques/Procedures Used for the Organ System
biopsy: view of life (process of removing tissue for study)
cryosurgery: cold surgery, used to freeze tissue for removal
cryotherapy: treatment of diseases using extreme cold
debridement: removal of dead tissue from a wound
dermatoautoplasty: surgical repair using one’s own skin
dermatoheteroplasty: surgical repair using skin from others
dermoplasty: surgical repair of the skin
onychectomy: surgical removal of a fingernail or toenail
onychotomy: incision into a fingernail or toenail
rhytidectomy: excision (surgical removal) of wrinkles
rhytidoplasty: surgical repair of wrinkles
Abbreviations Commonly Used with the Organ System
BCC: basal cell carcinoma
bx: biopsy
derm: dermatology
ID: intradermal
MRSA: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
SCC: squamous cell carcinoma
SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus
staph: staphylococcus
strep: streptococcus
subcut: subcutaneous
TD: transdermal
Medical Terms Practice
For each card, click the speaker icon to hear the correct pronunciation of the listed term. Practice saying the term to yourself, then attempt to define the term from memory. Click “Turn” to flip the card and see the definition. Use the right and left arrows to toggle through the cards in each set.