Medical Terminology - Integumentary System University

Integumentary System Examination

80 questions

70 min

Answer key

Exam info

Subject: Medical Terminology - Integumentary System
Exam type: University
Questions: 80
Duration: 70 min
Answers: ✓ With explanations

Questions (80)

Q 1.
What is the approximate weight of the skin in an average adult?
- A.
  2 to 4 pounds
- B.
  8 to 10 pounds
- C.
  15 to 18 pounds
- D.
  20 to 25 pounds
Q 2.
Which of the following is NOT a function of the skin?
- A.
  Protection against pathogens and their toxins
- B.
  Production of red blood cells
- C.
  Regulation of body temperature
- D.
  Sensory reception of pain, temperature, pressure, and touch
Q 3.
What are the three main layers of the skin, listed from outer to inner?
- A.
  Dermis, epidermis, subcutaneous layer
- B.
  Epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous layer
- C.
  Subcutaneous layer, epidermis, dermis
- D.
  Epidermis, subcutaneous layer, dermis
Q 4.
Which of the following best describes the epidermis?
- A.
  A dense, fibrous connective tissue layer
- B.
  A thick, fat-containing tissue layer
- C.
  A thin, cellular membrane layer containing keratin
- D.
  A layer composed primarily of adipocytes
Q 5.
Why does the epidermis depend on the dermis for nourishment?
- A.
  Because the epidermis is composed of dead cells
- B.
  Because the epidermis lacks blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and connective tissue
- C.
  Because the epidermis is too thin to absorb nutrients
- D.
  Because the epidermis contains no living cells
Q 6.
Which type of cells form the epidermis?
- A.
  Cuboidal epithelial cells
- B.
  Columnar epithelial cells
- C.
  Stratified squamous epithelial cells
- D.
  Simple squamous epithelial cells
Q 7.
What is the function of the basal layer of the epidermis?
- A.
  It produces sebum
- B.
  It is the source of all other epidermal cells
- C.
  It contains keratin-filled dead cells
- D.
  It produces sweat
Q 8.
What is keratin?
- A.
  A pigment that gives skin its color
- B.
  A hard protein material found in the epidermis, hair, and nails
- C.
  A type of gland found in the dermis
- D.
  A fatty tissue in the subcutaneous layer
Q 9.
How long does it take for a basal cell to be sloughed off from the skin surface?
- A.
  1 to 2 days
- B.
  About 1 week
- C.
  3 to 4 weeks
- D.
  6 months
Q 10.
What is the function of melanocytes in the epidermis?
- A.
  To produce keratin
- B.
  To produce melanin pigment that gives color to the skin
- C.
  To produce sweat
- D.
  To store fat
Q 11.
What causes the difference in skin color among various human races?
- A.
  A different number of melanocytes
- B.
  The amount of melanin within each melanocyte
- C.
  The presence of different types of skin layers
- D.
  Differences in keratin production
Q 12.
What is the condition called when a person is incapable of forming melanin?
- A.
  Albinism
- B.
  Vitiligo
- C.
  Erythema
- D.
  Melanoma
Q 13.
What is the difference between eumelanin and pheomelanin?
- A.
  Eumelanin is red-yellow, while pheomelanin is brown-black
- B.
  Eumelanin is brown-black, while pheomelanin is red-yellow
- C.
  Both are brown-black pigments
- D.
  Both are red-yellow pigments
Q 14.
Why are redheads more susceptible to skin cancer?
- A.
  Because they have more eumelanin
- B.
  Because pheomelanin does not protect the skin from damaging ultraviolet rays
- C.
  Because they have fewer melanocytes
- D.
  Because their skin is naturally oily
Q 15.
What is a suntan considered to be?
- A.
  A sign of skin damage
- B.
  A protective response to ultraviolet light
- C.
  A symptom of albinism
- D.
  A result of decreased melanin
Q 16.
What are the two main structural proteins found in the dermis?
- A.
  Keratin and melanin
- B.
  Collagen and elastin
- C.
  Adipose and sebum
- D.
  Keratin and collagen
Q 17.
What is the function of elastin in the skin?
- A.
  To give the skin its color
- B.
  To help the skin return to its original position when pinched or poked
- C.
  To store fat in the subcutaneous layer
- D.
  To produce sweat
Q 18.
What are striae (stretch marks) caused by?
- A.
  Loss of collagen fibers
- B.
  Breaking of elastin fibers from overstretching of the skin
- C.
  Excessive production of melanin
- D.
  Increased production of sebum
Q 19.
What is the main function of the subcutaneous layer?
- A.
  Production of melanin
- B.
  Specialization in the formation of fat
- C.
  Production of keratin
- D.
  Production of sweat
Q 20.
What is the function of adipocytes?
- A.
  To produce melanin
- B.
  To manufacture and store large quantities of fat
- C.
  To produce keratin
- D.
  To secrete sebum
Q 21.
Approximately how many hairs are on the human head?
- A.
  10,000
- B.
  50,000
- C.
  100,000
- D.
  1,000,000
Q 22.
What is the rate of hair growth per month?
- A.
  1/8 inch (0.3 cm)
- B.
  1/2 inch (1.3 cm)
- C.
  1 inch (2.5 cm)
- D.
  2 inches (5 cm)
Q 23.
What type of pigment causes red hair?
- A.
  High levels of eumelanin
- B.
  High levels of pheomelanin
- C.
  Low levels of eumelanin
- D.
  Absence of melanin
Q 24.
What is the lunula?
- A.
  A narrow band of epidermis at the base of the nail plate
- B.
  A semilunar, whitish region at the base of the nail plate
- C.
  The soft tissue surrounding the nail border
- D.
  The matrix where nail cells divide
Q 25.
What is the cuticle of the nail?
- A.
  The half-moon-shaped region at the base of the nail
- B.
  A narrow band of epidermis at the base and sides of the nail plate
- C.
  The soft tissue surrounding the nail border
- D.
  The growth region of the nail
Q 26.
What is the paronychium?
- A.
  A hard keratin plate covering the nail bed
- B.
  The semilunar whitish area at the base of the nail
- C.
  The soft tissue surrounding the nail border
- D.
  The narrow band of epidermis at the base of the nail
Q 27.
What is onycholysis?
- A.
  Fungal infection of the nail
- B.
  Loosening of the nail plate with separation from the nail bed
- C.
  Inflammation of the soft tissue around the nail
- D.
  Thickening of the nail plate
Q 28.
Approximately how long does it take for a fingernail to completely regrow?
- A.
  1 to 2 months
- B.
  3 to 5 months
- C.
  6 to 9 months
- D.
  12 months
Q 29.
What is the function of sebum?
- A.
  To cool the body as it evaporates
- B.
  To lubricate the skin and minimize water loss
- C.
  To produce body odor
- D.
  To give color to the skin
Q 30.
Where are sebaceous glands NOT located?
- A.
  Back
- B.
  Palms of the hands
- C.
  Face
- D.
  Scalp
Q 31.
What is the most common type of sweat gland?
- A.
  Apocrine
- B.
  Sebaceous
- C.
  Eccrine
- D.
  Mammary
Q 32.
Where is sweat produced by eccrine glands released to the skin surface?
- A.
  Through hair follicles
- B.
  Through pores
- C.
  Through the cuticle
- D.
  Through the lunula
Q 33.
What is the composition of sweat?
- A.
  Almost pure water, with dissolved salts making up less than 1%
- B.
  50% water and 50% salts
- C.
  Primarily lipids and proteins
- D.
  Predominantly urea and ammonia
Q 34.
Where are apocrine sweat glands primarily located?
- A.
  All over the body
- B.
  In the axilla and genital areas
- C.
  Only on the palms and soles
- D.
  Only on the face
Q 35.
What causes body odor associated with sweat?
- A.
  The sweat itself has a strong odor
- B.
  The action of bacteria on sweat
- C.
  The breakdown of sebum by skin cells
- D.
  Exposure to ultraviolet light
Q 36.
What is the meaning of the combining form 'adip/o'?
- A.
  White
- B.
  Fat
- C.
  Skin
- D.
  Black
Q 37.
What does the combining form 'caus/o' mean?
- A.
  Heat, burn
- B.
  Burn, burning
- C.
  Wrinkle
- D.
  Hair
Q 38.
What does 'cutane/o' mean?
- A.
  Fat
- B.
  Skin
- C.
  Sweat
- D.
  Nail
Q 39.
What does 'diaphor/o' mean?
- A.
  Profuse sweating
- B.
  Redness
- C.
  Dryness
- D.
  Hardness
Q 40.
What does 'erythem/o' mean?
- A.
  Whiteness
- B.
  Redness
- C.
  Blueness
- D.
  Yellowness
Q 41.
What does 'ichthy/o' mean?
- A.
  Dry, scaly (fish-like)
- B.
  Scaly (resembling fish)
- C.
  Wrinkled
- D.
  Hard
Q 42.
What does 'lip/o' mean?
- A.
  White
- B.
  Black
- C.
  Fat
- D.
  Yellow
Q 43.
What does 'myc/o' mean?
- A.
  Mucus
- B.
  Muscle
- C.
  Fungus
- D.
  Pus
Q 44.
What is the meaning of 'pil/o'?
- A.
  Nail
- B.
  Hair (and hair follicle)
- C.
  Wrinkle
- D.
  Sebum
Q 45.
What does 'py/o' mean?
- A.
  Fungus
- B.
  Pus
- C.
  Plant
- D.
  Pigment
Q 46.
What is 'rhytidectomy'?
- A.
  Removal of fat tissue
- B.
  Cosmetic plastic surgery to remove wrinkles and excess skin
- C.
  Removal of skin cancer
- D.
  Treatment of fungal infections
Q 47.
What is seborrhea?
- A.
  Inflammation of the sebaceous glands
- B.
  Excessive secretion from sebaceous glands
- C.
  Infection of the sebaceous glands
- D.
  Dryness of the skin
Q 48.
What is the meaning of 'squam/o'?
- A.
  Scale-like
- B.
  Hard
- C.
  Squamous
- D.
  Wrinkled
Q 49.
What is the meaning of 'xanth/o'?
- A.
  White
- B.
  Red
- C.
  Black
- D.
  Yellow
Q 50.
What is a crust?
- A.
  A thick-walled, closed sac containing fluid
- B.
  A collection of dried serum and cellular debris
- C.
  A flat, pigmented lesion
- D.
  A small elevation of the skin
Q 51.
What is a pilonidal cyst?
- A.
  A cyst found on the scalp containing yellowish sebum
- B.
  A cyst found over the sacral area of the back containing hairs
- C.
  A cyst on the face caused by acne
- D.
  A cyst caused by bacterial infection
Q 52.
What is a fissure?
- A.
  A flat, pigmented lesion
- B.
  A solid, round, or oval elevated lesion
- C.
  A groove or crack-like sore
- D.
  A small collection of clear fluid (blister)
Q 53.
What is a macule?
- A.
  A small solid elevation of the skin
- B.
  A flat, pigmented lesion measuring less than 1 cm in diameter
- C.
  An open sore on the skin
- D.
  A papule containing pus
Q 54.
What is the difference between a papule and a nodule?
- A.
  A papule is larger than 1 cm; a nodule is smaller than 1 cm
- B.
  A papule is smaller than 1 cm; a nodule is 1 cm or more in diameter
- C.
  Both are the same size
- D.
  Papules are flat; nodules are raised
Q 55.
What is a pustule?
- A.
  A vesicle containing clear fluid
- B.
  A papule containing pus
- C.
  A flat pigmented lesion
- D.
  A thick-walled sac containing fluid
Q 56.
What is a decubitus ulcer?
- A.
  An ulcer caused by infection
- B.
  A bedsore caused by pressure from lying in one position
- C.
  An ulcer caused by excessive sun exposure
- D.
  An ulcer caused by a fungal infection
Q 57.
What is a vesicle?
- A.
  A small collection of clear fluid (blister)
- B.
  A papule containing pus
- C.
  A flat pigmented lesion
- D.
  A solid elevated lesion
Q 58.
What is a wheal?
- A.
  A small collection of clear fluid
- B.
  A smooth, edematous papule or plaque that is centrally redder than surrounding skin
- C.
  A thick-walled, closed sac
- D.
  A flat pigmented lesion
Q 59.
What is alopecia areata?
- A.
  Progressive loss of scalp hair due to heredity
- B.
  An autoimmune disease in which hair falls out in round patches
- C.
  Hair loss caused by chemotherapy
- D.
  Total loss of body hair
Q 60.
What is an ecchymosis?
- A.
  A small, pinpoint hemorrhage
- B.
  A bluish-purplish mark (bruise) on the skin
- C.
  Itching of the skin
- D.
  Loss of pigment in the skin
Q 61.
How do petechiae differ from ecchymoses?
- A.
  Petechiae are larger than ecchymoses
- B.
  Petechiae are smaller pinpoint hemorrhages; ecchymoses are larger bruise-like marks
- C.
  Petechiae are red; ecchymoses are yellow
- D.
  They are the same size
Q 62.
What is pruritus?
- A.
  Redness of the skin
- B.
  Itching of the skin
- C.
  Inflammation of the skin
- D.
  Dryness of the skin
Q 63.
What causes acne?
- A.
  Bacterial infection alone
- B.
  Buildup of sebum and keratin in the pores of the skin
- C.
  Viral infection
- D.
  Fungal infection
Q 64.
What is a blackhead in acne also called?
- A.
  Closed comedo
- B.
  Open comedo or comedone
- C.
  Pustule
- D.
  Nodule
Q 65.
Which of the following best describes a first-degree burn?
- A.
  Epidermal and dermal lesions with blisters
- B.
  Superficial epidermal lesions with erythema and no blisters
- C.
  Epidermis and dermis destroyed with charred, white tissue
- D.
  Deep tissue necrosis with loss of sensation
Q 66.
What is cellulitis?
- A.
  Inflammation of cells in the subcutaneous layer
- B.
  A diffuse, acute infection of the skin marked by local heat, redness, pain, and swelling
- C.
  A chronic fungal infection
- D.
  A form of skin cancer
Q 67.
What is eczema also known as?
- A.
  Atopic dermatitis
- B.
  Seborrheic dermatitis
- C.
  Contact dermatitis
- D.
  Psoriasis
Q 68.
What is gangrene?
- A.
  An inflammatory skin disease
- B.
  Death of tissue associated with loss of blood supply
- C.
  A chronic skin condition with thickening
- D.
  An autoimmune skin condition
Q 69.
What is impetigo?
- A.
  A viral skin infection
- B.
  A bacterial inflammatory skin disease characterized by vesicles, pustules, and crusted-over lesions
- C.
  A fungal infection of the skin
- D.
  An autoimmune skin condition
Q 70.
What is psoriasis?
- A.
  An acute bacterial infection of the skin
- B.
  A chronic, recurrent dermatosis marked by itchy, scaly, red plaques covered by silvery gray scales
- C.
  A viral exanthem
- D.
  A form of skin cancer
Q 71.
What is scabies?
- A.
  A bacterial skin infection
- B.
  A contagious, parasitic infection of the skin with intense pruritus
- C.
  An autoimmune condition
- D.
  A fungal infection
Q 72.
What is scleroderma?
- A.
  A chronic progressive disease of the skin and internal organs with hardening and shrinking of connective tissue
- B.
  A contagious parasitic infection
- C.
  A type of skin cancer
- D.
  An acute bacterial infection
Q 73.
What is the characteristic 'butterfly' pattern of redness associated with?
- A.
  Rosacea
- B.
  Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- C.
  Psoriasis
- D.
  Eczema
Q 74.
What is tinea pedis?
- A.
  Ringworm of the body
- B.
  A fungal infection of the skin between the toes (athlete's foot)
- C.
  A fungal infection of the scalp
- D.
  A fungal infection of the nails
Q 75.
What is urticaria?
- A.
  A chronic progressive disease
- B.
  An acute allergic reaction in which red, round wheals develop on the skin
- C.
  A type of skin cancer
- D.
  A parasitic infection
Q 76.
What is vitiligo?
- A.
  Inability to form melanin
- B.
  Loss of pigment in areas of the skin (milk-white patches)
- C.
  A bacterial skin infection
- D.
  Excess melanin production
Q 77.
What is a keloid?
- A.
  A type of skin cancer
- B.
  An excess hypertrophied, thickened scar developing after trauma or surgical incision
- C.
  A fungal infection
- D.
  A flat pigmented lesion
Q 78.
What is actinic keratosis?
- A.
  A benign overgrowth of the epidermis
- B.
  A precancerous lesion caused by long-term UV light exposure that can evolve into squamous cell carcinoma
- C.
  A bacterial infection of the skin
- D.
  A normal scar
Q 79.
What does the 'B' in the ABCDEs of melanoma stand for?
- A.
  Burning sensation
- B.
  Border (irregular or poorly circumscribed)
- C.
  Bleeding on contact
- D.
  Brown color
Q 80.
What is cryosurgery?
- A.
  Use of subfreezing temperature to destroy tissue
- B.
  Use of a sharp dermal curette to scrape away a lesion
- C.
  Use of an electric spark to destroy tissue
- D.
  Microscopically controlled excision of tissue

Answers and explanations are in mode.