Glossary
A
- a.k.a.
- - short for also known as
- acne
- - skin disease often experienced by teenagers - also called pimples
B
- bacteria
- - microscopic life
- beneficial
- - helpful
C
- collagen
- - a protein that connects cells together
- constricting
- - tightening
D
- dehydration
- - loss of body fluids
- dermis
- - inner layer of skin
E
- epidermis
- - outer layer of skin
F
- freckles
- - darker spots on the skin
G
- gland
- - an organ which produces and releases substances that perform a specific function in the body. In the skin, there are sweat glands and oil glands
H
- hypodermis
- - the deepest layer of the skin, subcutaneous layer
I
- infection
- - illness brought on by microscopic life forms
- integumentary system
- - the system that acts as a barrier to protect the body from the outside world, comprised of skin, hair, nails and glands
K
- keratin
- - a protein found in hair, fingernails, hooves, horns
M
- melanin
- - the coloring found in skin, hair, feathers, fur, etc.
N
- nervous system
- - the complex network of nerves and cells that carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to various parts of the body
O
- organ
- - tissues that work to perform a specific function in your body – examples are brain, heart, lungs
- organ system
- - a group of organs that work together, as in the digestive system or cardiovascular system
P
- pharmacy
- - store where medications are sold
- pigment
- - coloring
R
- rash
- - a reaction to something that makes skin red and itchy
S
- scar
- - a mark left on skin after an injury heals
- sebaceous glands
- - oil glands of the body
- sebum
- - body oil
- subcutaneous
- - anything lying under the skin
- sunscreen
- - lotion used to prevent sunburn
T
- temperature
- - hot or cold - measured in Fahrenheit or Celsius
- tissues
- - a collection of similar related cells
U
- unique
- - the only one of its kind, different from all others
- UV
- - ultra violet rays of the sun that cause sunburn
W
- waterproof
- - is not damaged by water