Chapter 31 Skin Integrity and Wound Care Vocabulary
Definitions:
Bandage – piece of gauze or other material used to cover a wound.
Biofilm – a thick grouping of microorganisms.
Debridement – cleaning away devitalized tissue and foreign matter from a wound.
Dehiscence – separation of the layers of a surgical wound; may be partial, superficial, or a
complete disruption of the surgical wound.
Dermis – second layer of skin, consists of a framework of elastic connective tissue.
Desiccation – dehydration; the process of being rendered free of moisture.
Dressing – protective covering placed over a wound.
Epidermis – the top layer, or outermost portion.
Epithelialization – stage of wound healing in which epithelial cells form across the surface of a
wound; tissue color ranges from the color of “ground glass” to pink.
Eschar – a thick, leathery scab or dry crust that is necrotic and must be removed for adequate
healing to occur.
Evisceration – protrusion of viscera through an incision.
Exudate – fluid that accumulates in a wound; may contain serum, cellular debris, bacteria, and
white blood cells.
Fistula – an abnormal passage from an internal organ to the skin or from one internal organ to
another.
Friction – occurs when two surfaces rub against each other; the resulting injury resembles an
abrasion and can also damage superficial blood vessels directly under the skin.
Granulation tissue – new tissue that is pink/red in color and composed of fibroblasts and small
blood vessels that fill an open wound when it starts to heal.
Ischemia – deficiency of blood in a particular area.
Maceration – softening through liquid; overhydration.
Necrosis – death of cells and tissue.
Negative-pressure would therapy (NPWT) – activity that promotes wound healing and wound
closure through the application of uniform negative pressure on the wound bed, reduction in
bacteria in the wound, and the removal of excess wound fluid.
Pressure ulcer – any lesion caused by unrelieved pressure that results in damage to underlying
tissue.
Purulent drainage – comprised of white blood cells, liquefied dead tissue debris, and both dead
and alive bacteria.
Sanguineous drainage – containing or mixed with blood.
Scar – connective tissue that fills a wound area.
Serosanguinous drainage – mixture of serum and red blood cells.
Serous drainage – composed of clear, serous portion of the blood and from serous membranes.
Shear – results when one layer of tissue slides over another layer.
Sinus tract –
Subcutaneous tissue – the underlying layer that anchors the skin layers to the underlying
tissues of the body.
Wound – a break or disruption in the normal integrity of the kin and tissues.