Chapter 5 Operative Terms

Front 1

chemosurgery (chemical peel)

Back 1

a technique for restoring wrinkled, scarred, or blemished skin by application of an acid solution to "peel" away the top layers of the skin

Front 2

cryosurgery

Back 2

destruction of tissue by freezing - involves application of an extremely cold chemical

Front 3

dermabrasion

Back 3

surgical removal of frozen epidermis using wire brushes and emery papers to remove scars, tattoos, and/or wrinkles; aerosol spray is used to freeze the skin

Front 4

derbridement

Back 4

removal of dead tissue from a wound or burn site to promote healing and prevent infection

Front 5

curettage

Back 5

to clean; scraping of a wound using a spoon-like cutting instrument called a curette; this technique is used in debridement

Front 6

electrosurgical procedures

Back 6

use of electric currents to destroy tissue - the type and strength of the current and method of application varies

Front 7

electrocautery

Back 7

use of an instrument heated by electric current (cautery) to coagulate bleeding areas by burning the tissue

Front 8

electrodesiccation

Back 8

use of short, high-frequency, electric currents to destroy tissue by drying - the active electrode makes direct contact with the skin lesion (desicco = to dry up)

Front 9

fulguration

Back 9

to lighten; use of long, high-frequency, electric sparks to destroy tissue; the active electrode does NOT touch the skin

Front 10

incision and drainage (I&D)

Back 10

incision and drainage of an infected skin lesion

Front 11

laser surgery

Back 11

surgery using a laser in various dermatological procedures to remove lesions, scars, tattoos, etc.

Front 12

laser

Back 12

an acronym for ligh amplification by stimulated emission of radiation; an instrument that concentrates high frequencies of light into a small, extremely intense beam that is precise in depth and diameter; it is applied to body tissues to destroy lesions or for dissection

Front 13

Mohs surgery

Back 13

a technique used to excise tumors of the skin by removing fresh tissue layer by layer until a tumor-free plane is reached

Front 14

skin grafting

Back 14

transfer of skin from ony body site to another to replace skin lost through burns or injury

Front 15

autograft

Back 15

transfer to a new position in the body of the same person (auto = self)

Front 16

homograft

Back 16

donor transfer between individuals of the same species (homo = same; allo = other)

Front 17

allograft

Back 17

donor transfer between individuals of the same species (homo = same; allo = other)

Front 18

xenograft

Back 18

a graft transfer from on animal species to one of another species (xeno = strange; hetero = different)

Front 19

heterograft

Back 19

a graft transfer from on animal species to one of another species (xeno = strange; hetero = different)