cutaneous edema

(noun)

Edema, formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is an abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin or in one or more cavities of the body that produces swelling.

Related Terms

Examples of cutaneous edema in the following topics:

  • Edema

    • Causes of edema which are generalized to the whole body can cause edema in multiple organs and peripherally.
    • For example, severe heart failure can cause pulmonary edema, pleural effusions, ascites, and peripheral edema.
    • Cutaneous edema is referred to as pitting when, after pressure is applied to a small area, the indentation persists for some time after the release of the pressure.
    • Examples of edema in specific organs include cerebral edema, pulmonary edema, periorbital edema (eye puffiness), and cutaneous edema due to mosquito bites, spider bites, bee stings, or contact dermatitis).
    • Another cutaneous form of edema is myxedema, which is caused by increased deposition of connective tissue.

  • Pulmonary Edema

    • Pulmonary edema is fluid accumulation in the air spaces and parenchyma of the lungs.
    • It is due to either failure of the left ventricle of the heart to adequately remove blood from the pulmonary circulation ("cardiogenic pulmonary edema") or an injury to the lung parenchyma or vasculature of the lung ("noncardiogenic pulmonary edema").
    • Pulmonary edema, especially in the acute setting, can lead to respiratory failure, cardiac arrest due to hypoxia, and death.
    • There is no one single test for confirming that breathlessness is caused by pulmonary edema.
    • Interstitial and alveolar pulmonary edema with small pleural effusions on both sides.

  • Edema Caused by Loss of Plasma Proteins

    • It is characterized by proteinuria (>3.5g/day), hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, and edema (which is generalized and also known as anasarca or dropsy).
    • The edema begins in the face .
    • Peripheral pitting edema results from water retention.

  • Leishmaniasis

    • Leishmaniasis is caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania and presents itself in two forms: cutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis.
    • There various types of leishmaniasis that exist including cutaneous leishmaniasis, systemic, or visceral leishmaniasis.
    • Cutaneous leishmaniasis is characterized by infection of the skin and mucous membranes.
    • In combination, cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis are caused by more than 20 different leishmanial species.
    • Outline the life cycle of Leishmania and distinguish between cutaneous or viseral leishmaniasis

  • Other Fungi Involved in Respiratory Disease

    • Forms and symptoms of sporotrichosis include: cutaneous or skin sporotrichosis; pulmonary sporotrichosis; and disseminated sporotrichosis.
    • Cutaneous or skin sporotrichosis: This is the most common form of the disease.
    • Usually, cutaneous sporotrichosis lesions occur in the finger, hand, and arm.
    • Compare and contrast the various forms of sporotrichosis: cutaneous/skin, pulmonary and disseminated sporotrichosis

  • Effects of Aging on the Integumentary System

    • Intrinsic and extrinsic aging describe cutaneous aging of the integumentary system primarily involving the dermis.
    • Intrinsic aging and extrinsic aging are terms used to describe cutaneous aging of the skin and other parts of the integumentary system.
    • It is defined as cutaneous damage caused by chronic exposure to solar radiation and is associated with emergence of neoplastic (cancer) lesions.

  • Cervical Plexus

    • The cervical plexus has two types of branches: cutaneous and muscular.
    • Lesser occipital nerve - The lesser occipital nerve or small occipital nerve is a cutaneous spinal nerve arising between the second and third cervical vertebrae, along with the greater occipital nerve.
    • Transverse cervical nerve - The transverse cervical nerve (superficial cervical or cutaneous cervical) arises from the second and third cervical nerves, turns around the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoideus about its middle, and, passing obliquely forward beneath the external jugular vein to the anterior border of the muscle, it perforates the deep cervical fascia and divides beneath the platysma into ascending and descending branches, which are distributed to the antero-lateral parts of the neck.

  • What is Skin?

    • The cutaneous membrane is the technical term for our skin.

  • Dead Space: V/Q Mismatch

    • A physiological shunt can develop if there is infection or edema in the lung that obstructs an area.
    • A physiological shunt can develop if there is infection or edema in the lung which decreases ventilation, but does not affect perfusion; thus, the ventilation/perfusion ratio is affected.
    • Pulmonary edema with small pleural effusions on both sides (as shown) can cause changes in the V/Q ratio.

  • Tactile Sensation

    • Cutaneous mechanoreceptors are located in the skin, like other cutaneous receptors.