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Abscess: A circumscribed collection of purulent exudate appearing in an acute or chronic, localized infection, caused by tissue destruction and frequently associated with swelling and other signs of inflammation and pain.
Abducens nerve: Cranial nerve # 6. Innervates the lateral rectus, which abducts the eye (moves the eye out); located in the superior orbital fissure.
Accessory nerve: Cranial nerve # 11. Controls the muscles of the neck and overlaps with functions of the vagus nerve; located in the jugular foramen.
Acrochordons: A polypoidal outgrowth of both epidermis and dermal fibrovascular tissue; also known as a skin tag.
Acropachy: subperiosteal new bone formation.
Actinic keratosis: A pre-malignant warty lesion occurring on the sun exposed skin of the face or hands in older fair skinned people.
Adenocarcinoma: A malignant neoplasm of epithelial cells in a glandular or gland-like pattern.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma: A histologically defined type of carcinoma characterized by round, gland-like spaces or cysts bordered by layers of epithelial cells without intervening stroma.
Adenoma: An ordinarily benign neoplasm of epithelial tissue in which the tumor cells form glands or gland-like structures in the stroma; usually well circumscribed, tending to compress rather than infiltrate or invade adjacent tissue.
Adipose tissue: Fatty tissue.
Adnexa: Appendages of the eyeball, including the soft tissue, muscles and eyelids.
Afferent pupillary defect: A condition of the eye where the pupil does not constrict appropriately to the level of light reaching it. It is very important in the evaluation of optic nerve function.
Albright syndrome: Polyostotic fibrous dysplasia with irregular brown patches of cutaneous (skin) pigmentation and endocrine dysfunction, especially precocious puberty in girls.
Angiotensin converting enzyme: An enzyme that catalyses the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor.
Ankyloblepharon: Fusion of the eyelids to each other along the lid margins.
Annulus of Zinn: A ring of fibrous tissue surrounding the optic nerve at its entrance at the apex of the orbit. It is the origin for five of the six extraocular muscles.
Anophthalmic socket: An eye socket that lacks an eyeball.
Anophthalmos: Congenital absence of all tissues of the eyes.
Apert syndrome: Disorder characterized by craniosynostosis and syndactyly; associated with hearing loss; mental retardation is a variable feature.
Arcus marginalis: Collection of fibrous tissue where the orbital septum meets the orbital rim.
Arteriovenous fistulas: An abnormal communication between an artery and vein, usually resulting in the formation of an arteriovenous aneurysm.
Arthritis giant cell: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a type of vasculitis or arteritis, a group of diseases whose typical feature is inflammation of blood vessels.
Aspergillosis: A type of fungal infection. Usually affects immune compromised hosts.
Asian Blepharoplasty: Cosmetic eyelid surgery for Asians. This procedure is usually done to decrease upper eyelid fullness and reduce the epicanthal fold that is common in Asians.
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B cell lymphoma: Types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma affecting B cells. It develops more frequently in immune compromised individuals.
Basal cell carcinoma: Most common type of skin cancer. A slow-growing, malignant, but usually non-metastasizing epithelial neoplasm of the epidermis or hair follicles, most commonly arising in sun damaged skin of the elderly and fair skinned.
Basal cell nevus syndrome: A syndrome of myriad basal cell nevi with the development of multiple basal cell carcinomas in adult life. These patients need to be followed closely for the development of basal cell carcinoma.
Benign mixed tumor: Neoplasm of epithelial and myoepithelial differentiation, varied architectural and cytologic features and mucoid, myxoid or chondroid stroma.
Blepharochalasis: A congenital or acquired condition characterized by undue looseness or pendulousness of the eyelid skin due to an abnormality or deficiency of elastic fibers. This is an idiopathic condition.
Blepharoplasty: Blepharo = eyelid + Plasty = to change. An operation performed to remove excess skin, muscle or fat from the eyelids to create a more youthful appearance. This procedure needs to be customized and individualized for the patient. The art of blepharoplasty has changed significantly in the past 10 years. Today the goal of the operation is to create a more natural look based on each patient's individual needs.
Blepharoptosis: Drooping of the upper eyelid.
Blepharospasm: Involuntary spasmodic contraction of the orbicularis oculi muscle.
Blowout fractures: Bone fractures caused by direct trauma to the globe, which leads to an increase in intraorbital pressure and decompression via fracture of the orbital floor.
Blue nevus: A dark blue or blue-black nevus covered by smooth skin and formed by heavily pigmented spindle-shaped or dendritic melanocytes in the reticular dermis.
Botox: A neurotoxin protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is used in minute doses both to treat painful muscle spasms, and as a cosmetic treatment. In cosmetic facial rejuvenation it allows paralysis of the affected muscle to temporarily eliminate static wrinkles. The effects of Botox typically last about 90 days.
Bowen disease: A form of intraepidermal carcinoma characterized by the development of slowly enlarging pinkish or brownish papules or eroded plaques covered with a thickened horny layer. Microscopically, there is dyskeratosis with large round epidermal cells that contain large nuclei and pale-staining cytoplasm and are scattered through all levels of the epidermis.
Brow lift: Operation to elevate the eyebrows.
Brow ptosis: Droopy eyebrow caused by heavy tissue above the eye; it can obstruct vision and result in fatigue caused by the effort required to raise this tissue out of the way.
Buccal mucus membrane graft: A type of mucosal graft from the lips; commonly used to reconstruct the fornices in situations that the patient lacks normal tissue from previous trauma, injury or birth defect.
Bulbar conjunctiva: The thin, clear tissue over the sclera, which is the white part of the eyeball.
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Café-au-lait spots: Flat, sharply demarcated, evenly pigmented flat spots that are oval in shape, with the long axis situated along a cutaneous (skin) nerve tract.
Canaliculus: An anatomical term used to describe a small passageway.
Canaliculodacryocistorhinostomy: A surgical procedure performed to relieve a stricture found at the junction of the common lacrimal canaliculus and the conjunctival sac.
Canthal tendons: The medial and lateral structures that anchor the eyelids to the orbital bones.
Canthotomy incision: An incision through the lateral canthus during an operation lengthening the palpebral fissure.
Capillary hemangioma: An overgrowth of capillary blood vessels, seen most commonly in the skin in children.
Carcinoma: Any of the various types of malignant neoplasia derived from epithelial tissue.
Carotid cavernous fistula: Abnormal communication between previously normal carotid artery and cavernous sinus.
Cavernous hemangioma: A vascular malformation containing large blood-filled spaces, due apparently to dilation and thickening of the walls of the capillary loops.
Chalazion: A slowly enlarging nodule on the eyelid formed by inflammation of the Meibomian glands (deep chalazion) or Zeis sebaceous glands (superficial chalazion). Chalazia are often recurrent.
Cheek augmentation: A type of procedure used to contour and angle the cheeks using sutures, surgical implants or grafts.
Cheek lift: Surgery to raise the cheek; also known as midface lift.
Chemosis: Edema of the bulbar conjunctiva, forming a swelling around the cornea.
Chloasma: Melanoderma or melasma characterized by brown patches of irregular shape and size.
Chondrosarcoma: A malignant neoplasm derived from cartilage cells.
Cilia: Eyelashes.
Compound nevus: A nevocytic nevus composed of fully formed nests of nevus cells in the epidermis and newly forming cells in the dermis.
Conjunctiva: The mucous membrane covering the anterior surface of the eyeball and the posterior surface of the eyelids.
Connective tissue disorders: Any disease that has the connective tissues of the body as a target of pathology. Connective tissue is any type of biological tissue with an extensive extracellular matrix that supports, binds together, and protects organs.
Cornea: The transparent tissue constituting the anterior sixth of the outer wall of the eye, with a 7.7-mm radius of curvature.
Coronal forehead lift: A procedure in which an incision is made at ear level and runs across the top of the forehead and down the side of the head. The skin of the forehead is then lifted, moving muscles and underlying tissues.
Crouzon syndrome: Craniosynostosis with broad forehead, ocular hypertelorism, exophthalmos, beaked nose, and hypoplasia of the maxilla; associated with hearing loss.
Cryptophthalmos: A rare congenital anomaly in which the skin is continuous over the eyeball with absence of eyelids.
CT scan: A medical imaging technique employing tomography; usually used to visualize bony structures. For soft tissue, MRI is much better.
Cutaneous horn: Unusual but often benign keratinous skin tumors with the appearance of horns.
Cystic carcinoma: An uncommon type of cancer that can exist in many different areas of the body. It most often occurs in the head and neck, in particular the salivary glands, but has also been reported in the breast, lacrimal gland of the eye, lung, brain, bartholin gland, trachea, and the paranasal sinuses.
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Dacryocystorhinostomy: Also known as DCR; an operation used to create a new tear drainage path providing an anastomosis between the lacrimal sac and the nasal mucosa through an opening in the lacrimal bone.
Dacryoliths: A concretion in the lacrimal apparatus.
Dermatochalasis: A congenital or acquired condition characterized by undue looseness or pendulousness of the skin due to abnormality or deficiency of elastic fibers; vascular anomalies may be present.
Diplopia: Double vision; perceiving a single object as two objects.
Distichiasis: A condition in which there is growth of extra eyelashes (cilia) from the glands of the upper or lower eyelid.
Duane’s syndrome: A congenital eye movement disorder in which there is miswiring of the eye muscles, causing some eye muscles to contract when they should not and other eye muscles not to contract when they should.
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Ectropion: A medical condition in which the eyelid turns outward.
Edema: An accumulation of an excessive amount of fluid in tissues (swelling).
Emphysema: Chronic obstructive pulmonary (lung) disease.
Encephaloceles: A congenital gap in the cranium with herniation of brain substance.
Endophthalmitis: Inflammation and/or infection of the tissues within the eyeball.
Endoscopic brow lift: A less invasive brow lift procedure using fiber optic and endoscopic technology to elevate the eyebrows with minimal amount of incisions and faster recovery.
Endoscopy: Examination of the interior of a canal or hollow viscus by means of a special instrument, such as an endoscope.
Enophthalmos: Recession of the eyeball within the orbit; usually seen in patients who have had orbital fractures.
Entropion: The in folding of the margin of an eyelid.
Enucleation: Removal of an entire eyeball leaving the extraocular muscles intact.
Epiblepharon: Congenital horizontal skin fold near the margin of the eyelid, caused by the abnormal insertion of muscle fibers. In the upper lid, it simulates blepharochalasis; in the lower lid, it causes a turning inward of the lashes.
Epicanthus: A skin fold of the upper eyelid from the nose to the inner side of the eyebrow covering the inner corner of the eye.
Epidermal inclusion cysts: Cysts that are the result of the implantation of epidermal elements in the dermis.
Epidermis: The superficial epithelial portion of the skin.
Epilation: The act or result of removing hair.
Epinephrine: A catecholamine that is the chief neurohormone of the adrenal medulla. The l-isomer is the most potent stimulant (sympathomimetic) of adrenergic a- and b-receptors; usually used in local anesthetics such as lidocaine to cause constriction of local blood vessels and thus decrease bleeding.
Epiphora: An overflow of tears onto the cheek, due to imperfect drainage by the tear conducting passages or excess lacrimal production.
Euryblepharon: A congenital anomaly characterized by sagging of the lateral aspect of the lower eyelid away from the eye.
Evisceration: Removal of the contents of the eyeball, leaving the sclera.
Exenteration: Removal of all internal organs and tissues of the eye socket. This procedure is usually performed in cases of malignant cancers that invade the eye socket.
Extraocular muscles: The six muscles that control the movements of the eye; includes superior and inferior oblique, superior, inferior, lateral and medial rectus.
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Facial dystonia: A syndrome of spasm and constant contraction of the facial muscles.
Facial nerve: Cranial nerve # 7. Provides motor innervation to the muscles of facial expression.
Festoons: A pouch of skin, muscle and fat in the lower eyelid and cheek junction; usually seen in older individuals.
Fibrosarcoma: A malignant neoplasm derived from deep fibrous tissue, characterized by bundles of immature proliferating fibroblasts arranged in a distinctive herringbone pattern with variable collagen formation, which tends to invade locally and metastasize via the bloodstream.
Fibrous dysplasia: A disease that usually manifests around puberty and is characterized by the abnormal metabolism and growth of affected bony structures. It can cause a significant number of deformities, which require multiple reconstructive surgeries. See Dr Parsa's patient, Marlie Casseous, on Discovery Channel who has this disorder. Google search her name.
Fibrous histiocytoma: Represents a benign but diverse group of neoplasia, which exhibit both fibroblastic and histiocytic differentiation.
Fine needle aspiration biopsy: A small needle aspiration is used to biopsy a deeper structure.
Fistula: An abnormal connection or passageway between two epithelium-lined organs or vessels that normally do not connect.
Floppy eyelid syndrome: Eyelid laxity related to decrease in tarsal elastin. Commonly seen in patients with sleep apnea.
Forehead lift: A procedure most commonly used to minimize the appearance of aging in people 40 years and older. It can also help people of any age who have developed furrows or frown lines due to stress or excess muscle activity.
Fornices of the eyelid: Loose arching folds connecting the conjunctival membrane lining the inside of the eyelid with the conjunctival membrane covering the eyeball.
Frontal sinuses: A hollow paranasal sinus formed on either side in the lower part of the squama of the frontal bone; it communicates by the ethmoidal infundibulum with the middle meatus of the nasal cavity of the same side.
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General anesthesia: The loss of ability to perceive pain associated with loss of consciousness, produced by intravenous and inhalation anesthetic agents.
Giant cell arteritis: Also known as temporal arteritis. GCA is an inflammatory disease of blood vessels (most commonly large and medium arteries of the head). It is therefore a form of vasculitis. It can cause blindness by affecting the ophthalmic artery.
Glioblastoma optic: A type of tumor that arises from glial cells and affects the optic nerve.
Glossopharyngeal nerve: Cranial nerve # 9. Receives taste from the posterior 1/3 of the tongue, provides secretomotor innervation to the parotid gland, and provides motor innervation to the stylopharyngeus (essential for tactile, pain, and thermal sensation). Sensation is relayed to opposite thalamus and some hypothalamic nuclei; located in the jugular foramen.
Goldenhar syndrome: A congenital syndrome characterized by ear, eye, and oral anomalies.
Gore-Tex: A waterproof/breathable fabric, sometimes used in surgery.
Gorlin syndrome: A syndrome of myriad basal cell nevi with development of basal cell carcinomas in adult life. Also associated with odontogenic keratocysts, erythematous pitting of the palms and soles, calcification of the cerebral falx, and frequent skeletal anomalies, particularly ribs that are bifid or broadened anteriorly; autosomal dominant inheritance.
Granulocytic sarcoma: A malignant tumor of immature myeloid cells, frequently subperiosteal, associated with or preceding granulocytic leukemia.
Graves ophthalmopathy: Disease associated with immune complex deposits within the eye socket, which can cause the following problems for the affected patients: 1. proptosis (eye balls bulging out); 2. double vision. 3. lagophthalmos (inability to close the eyelids); 4. compressive optic neuropathy. This disease can be seen in patients with hyper, hypo or euthyroid levels.
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Hamartoma: A focal malformation that resembles a neoplasm, grossly and even microscopically, but that results from faulty development, with a disproportionate or abnormal mixture of tissue elements normally present at the site; develops and grows at virtually the same rate as normal tissue and is not likely to compress or invade adjacent structures.
Hand-Schuller Christian disease: A rare disease of unknown cause in which lipids accumulate in the body and manifest as histiocytic granuloma in bone, particularly in the skull, the skin and viscera, often with hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy.
Hashimoto thyroiditis: Diffuse infiltration of the thyroid gland with lymphocytes, resulting in diffuse goiter, progressive destruction of the parenchyma, and hypothyroidism.
Hasner valve: Fold of mucous membrane at the lower opening of the nasolacrimal duct.
Hemangioma: A congenital anomaly, in which proliferation of blood vessels leads to a mass that resembles a neoplasm; it can occur anywhere in the body but is most frequently noticed in the skin and subcutaneous tissues.
Hemorrhage: An escape of blood through ruptured or unruptured vessel walls.
Herpes simplex: A variety of infections caused by herpes virus types 1 and 2. Type 1 infections are marked most commonly by the eruption of one or more groups of vesicles on the vermilion border of the lips or at the external nares, type 2 by such lesions on the genitalia. Both types often are recrudescent and reappear during other febrile illnesses or even physiologic states such as menstruation.
Hordeolum: A suppurative inflammation of a gland or hair follicle of the eyelid.
Horner syndrome: Ptosis, miosis, and anhydrosis on the side of a sympathetic palsy. Enophthalmos is more apparent than real. The affected pupil is visibly slow to dilate in dim light, due to decreased sympathetic input.
Hypertelorism: Abnormal distance between two paired organs. In oculoplastics it refers to an increased distance between the eyes.
Hypoesthesia: Decreased sensitivity to stimulation.
Hypothyroidism: Diminished production of thyroid hormone, leading to clinical manifestations of thyroid insufficiency, including somnolence, slow mentation, dryness and loss of hair, subnormal temperature, hoarseness, muscle weakness, delayed relaxation of tendon reflexes, and sometimes myxedema.
Hypoglossal nerve: Cranial nerve # 12. Provides motor innervation to the muscles of the tongue and other glossal muscles. Important for swallowing (bolus formation) and speech articulation; located in the hypoglossal canal.
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Incisional biopsy: A biopsy in which only a sample of the suspicious tissue is cut into (incised) and removed for the purpose of diagnosis. An incisional biopsy is in contrast to an excisional biopsy, in which an entire lesion, usually a tumor, is removed.
Inferior rectus muscle: A muscle that depresses, adducts (turns inward), rotates laterally, and extorts the eye.
Infraorbital nerve: A sensory nerve part of the second division of the fifth cranial nerve; the continuation of the maxillary nerve after it has entered the orbit through the infraorbital fissure, traversing the infraorbital canal to reach the face. It supplies the mucosa of the maxillary sinus, the upper incisors, canine and premolars, the upper gums, the inferior eyelid and conjunctiva, part of the nose and the superior lip.
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Kaposi sarcoma: A multifocal malignant neoplasm of primitive vasoformative tissue, occurring in the skin and sometimes in lymph nodes or viscera, consisting of spindle cells and irregular small vascular spaces frequently infiltrated by hemosiderin-pigmented macrophages and extravasated red blood cells.
Keratoacanthoma: A firm nodule, appearing singly on the skin and growing to around 2 cm across in about six weeks, gradually disappearing during the next few months. It can be a pre-malignant lesion.
Keratoconjunctivitis: Inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva.
Keratosis: Any lesion on the epidermis marked by the presence of circumscribed overgrowths of the horny layer.
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Lacrimal duct: Carries tears from the lacrimal sac into the nasal cavity.
Lacrimal sac: The upper dilated end of the nasolacrimal duct, is lodged in a deep groove formed by the lacrimal bone and frontal process of the maxilla. It connects the lacrimal canaliculi, which drain tears from the eye's surface, and the nasolacrimal duct, which conveys this fluid into the nasal cavity.
Lagophthalmos: The inability to close the eyelids completely.
Lamina papyracea: Part of the ethmoid bone, which forms a large part of the medial wall of the orbit; one of the thinnest bones in the body.
Le Fort fractures: Types of facial fractures that are classic in trauma. There are 3 types of LeFort fractures: LeFort I includes the maxilla; LeFort II includes the pyramidal fracture on the nasofrontal suture; LeFort III includes total craniofacial malfunction.
Leukemia: Progressive proliferation of abnormal leukocytes found in hemopoietic tissues, other organs, and usually in the blood in increased numbers.
Lidocaine: A common local anesthetic and antiarrhythmic drug. Lidocaine is used topically to relieve itching, burning and pain from skin inflammation.
Lymphoma: A type of cancer involving cells of the immune system, called lymphocytes.
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Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA): Uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to provide structural information on blood vessels.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): A medical imaging technique primarily used in radiology to visualize the structure and function of deeper soft tissue structures.
Meibomian glands: Special kind of sebaceous glands at the margin of the eyelids, responsible for the supply of sebum, an oily substance that prevents evaporation of the eye's tear film, prevents tear spillage onto the cheek, and makes the closed lids airtight.
Melanoma: A malignant neoplasm, derived from cells that are capable of forming melanin, arising most commonly in the skin or in the eye.
Melasma: A patchy or generalized pigmentation of the skin.
Meningoceles: Protrusion of the membranes of the brain or spinal cord through a defect in the cranium or vertebral column.
Microphthalmos: Abnormal smallness of the eye.
Mohs' micrographic surgery: An advanced treatment process for skin cancer that offers the highest possible cure rate for many skin cancers and simultaneously minimizes the sacrifice of normal tissue.
Mucoceles: A retention cyst of the salivary gland, lacrimal sac, paranasal sinuses, appendix, or gallbladder; most common site is the lower lip lateral to the midline.
Mucopyoceles: Collections of pus and mucus that occur when fractures block the nasal frontal duct, preventing sinus drainage.
Muller's muscle: A sympathetically innervated muscle on the upper eyelid responsible for elevating the eyelid about 2 mm.
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Nevus: A circumscribed malformation of the skin, especially one that is colored by hyperpigmentation or increased vascularity.
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Oculomotor nerve: Cranial nerve # 3. Innervates the levator palpebrae superioris, superior rectus, medial rectus, inferior rectus, and inferior oblique, which collectively perform most eye movements; located in the superior orbital fissure.
Olfactory nerve: Cranial nerve # 1. Transmits the sense of smell; located in the olfactory foramina of the ethmoid bone.
Ophthalmic artery: A branch of the internal carotid artery, which branches to supply the eye and other structures in the orbit.
Optic nerve: Cranial nerve # 2. Transmits visual information to the brain; located in the optic canal.
Orbit: The bony cavity containing the eyeball and adnexa; it is formed by parts of the frontal, maxillary, sphenoid, lacrimal, zygomatic, ethmoid, and palatine bones.
Orbital septum: A membranous sheet that acts as the anterior boundary of the orbit. It extends from the orbital rim to the eyelid.
Orbital varices: A vascular hamartoma typified by a plexus of low pressure, low flow, thin walled and distensible vessels.
Orbitotomy: Surgical incision into the orbit.
Osteoma: A benign slow-growing mass of mature, predominantly lamellar bone.
Osteosarcoma: Malignant cancer of bone, which arises from bone forming cells and chiefly affects the ends of long bones; its greatest incidence is in the 10 to 25 year-old age group.
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Parinaud syndrome: Paralysis of conjugate upward gaze caused by a lesion at the level of the superior colliculi; Bell phenomenon is present.
Polyarteritis nodosa: A vasculitis of medium-sized arteries, which become swollen and damaged from attack by rogue immune cells.
Procerus muscle: A small pyramidal muscle between the eyebrows.
Proptosis: Protrusion of one or both eyeballs.
Pseudoproptosis: Apparent exophthalmos, such as when the globe is very prominent or the eyelids are retracted.
Ptosis: A sinking down or prolapse of an organ.
Punch biopsy: Removal of a small disk-shaped sample of tissue using a sharp, hollow device.
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Reactive lymphoid hyperplasia: A benign inflammatory reaction secondary to antigen stimulation.
Retinoblastoma: Malignant ocular neoplasm of childhood, usually occurring before the third year of life, composed of primitive retinal small round cells with deeply staining nuclei and elongated cells forming rosettes. In familial forms, the disease is commonly bilateral and multiple within an eye.
Retrobulbar hemorrhage: Bleeding behind the eyeball; a rare complication that may occur after mid-face injuries or following soft or hard tissue surgery around the eyes. If left untreated, blindness can result. Retrobulbar hemorrhage can also develop after peribulbar local anesthesia.
Rhabdomysarcoma: A fast-growing, highly malignant tumor, which accounts for over half of the soft tissue sarcomas in children. The cancer cells are thought to arise from skeletal muscle progenitors.
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Sarcoidosis: A systemic granulomatous disease of unknown cause, especially involving the lungs with resulting fibrosis, but also involving lymph nodes, skin, liver, spleen, eyes, phalangeal bones, and parotid glands; granulomas are composed of epithelioid and multinucleated giant cells with little or no necrosis.
Shwannoma: A benign, encapsulated neoplasm in which the fundamental component is structurally identical to a syncytium of Schwann cells; the neoplastic cells proliferate within the endoneurium, and the perineurium forms the capsule.
Scintigraphy: A diagnostic procedure consisting of the administration of a radionuclide with an affinity for the organ or tissue of interest, followed by a recording of the distribution of the radioactivity with a stationary or scanning external scintillation camera.
Sebaceous adenocarcinoma: A malignant tumor composed of cells showing differentiation toward sebaceous epithelium. The tumor is solitary, firm, somewhat raised, more or less translucent, and covered with normal or slightly verrucose epidermis. It may be yellow or orange. The face and scalp are the most common sites. The growth can be slow or rapid.
Seborrheic keratosis: Noncancerous (benign) skin growths that some people develop as they age.
Skin graft: Use of skin in reconstructive surgery from a donor site.
SOOF LIFT: The suborbicularis oculi fat (SOOF) lift, also known as a modified midface lift, mobilizes the midface structures in a superior fashion and fastens them to the orbital rim.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC): A malignant tumor of squamous epithelium. Associated with sun exposure.
Squamous cell papilloma: A generally benign papilloma that arises from the stratified squamous epithelium. Associated with infection of human papilloma virus (HPV).
Stye: An infection of the sebaceous glands at the base of the eyelashes. (External hordeolum)
Superior oblique muscle: A fusiform muscle in the upper, medial side of the orbit whose primary action is intorsion and whose secondary actions are to abduct (turn out) and depress the eyeball.
Symblepharon: Adhesion of one or both eyelids to the eyeball.
Sympathetic ophthalmia: A granulomatous uveitis (a kind of inflammation) of both eyes following trauma to one eye.
Synkinesis: The result of miswiring of nerves after trauma. This result is manifested through involuntary muscular movements accompanying voluntary movements.
Syringoma: A benign, often multiple, sometimes eruptive neoplasm of the sweat gland ducts composed of very small round cysts.
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Tarsus: The fibrous plates giving solidity and form to the edges of the eyelids.
Telecanthus: Increased distance between the medial canthi or angles of the eyelids.
Temporal giant cell arteritis: An inflammatory condition affecting the medium-sized blood vessels that supply the head, eyes, and optic nerves.
Temporal artery: An artery with origin in the superficial temporal artery, with distribution to the temporal fascia and muscle, and with anastomoses to the branches of the maxillary artery; biopsied if diagnosis of temporal arteritis is suspected.
Thyroid function test: A collective term for blood tests used to check the function of the thyroid.
Tolosa-Hunt syndrome: A rare disorder characterized by severe and unilateral headaches with extraocular palsies, usually involving the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth cranial nerves, and pain around the sides and back of the eye, along with weakness and paralysis (ophthalmoplegia) of certain eye muscles.
Teratoma: A neoplasm composed of multiple tissues, including tissues not normally found in the organ in which it arises.
Trigeminal nerve: Cranial nerve # 5. Receives sensation from the face and innervates the muscles of mastication; located in the superior orbital fissure (ophthalmic branch), foramen rotundum (maxillary branch), and foramen ovale (mandibular branch).
Trochlear nerve: Cranial nerve # 4. Innervates the superior oblique muscle, which depresses, pulls laterally, and intorts the eyeball; located in the superior orbital fissure.
Treachercollins-Franceschetti syndrome: A disorder of craniofacial development. The features include antimongoloid slant of the eyes, coloboma of the lid, micrognathia, microtia and other deformity of the ears, hypoplastic zygomatic arches, and macrostomia; conductive hearing loss and cleft palate are often present.
Trichiasis: A condition in which the hair adjacent to a natural orifice turns inward and causes irritation; associated with inversion of an eyelid (entropion), eyelash irritation of the eye.
Trichilemmal cyst: Intradermal or subcutaneous sac-like structure, the wall of which is stratified epithelium containing keratohyalin granules.
Tripod fractures: A facial fracture involving the three supports of the malar prominence: the arch of the zygomatic bone, the zygomatic process of the frontal bone, and the zygomatic process of the maxillary bone.
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Vagus nerve: Cranial nerve # 10. Supplies brachiomotor innervation to most laryngeal and pharyngeal muscles, provides parasympathetic fibers to nearly all thoracic and abdominal viscera down to the splenic flexure, and receives the special sense of taste from the epiglottis.
Venography: Radiographic demonstration of a vein after the injection of a contrast medium. Used to demonstrate blockage of a vein.
Verruca vulgaris: A horny skin lump, which can occur on just about any part of the body including the genitals but is more common on the hands and feet. Warts are caused by any virus in the human papilloma virus family.
Vestibulocochlear nerve: Cranial nerve # 8. Senses sound, rotation and gravity (essential for balance and movement); located in the internal acoustic canal.
Von Recklinghausen disease: The most common type of neurofibromatosis. It is characterized clinically by cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors with patches of hyperpigmentation. The hyperpigmented skin areas are present from birth and found anywhere on the body surface. They can vary markedly in size and color. The dark brown areas are called cafe-au-lait spots. The multiple cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors are nerve sheath neoplasia, called neurofibromas.
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Whitnall's ligament: A condensation of the sheath overlying the anterior superior part of the levator muscle. Medially, arises posterior to the trochlea; laterally, attaches to the capsule of the orbital lobe of the lacrimal gland and to the frontal bone about 10 mm above the lateral orbital tubercle.
Wolfring gland: Small glands in the eyelids that discharge a watery secretion which forms the middle (lacrimal), thickest layer of the tear film.
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Xanthelasma: Soft, yellow-orange plaques on the eyelids or medial canthus, the most common form of xanthoma; may be associated with low-density lipoproteins, especially in younger adults.
Xeroderma pigmentosum: An eruption of exposed skin occurring in childhood and characterized by photosensitivity with severe sunburn in infancy and the development of numerous pigmented spots resembling freckles, larger atrophic lesions eventually resulting in glossy white thinning of the skin surrounded by telangiectases, and multiple solar keratoses that undergo malignant change at an early age. Severe ophthalmic and neurologic abnormalities are also found.
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ZMC fractures: Fractures of the zygomaticomaxillary complex. The ZMC provides lateral globe support necessary for binocular vision. The frequency of ZMC fractures is second only to nasal fractures, which are the most common type of facial fractures.
Zygomatic fractures: The zygoma is the main buttress between the maxilla and the skull, but in spite of its sturdiness, its prominent location makes it prone to fracture. The mechanism of injury usually involves a blow to the side of the face from a fist,object, or secondary to motor vehicle accident.
