Acanthosis means
Loss of intracellular connections
Abnormal premature keralinization
Diffuse epidermal hyperplasia
Thickening of stratum corneum
HISTOPATHOLOGIC TERMS Before describing the pathology of common skin diseases, the following pathologic terms in common use need to be defined for the understanding of Dermatopathology: Acanthosis: Thickening of the epidermis due to hyperplasia of stratum Malpighi. Acantholysis: Loss of cohesion between epidermal cells with formation of intraepidermal space containing edema fluid and detached epithelial cells. Dyskeratosis: Abnormal development of epidermal cells resulting in rounded cells devoid of their prickles and having pyknotic nuclei. Dyskeratosis is a feature of premalignant and malignant lesions and is rarely seen in benign conditions. Hyperkeratosis: Thickening of the horny layer. Parakeratosis: Abnormal keratinization of the cells so that the horny layer contains nucleated keratinocytes rather than the normal non-nucleate keratin layer. Spongiosis: Intercellular edema of the epidermis which may progress to vesicle formation in the epidermis. Pigment incontinence: Loss of melanin pigment from damaged basal cell layer so that the pigment accumulates in the melanophages in the dermis. Ref: Textbook of pathology (Harsh Mohan)6th edition, page no.769
dermatology and infectious disease