furuncle
Infected hair follicle
A furuncle is the medical term for a boil—a painful, pus-filled infection that forms around a hair follicle, appearing as a red, swollen lump on the skin.
The word appears almost exclusively in clinical contexts; in everyday speech, people say boil: The doctor diagnosed the furuncle and prescribed antibiotics.
Heat to bubbling point
- abscessLocalized pus collection
- carbuncleMulti-headed skin infection
- pustulePus-filled skin lesion
- noduleRounded small lump
papule · cyst · pimple · lump · bump · comedo · blister · ulcer
Spherical bacteria in clusters
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- pusInfected tissue fluid
- purulentPus-filled or pus-forming
- suppurationPus discharge from infection
sepsis · contagious · pathogen · microbes · MRSA · bacterial · infected · contamination
Bodily or emotional distress
- rednessCrimson-hued state
- swellingAbnormal tissue enlargement
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
- heatTransferred thermal energy
throbbing · soreness · discomfort · inflammation · warmth · sensitivity · itching · pressure
Liquid removal system
- incisionControlled cut into tissue
- lanceLong thrusting weapon
- antibioticBacteria-killing medication
- ointmentMedicated skin cream
warm compress · bandage · gauze · disinfectant · sterilize · surgical · excision · debridement
Dermal pit producing strands
- sebaceous glandOrgan secreting skin oil
- epidermisOutermost tissue layer
- dermisLiving tissue under epidermis
- skinBody's outer layer
boil
Heat to bubbling point
nodule · papule · cyst · pimple · lump · bump · comedo · blister · ulcer · sore
staphylococcus
Spherical bacteria in clusters
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- pusInfected tissue fluid
- purulentPus-filled or pus-forming
suppuration · sepsis · contagious · pathogen · microbes · MRSA · bacterial · infected · contamination · colonization
pain
Bodily or emotional distress
- rednessCrimson-hued state
- swellingAbnormal tissue enlargement
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
heat · throbbing · soreness · discomfort · inflammation · warmth · sensitivity · itching · pressure · firmness
drainage
Liquid removal system
- incisionControlled cut into tissue
- lanceLong thrusting weapon
- antibioticBacteria-killing medication
ointment · warm compress · bandage · gauze · disinfectant · sterilize · surgical · excision · debridement · irrigation
hair follicle
Dermal pit producing strands
- sebaceous glandOrgan secreting skin oil
- epidermisOutermost tissue layer
- dermisLiving tissue under epidermis
skin · follicular · subcutaneous · tissue · induration