skin turgor
turgor [ter´ger]
Etymology: AS, scinn + L, turgere, to swell
the resilience of the normal skin when subjected to physical distortion, such as by pinching or pressing. The relative speed with which the skin resumes its normal appearance after stretching or compression is an indicator of skin hydration. Turgor is slower in older people.
turgor [ter´ger]
1. swelling or other distention.
2. a condition of normal tension in a cell or group of cells; fullness. adj., adj tur´gid.
skin turgor a reflection of the skin's elasticity, measured by monitoring the time it takes for the skin of the forearm to return to position after it is lightly pinched between the examiner's thumb and forefinger. Normal turgor is a return to normal contour within three seconds; if the skin remains elevated (tented) more than three seconds, turgor is decreased.
Assessing skin turgor. From Lammon et al., 1995.
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