Question

fill in the blank question

is a chronic disease with abnormal thickening of the skin caused by the formation of new collagen.

Explanation:

Analyze the medical definition

The question asks for a chronic disease characterized by abnormal thickening of the skin due to new collagen formation.

Identify the medical term

Using Integumentary Pathology concepts, we break down the clinical features:

• "Sclero-" means hard or hardening.
• "-derma" means skin.
• Scleroderma is an autoimmune, chronic connective tissue disease characterized by excessive collagen deposition, leading to the hardening and thickening of the skin.

Answer:

<blank>Scleroderma</blank> is a chronic disease with abnormal thickening of the skin caused by the formation of new collagen.